Marion sat alone in his office, the ticking clock above the door echoing in the silence. The once lively workspace was now filled with tension and unease. His gaze drifted to the picture frame on his desk, a candid photo of him and Aliyah on the day she launched her new business. Her bright smile, the pride in her eyes... It was hard to reconcile that woman with the one who had just befriended his archrival.

He clenched his jaw.

Rumors had spread like wildfire. Jace Park, his long-time ...