Chapter One: The Fall

Elena

The city lights flickered against the bus window as I leaned my head back, exhaustion weighing me down. My shift had been long—endless meetings, a boss who loved to micromanage, and a lunch break that barely lasted ten minutes. My feet ached in my worn-out flats, and my only wish was to crawl into bed. But I had one last stop to make. Dad had called earlier, asking me to drop off some documents at his office. He hadn’t said much, just that they were important. I didn’t question it. He was always busy, always working late. That was normal.

The bus pulled up near Parker Industries, and I stepped off, tightening my coat against the chilly breeze. The glass building loomed ahead, its polished exterior reflecting the streetlights. I had grown up in these hallways, watching my father build his business from the ground up. I pushed through the front door, expecting the quiet hum of a late-night office. Instead, the moment I stepped inside, the air shifted. Something was wrong. Men in dark uniforms moved briskly through the lobby, carrying boxes, computers, even framed awards that once hung on the walls. Papers littered the floor, trampled underfoot like discarded memories. A large truck was parked just outside, already half-filled with my father’s belongings. This wasn’t just another late night at the office. This was a dismantling. A purge. Panic flared in my chest. My gaze swept across the chaos until it landed on a familiar figure near the reception desk—my father. He stood hunched over, gripping the sleeve of a man holding a clipboard.

“Please, just a little more time,” Dad pleaded, his voice raw. “I can fix this.”

The man barely spared him a glance. “You’ve had enough time, Parker. The deadline passed weeks ago.”

My stomach twisted. “Dad?” My voice came out uneven as I stepped forward.

He didn’t hear me. Or maybe he was too lost in desperation to notice. He reached for the man again, but the suit-wearing stranger pulled away, adjusting his cuffs as if my father’s touch had tainted them.

“Take whatever you need,” he said to the uniformed men. “But make it quick.”

A wave of confusion and fear crashed over me. “Dad,” I tried again, louder this time.

This time, he turned. The moment his eyes met mine, something flickered across his face—shame, regret, something heavy enough to settle in my gut like a stone.

“What’s going on?” I demanded.

He exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his tired face. “It’s over, Elena.”

His words echoed in my head, sinking deep, refusing to make sense. “What do you mean, over?”

“I borrowed money to keep the company running,” he admitted, his voice thick with defeat. “I thought I could turn things around, but the debts… the interest… I couldn’t pay it back.”

I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering. “Dad…”

“They gave me time,” he continued, running a shaking hand through his graying hair. “More than they should have. But I kept falling behind. And now…” He gestured to the men clearing out his office. “Now, they’re taking everything.”

I felt the ground shift beneath me. This company wasn’t just a business. It was his life’s work. Our security. Our home.

“I’ll figure something out,” I said quickly. “I can help—”

“No.” He cut me off, shaking his head. “This is my burden, Elena. Not yours.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the exhaustion in his eyes silenced me. He had been carrying this weight alone for too long.

“Just… pick up your siblings from school, okay?” I hesitated. “Are you sure?” He nodded, though his posture remained stiff.

“I just need time to sort things out.”

Something about the way he said it felt like a lie. But I let it go.

For now. I stepped forward and hugged him. He stiffened at first, then exhaled slowly, resting his chin lightly on my head.

“We’ll be okay,” I whispered.

He didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure if he believed it.

The streets were quieter by the time I left. The air was thick with the scent of rain, and my thoughts churned, tangled with the weight of what I had just learned. How had I not seen this coming? How had he hidden this from me for so long? I was so lost in thought that I barely noticed the low hum of an approaching car. A sleek black vehicle moved toward me, its headlights cutting through the darkness. I had just stepped off the curb when the engine let out a deep, warning growl. I snapped out of my daze just in time. The car swerved, missing me by inches. My breath hitched as I stumbled back, heart slamming against my ribs. The vehicle slowed slightly, and through the tinted back window, I saw him. A man. Watching me. His face was half-shadowed, but his gray eyes—cold, unreadable—were locked onto mine. There was no concern there. No apology. Just irritation. As if I had inconvenienced him by almost getting run over. A chill ran down my spine. Then, just as quickly as it had come, the car sped off, disappearing into the night. I exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to my chest. Who the hell was that? By the time I reached the school, I had forced a smile onto my face.

Sophia spotted me first, waving excitedly as she jogged over. “Elena!”

I ruffled her hair, forcing a chuckle. “Traffic.”

Jordan approached next, offering his hand instead of a hug. He was still in that phase where affection was “uncool,” so I indulged him with a firm shake.

“You look different,” he observed. “Did your boss bother you again today?”

I hesitated for half a second before waving him off. “Something like that. I’m just tired, but you don’t need to worry about that.”

“I’m glad you said that because I have an assignment with your name on it,” he smirked. I laughed softly.

“If I keep doing all your assignments, you’ll never learn.”

“I watch you do them. That’s the same as learning.” I raised an eyebrow. “Last time. After today, you’re on your own.”

Jordan groaned in exaggerated disappointment, making Sophia giggle. For a brief moment, I let myself enjoy the normalcy. The easy banter. The illusion that everything was fine. But deep down, I knew. Things were far from fine.