Solace’s downfall wasn’t a slow decline anymore.
It was a free fall.
Every morning, Sebastian woke to new numbers—each one worse than the last. The stock value had plummeted so far it was practically scraping the bottom of the market. Investors were pulling out one by one, some quietly, some with scathing emails about “mismanagement” and “public image concerns.”
The restaurant that once symbolized his dream now felt like a sinking ship, and Sebastian was the captain watching it go under.
He sat in the study of the mansion he shared with Cecilia, staring at the financial reports spread across the desk. His eyes burned from lack of sleep. His hands shook every time he reached for his coffee.
He didn’t know how much longer he could pretend he had control.
Cecilia entered the room withou
