Alinas POV.
After a few days, Stephanie returns to her house, a fortress now with all the heightened security measures. There are cameras at every corner, a guard at the gate, and another patrolling the premises. Rick has taken no chances—extra security blankets for not just their home but also Megan's and the company's. It feels like living in a glass cage, where every movement is scrutinized and every breath monitored. I can only imagine how Stephanie copes with it.
"Try to convince Damien so that you can come back to work," I had urged her, seeing the stress lines deepen around her eyes. Rumors swirled around her absence, with questions lurking in every office corner. I prayed she'd navigate through it unscathed.
Stephanie's burdens were heavy. A sick sister, a father who danced on t
