The next morning, Franklin decided to break the news to his dad. He’d been staring at his phone for over an hour, debating whether to make the call. He knew what his father’s reaction would be, but he couldn’t keep this a secret forever.Taking a deep breath, he dialed the number.“Franklin,” his father answered after the second ring. “It’s been a while. You’ve finally decided to stop hiding?”Franklin ignored the jab. “I need to tell you something.”There was a long pause on the other end. “Go on.”Franklin rubbed his temple, the words heavy in his throat. “Daisy’s pregnant.”Silence.“Dad?”“Are you telling me,” his father’s voice came low and sharp, “that the girl I explicitly told you to stay away from is now carrying your child?”Franklin felt his chest tighten. “Yes.”“You knew she was trouble, Franklin! I warned you about this girl from the start. And yet, here you are, proving me right again.”Franklin clenched his fist. “Dad, I’m handling it.”“Handling it?” his father barked

Daisy sat on her bed, her phone in her hand, waiting for her mom’s call. It was a later after noon, and Franklin had left with Conor for lunch, giving her the perfect time to update her mom on the situation.When her phone finally buzzed, Daisy quickly picked it up. “Mom,” she said, trying to sound casual.“How’s it going, Daisy?” Mrs. Bernard’s voice was smooth but with an edge of impatience. “Did Franklin eat today?”Daisy sighed, rubbing her forehead. “No, Mom. He’s been refusing to eat. I don’t know what’s going on with him. He won’t touch the food I make him. He says he’s not hungry, but I can tell he’s not himself. He’s been acting all… off.” She paused, thinking. “I’m worried he’s going to get worse if he doesn’t eat soon.”Mrs. Bernard’s voice shifted slightly, a little more concerned. “What do you mean ‘off’?”Daisy leaned back on her bed. “He’s just… distant. He barely says anything anymore. He’s been so quiet. I tried to get him to eat, but he just pushes it away. It’s like

Ashley the lawyer of Franklin walked into a small café. It smelled like warm bread and coffee. She looked around searching for someone until she spotted Vera sitting by the window.Vera waved and smiled. They had been in communication recently and had agreed on an appointment date to discuss legal issues concerning the Empire State Hotel. Ashley smiled back and walked over. She was holding her big brown bag with papers inside. “Hi, Vera,” she said, pulling out a chair.“Hi, Ashley,” Vera said. “Thanks for meeting me. I ordered coffee for you. I hope you like it.”“Thank you,” Ashley said, sitting down. “I could use it. It’s been a busy week.”A waiter brought two cups of coffee. Ashley wrapped her hands around her cup. “So, let’s talk about the case,” she said.Vera nodded. “Yes, we should. The Empire State Hotel is such a mess. Franklin’s been through a lot, hasn’t he?”Ashley nodded. “He’s trying his best, but the papers are everywhere. I’m helping him sort them out. I think we’re

Conor knocked on Franklin’s door early the next day. He didn’t wait long before stepping in. Franklin sat on the edge of his bed, his face tired and pale. His hair was messy, and his beard had grown uneven.Daisy had visited her family house the previous evening leaving Franklin all alone in the house.“Good morning, boss,” Conor said, smiling gently. “Time to get ready. We’re visiting the hospital today, remember?”Franklin sighed and rubbed his face. “I haven’t shaved or… done anything useful for days,” he muttered. “I feel useless.”Conor grabbed the shaving kit from the bathroom. “You’re not useless, boss. Everyone needs help sometimes. Let me give you a hand. You’ll feel better once you’re cleaned up.”Franklin looked away, feeling embarrassed. “Thanks, Conor. I… I hate feeling like this.”“It’s okay,” Conor said calmly, setting up everything. He tilted Franklin’s head slightly. “Just stay still, or I might accidentally give you a funny-looking beard!”Franklin chuckled weakly. “

Another busy day at Miles Empire and things are not looking the way they should.The morning sun peeked through the office windows as Lee walked into the conference room. He carried a folder under his arm and looked tired. He muttered to himself, “Another day, another problem.”Reynold was already there, sipping coffee from a big cup. “Morning, Lee,” he said, putting the cup down. “You look like you didn’t sleep.”Lee sighed as he sat down. “Who can sleep with everything falling apart? The numbers are bad, Reynold. Really bad.”Patel entered next, adjusting his tie and holding a stack of papers. “Good morning,” he said, but his voice didn’t sound happy. He placed the papers on the table. “I brought the latest reports. They’re not good.”Thayer came in last, shutting the door behind him. He rubbed his hands together and said, “Alright, let’s get to it. What’s the agenda for the day?”Reynold leaned forward. “The company's weekly report didn’t appear as expected. We’re losing money. The