That same night, silence settled heavily over the hotel corridor as Ethan closed the door to his room. The day had drained him in a way work never did. He loosened his tie, kicked off his shoes, and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing. His phone lay beside him, screen dark, untouched since his brief call with Emily earlier.
Then it buzzed.
Unknown number.
He frowned, hesitating before picking it up. The first image loaded slowly, as though the phone itself was reluctant to reveal it. The lighting was dim. The angle awkward. But it was unmistakably Emily. Brian stood close to her. Too close. Another picture followed. Her hand near his arm. Another. Their faces angled toward each other, the distance between them almost nonexistent.
His chest tightened.
The pictures were blurr
