By morning, the world was burning with his name. Brandon Hughes. Trending in every corner of the internet, wrapped in headlines he never wrote, crimes he never committed, scandals he never chose. Julia stared at the screen until her pulse roared in her ears—every notification another match thrown onto a growing blaze.
Her phone rang just as she grabbed her coat. HR’s clipped voice cut through the static. “Julia… given the situation, we need to suspend you until the investigation settles.”
She gripped the counter. “Investigation? Into what?”
“Allegations tied to your partner’s legal troubles. It’s best if you take… distance.”
The line went dead. So did the air around her.
Behind her, her mother whispered, “Julia, please. Step back before he drags you down with him.”
Julia laughed once
