238

Damien

As I made my way to the office, a heavy weight settled in the pit of my stomach, a familiar sense of unease that had become all too common in recent days. The mere thought of my father, Vito, being back in the company sent a shiver down my spine, reigniting old wounds and stoking the embers of resentment that smoldered beneath the surface.

The truth was, I couldn't stand the sight of him—the man who had not only abandoned me as a child but had also endangered the woman I loved not once, but twice. His presence in the company was a constant reminder of the painful past that I had worked so hard to overcome, a bitter pill that I was forced to swallow with each passing day.

But it wasn't just his past transgressions that irked me; it was also his arrogance, his sense of entitlement, and his blatant disregard for anyone else's feelings or opinions. He waltzed back into Renaissance as if he owned the place, strutting around like a peacock with a chip on his shoulder, his mere prese