Chapter 45: Betrayal

Reid's sanctuary was the leather-clad couch in his living room, yet its comfort couldn't shelter him from the tempest of old memories that crashed through his mind like a relentless storm. As he reclined, the shadows of the past clawed their way back, haunting him with memories of what he once believed was happiness alongside Victoria.

He recalled the euphoria of his initial success as an investor. It was a time when life seemed to pivot towards prosperity, a stark contrast to the hardships that had marked his earlier years. Money was finally a companion, not an elusive dream, and for someone who'd known deprivation, it felt nothing short of miraculous.

In the mosaic of memories, Victoria's presence was bright, but the luster had faded with time, revealing the blemishes beneath the surface. Reid remembered the tense exchanges they shared over her father's ailing restaurant. She'd implored him to invest more, painting it as a family legacy that needed rescuing.

Initially, Reid had been