Chapter 125

DANTE

I paced back and forth in the office, my eyes constantly glancing at the wall clock as each minute ticked by with agonizing slowness. Lyza was never late, let alone two hours late for an important meeting like this. Something wasn't right, and my worry grew with each passing moment.

I tried to convince myself to stay calm, to trust that there must be a reasonable explanation for her absence. Perhaps there was an unexpected complication, a delay beyond her control. But the nagging sense of unease gnawed at me, refusing to be silenced by logic.

I reached for my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I dialed Lyza's number. The sound of the dial tone seemed to mock me, a constant reminder of the unanswered call. I tried again, hoping for a different outcome, but the result remained the same—her phone was out of coverage.

My mind raced with countless possibilities, each one more troubling than the last. What if something terrible had happened to her? What if she was in danger and una