I closed the file and leaned back in my chair, gently drumming my fingers on the desk. Carlos was gone, but his shadow lingered, an echo of a past connection long since turned to ash. Any bond we'd ever shared was buried, and now only a fragile alliance based on necessity remained.
Outside, the murmur of the office reminded me that the storm hadn't waited; it was already here. Employees leaving, rumors spreading, trust evaporating. My company was bleeding out, and I had no choice but to stop it.
The email notification kept flashing on my screen: the appointment for the DNA test. Proof that the past wasn't finished with me yet. Proof that there were still secrets to unearth.
I exhaled slowly, a faint smile playing on my lips. Let them think I'm falling apart. Let them think I'm weak.
Th
