Aaron didn’t sleep.
⸻
Not really.
⸻
He stayed in his study most of the night, staring at nothing, thinking through everything.
⸻
Timelines.
Mistakes.
Consequences.
⸻
And one truth kept repeating—
⸻
He had run out of time to fix things now.
⸻
Morning came anyway.
⸻
Cold.
Unforgiving.
⸻
His phone rang just as the sun fully broke through the windows.
⸻
He didn’t need to check the name.
⸻
He already knew.
⸻
“Grandfather,” Aaron answered.
⸻
No greeting came from the other end.
⸻
Just silence.
⸻
Heavy.
⸻
Then—
“You’ve embarrassed this family.”
⸻
Aaron straightened slightly.
⸻
“I can explain—”
⸻
“I don’t want explanations!” Edward cut in.
⸻
Sharp.
Controlled.
⸻
“I gave you responsibility,” he continued. “I gave you trust.”
⸻
A pause.
⸻
“And you’ve
