CEO's office Building, 9:00 amWhen Evan arrived at the company, his eyes involuntarily darted to the CCTV camera, hoping to catch a glimpse of Andrea. However, the screen remained blank, leaving him with a sense of unease. With a furrowed brow, he summoned the HR manager, his voice terse.“Where is Andrea?” he demanded.The HR manager, a middle-aged woman with a stern demeanor, cleared her throat. “Mrs.Carter is currently on sick leave, Mr.Winston,”“Sick leave?” Evan's lips curled into a sneer. “What a convenient excuse.”“I have her medical certificate here, Mr. Smith,” the HR manager replied, producing a document from her folder.Evan snatched it from her hand and skimmed through it. His suspicions were confirmed: Andrea had indeed called in sick with a doctor's note. A surge of anger washed over him as he realized that she was trying to avoid him.“This is absurd,” Evan muttered under his breath. “She's just trying to get out of work.”“I assure you, Mr. Winston, Mrs. Carter’s il

The sting of Evan’s words lingered, a sharp, burning sensation in her throat. That hurtful words of him was made her hate him.“He's acting like it's the end of the world,” Marga muttered under her breath, her fists clenching.A gentle hand touched her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts. Emily, her coworker and confidante, stood beside her with a concerned frown.“What happened, Marga? You look like you've seen a ghost.”Marga let out a frustrated sigh, her anger bubbling over. “That arrogant… that arrogant CEO of ours. He just blew up at me for messing up the meeting schedule.”“Oh, no,” Emily sympathized, her eyes widening. “What did he say?”“He said I'm not reliable, that I'm not a professional. He was so condescending, Emily. He acted like I'd committed some heinous crime. It was just a simple mistake, and he acted like it was the end of the world.”“He's really like that,” Emily agreed, nodding sadly. “Always snapping at everyone. He's never understood the human factor, I

Mr. Sanchez is calling him? This was unexpected. Mr. Sanchez, his father in-law who used to mocked and underestimate him before.“Mr. Sanchez,” Evan said, trying to keep his voice steady.“What do you need?”“I need to speak with you, Evan,” Mr. Sanchez said, his voice low and urgent. “It’s important. Meet me at the Brusco, besides Grand Emperor in an hour. I’ll be waiting.”Evan Winston arrogantly refused and told him if he already set an appointment because he has no time for a person who has not set schedule appointment. But Mr. Sanchez gently pleaded with Evan to meet him."Look, Mr. Sanchez, I appreciate the call, but I'm quite busy," Evan said, his voice laced with impatience. "If you'd like to schedule a meeting, I'm available next Tuesday at 2pm, but that's the only time I have.""Evan, please," Mr. Sanchez said, his voice softer now. "It's a matter of urgency"“I really need your help,”Mr. Sanchez added.Evan thought about Mr. Sanchez’s gambling habits, his notorious addictio

The words hung heavy in the air, and Mr. Sanchez felt the sting of heartbreak deep in his chest. He picked up his dignity, which had slipped to the floor among the shards of his pride, and turned away from Leo.As he stepped outside, he braced himself against the chill of the evening. The world felt colder now, as if the warmth of familial ties had grown fragile, ready to shatter at a moment's notice.As he walked towards the staircase that led to the second floor of the house, he encountered Andrea perched on the edge of the staircase, worry etched across her brow. She had always been perceptive, and it took mere seconds for her to sense the heaviness in his heart.“Dad?” she asked, her tone questioning. “What happened?”Mr. Sanchez hesitated, the hum of shame constricting his throat. “It’s nothing, just a little misunderstanding with Leo,” he replied, though every word felt like a lie.“He’s been distant lately,” Andrea commented, her voice betraying her frustration. “You know how h

With a heavy heart, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the study, the oak door slamming shut behind her echoing her frustration.Outside, the sun’s early rays poured through the window, illuminating the breakfast table that lay before her—a stark reminder of the life she was trying to build, yet increasingly feeling stuck in. She felt caught between her father’s demands, Leo’s expectations, and her own conflicted emotions. Dragging her feet, Andrea resolved she wouldn’t let the discussion linger in her mind. She needed to find clarity.The next morning was a different story. Andrea stirred awake to the muffled sounds of shouting coming from downstairs. The voice was familiar—Leo. She bolted upright, her heart pounding as she hurried into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, her feet hitting the ground with urgency. With no time to spare, she rushed down the narrow staircase, dread pooling in her stomach.“—think you've got the right to ask me for money, of all things! You’re pathetic