Julian’s study was a shrine to his ego. The walls were lined with framed medical degrees, awards from prestigious surgical societies, and photographs of him shaking hands with hospital board members. At the center of the room sat a massive, polished mahogany desk, meticulously organized, untouched b

The dawn sky over the city was the color of a fresh bruise, a sickly mix of purple and gray that bled through the windshield of Julian Vance’s Aston Martin. He gripped the leather steering wheel, his knuckles white, his eyes gritty with exhaustion. He had spent the entire night pacing the sterile co

Julian Vance drove like a man possessed. His Aston Martin tore through the early morning traffic, the engine roaring in protest as he ran red lights and swerved around delivery trucks. His vision was blurred with unshed tears, his chest tight with a panic so absolute it felt like a myocardial infarc