Chapter Twenty Two

Diluc sat behind his massive mahogany desk, the sprawling London skyline visible through the floor to ceiling windows of his office. The view was spectacular, a constant reminder of the power and wealth he wielded, yet today, he found no comfort in it. His mind was a tangled mess, filled with thoughts that had nothing to do with business. Try as he might, he couldn’t shake the memory of last night—of the conversation with Furina, of the hurt and betrayal etched into her features as she learned the harsh truth about their marriage.

He had known it would be painful for her, but he hadn’t anticipated just how much it would affect him. Her pained expression had haunted him all night, making sleep impossible. Now, as he sat in his office, surrounded by the tools of his trade, he found himself unable to focus on anything else. His work, usually a refuge from the complications of his personal life, offered no distraction today.

He picked up a report from his desk, trying to immerse himself i