His phone rang. Max didn't need to look at the screen to know who it was. He answered anyway.
"Hello, Max." Alex's voice came through, smooth, almost casual. "It's been five days. When are you giving me the fifty million you promised?" For a second, there was silence.
Then. "Meet me in an hour," Max said, his tone flat. "I'll send the location." He ended the call before Alex could respond.
The house fell quiet again. But this time, it wasn't empty. It was… waiting. Max walked upstairs slowly, each step deliberate. He entered the bedroom. Their bedroom.
His gaze flickered..just for a second..to the bed, to the space where she should have been. Laughing. Arguing. Alive. His jaw tightened. And just like that. The emotion was gone.
