AVA’S POV

The office buzzed with its usual energy, but something felt off the moment I stepped in.

My gut prickled like a warning bell, but I didn’t show it to anyone. Not even Nicholas.

Nicholas had taught me long ago that showing weakness was the first step toward being crushed.

I set my bag down on my desk, noticed the small things first, the way my colleagues avoided eye contact, the hurried whispers that stopped as soon as I approached.

Little details that didn’t belong in a ...