Ezekiel Chen sat in the dimly lit room, the once-pristine office now cluttered with files, empty glasses, and scattered papers. The curtains were drawn tight, shutting out any semblance of daylight. He hadn’t stepped outside in days, his entire being consumed by the storm raging within him.

The scent of burning wood haunted him—an unshakable reminder of the fire that took her. No matter how much time passed, the echo of Daisy's laughter, the way her eyes sparkled with life, and the warmth of her presence replayed endlessly in his mind. And now, she was gone.

He clenched his fists as he leaned back in his chair, staring at the...