480: Atonement

After his conversation with Jada, Alex returned home, his mind swirling with thoughts. The first thing he did was sift through all the records of his interactions and collaborations with Emma. As he poured over the documents, he felt a surge of embarrassment and shame. Unbeknownst to him, many of the deals he had believed to be his own accomplishments were actually facilitated by Emma’s quiet, behind-the-scenes support. He had been unaware of how much Emma had helped him. She had never once mentioned her involvement, even when he had hidden his true identity and contemplated relinquishing his family's inheritance. He never intended to tell Emma about it. As he reviewed the records, he felt a wave of regret wash over him. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. He had always made things more complicated and had severely underestimated Emma. During their marriage, he had suspected her of having ulterior motives, leading him to treat her poorly. But now, with the