Grandma Ward's words lingered in Julian’s mind, casting a long shadow over him.

As the year drew to a close, the Rowen Group found itself entangled in a web of responsibilities, with high-stakes negotiations with Meridian nearing a climax. Julian and Francesca hadn’t seen each other in over two weeks.

To mark the end of the year, the Rowen Group hosted an extravagant gala. Julian roamed the party alone. In past years, Francesca had always been by his side during ...