I raised an eyebrow, surprised at the audacity of his plea. “One mistake, Robert? You’ve been waiting for this opportunity to cut me down, to revel in my supposed failure. You wanted to see me crumble, deemed worthless in the eyes of the world and yours. Well, congratulations, you’ve gotten your wish. But now, it’s time for me to make my own wish come true.”The voice on the other end of the line, calm and authoritative, broke the brief silence. “Understood, Mrs. Daniels. Consider it done. Robert will be relieved of his duties immediately, and we will have the paperwork ready for your signature by tomorrow.”

I nodded, though Helen couldn’t see me. “Thank you, Helen. I appreciate your efficiency.”I ended the call, tucking the phone back into my pocket with deliberate care. Meanwhile, Robert seemed to have aged a decade in mere minutes, his once confident posture sagging as if under the weight of his own downfall.“Anna,” he began again, reaching out as if to touch some tender part of our shared history. “Think about what you’re doing. How will this look to others? How will it affect us?”