The morning dawned heavy, as if the sky itself knew what awaited me. I barely slept, my mind tangled in memories of my father and the word Sebastian had dared to utter: cousin. Aside from that, the morning had dawned cloudy, with a refreshing breeze, the kind that's actually quite enjoyable.
When I arrived at the office, the atmosphere felt tense, hostile. The hallways seemed narrower, the whispers sharper. Every step was a warning, but somehow, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Despite it not being the answer I'd hoped for, the fact that Sebastian and I were cousins meant I was no longer waiting for an answer from the universe.
I disguised myself as best I could and walked among my employees to greet them. They were the ones who had decided to stay despite the rumors. They were
