Chapter 29
Jake
The morning was gray and heavy, as if the sky shared the weight pressing on my chest. I glanced at the clock while leaning against the edge of my desk. The office was silent, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioner. I had arrived early, not because I had anything urgent to do, but because I needed a moment alone to think.
Since my conversation with my father, my mind had been a whirlwind of emotions. I knew what he had said about Daphne wasn’t just cruel—it was dangerous. He hadn’t thrown those words out carelessly; they were a clear warning. If he discovered our relationship, he wouldn’t hesitate to use all his power to hurt her.
Daphne.
Just thinking about her made my chest tighten. Last night, when I stayed at her place, she was calmer, more hopeful, and
