Aiden’s POV
The morning light slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, casting long, angular shadows across the polished mahogany desk. The world outside buzzed with life, cars honking, pedestrians bustling, the hum of the city a constant, throbbing pulse beneath my feet. But inside my office, it was silent – an oppressive, aching silence that had become all too familiar.
Cheryl.
Her name had become a constant echo in my mind, a steady drumbeat that I couldn’t shake, no matter how many deals I closed, no matter how many glasses of whiskey I downed, no matter how many nights I spent brooding in the dark corners of my penthouse.
I leaned back in my leather chair, the smooth, cool surface creaking slightly beneath my weight as I stared at the small, framed photo on my de
