TALA I smiled at Sir Aiden’s assurance as I walked down the long, echoing hallway. On the surface, the smile was warm, soft, the kind that made me seem composed, reasonable, even approachable. But beneath it, a storm raged. My mind refused to let me relax, wandering back to my former office—the one now occupied by the woman who had so casually taken my place. My chest tightened at the thought. Not for long, I muttered under my breath, letting my fingers clench instinctively at my sides. I would find a way to reclaim what was mine. I always did. The hallway felt longer than usual that day. The cold, sterile walls reflected my own agitation, mirrored back at me like some cruel trick of perspective. Every step echoed harshly against the marble floor, sounding louder than it should have. I forced my shoulders to remain straight, my gait calm, but inside, my heart pounded with anticipation and something darker—something resembling fury, though I dressed it as controlled patience. I remin
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