The first week without Lucius had been a blur for Catherine. She had been so focused on her work, trying to push through the empty space his absence left behind. The project was in full swing, and the team had only a few days left to present their final plan to Victor, Maximus’s business partner. The pressure was relentless, and with every passing hour, the work seemed to grow heavier.
The second week, however, was different. The work was piling up, and time was running out. Lucius, despite his best intentions, had become increasingly unavailable. He had barely sent any messages or made any calls—his focus entirely on his work abroad. Catherine understood, but it didn’t make the silence any easier to bear. She missed him deeply, but there was little time for self-pity. The project took pr
