Avela’s POV
The day dragged like it was trying to punish me.
I threw myself into work the second I walked into the office—back-to-back meetings, endless emails, reviewing campaign pitches until my eyes burned. Anything to keep my mind busy. Anything to stop it from circling back to Lucas standing in that parking garage yesterday, telling me someone had murdered his mother. Telling me he’d lied to protect me. Telling me I meant everything to him.
Every time his face flashed in my head, I shoved it away harder. I couldn’t think about it. Couldn’t let myself soften. He’d lied. For months. That was the only truth I could hold on to right now.
By the time the clock hit seven, the office was mostly empty. My assistant poked her head in, told me to go home and rest. I forced a smile, said I
