CH.106

The lush, modern office should have been a place of productivity and focus for Karl. However, his mind was nowhere but at work today.

He slumped back in his desk chair, files and paperwork strewn haphazardly in front of him, and stared blankly at the ceiling above.

Try as he might, he couldn't seem to shake the heartache that had become his constant, unwelcome companion in recent weeks.

His thoughts drifted back to Lavinia and the slow, agonizing dissolution of their marriage as they so often did lately.

He chastised himself silently, second-guessing every decision and every mistake that had led them to this painful point.

If only he had done things differently and made other choices along the way... maybe he wouldn't be facing the prospect of losing her forever.

The ringing of his desk phone abruptly shattered the heavy silence blanketing the room.

Karl flinched instinctively as he eyed the device with trepidation. It seemed like the constant ringing these days on