Chapter 41

Welbeck sat alone in his dimly lit study, the only source of light emanating from the antique desk lamp. His eyes fixed on Christine's picture, a haunting reminder of a love lost and a question unanswered. The crackle of the fireplace provided the only sound in the room, the flames mirroring the turmoil in Welbeck's mind.

The question echoed in his head, refusing to be ignored. "Why did you go back to your husband?" The words seemed to bounce off the walls, reverberating within him. His hand clenched into a fist, and with a sudden surge of emotion, he slammed it onto the polished mahogany table, the impact reverberating through the room.

"Christine," he whispered, his voice a mixture of pain and frustration. He reached for the photograph, his fingers tracing the outline of her face. In the picture, she smiled, her eyes filled with a warmth that once brought solace to Welbeck's troubled soul. They had shared dreams, whispered promises, and built castles in the air together. But now, sh