Xavier gripped the steering wheel, knuckles whitening, as he navigated the sleek black car through the evening traffic. He could have waited for Caleb to drive him, but the urge to escape the office, to outrun his thoughts, proved fiercer than patience. The mansion loomed ahead, its windows like darkened eyes gazing down upon him with silent judgment.

The engine cut down, silently swallowing the growl of horsepower. Xavier stepped out, his movements mechanical, like a man bracing for battle. Inside, Dora sat at the dining table, draped in expectation and greed. Her eyes flicked up, seeking acknowledgment, but Xavier moved past her—a ghost to her desires. Xavier went straight...