Noah
The call that pulled me away from the cabin that morning had come from Priya, her voice tight with urgency as she explained that my father had moved up the emergency board meeting to address the investor group's concerns, demanding my presence within the hour.
I'd broken more speed limits than I wanted to admit getting back to the city in time, the drive back feeling like torture given the tension still hanging heavy between Sophia and me after another broken promise. By the time I walked into the boardroom, my father was already seated at the head of the table, the rest of the executive team gathered around him with the particular stillness that always signaled bad news was imminent.
"Nice of you to join us," my father said, his tone clipped, though he waited until I'd taken my se
