CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE: PALE

Axel arrived at the sleek, modern office of Sarah’s company, feeling a mix of anticipation and trepidation. It had been a while since their last meeting, and he couldn’t deny the pang of curiosity about how she was doing. As he stepped into the glass-walled conference room, he noticed Sarah already seated at the head of the table, reviewing some documents. “Morning, Sarah,” Axel greeted, his voice steady. Sarah looked up, offering a brief, polite smile. “Morning, Axel.” As the rest of the team filed in and took their seats, Axel couldn’t help but notice that Sarah looked unusually pale. Throughout the meeting, he observed her closely, noting the way she rubbed her temples and seemed slightly out of breath. “Sarah, are you alright?” Axel asked softly during a brief break in the discussions. “You look a bit pale.” She straightened in her seat, giving him a tight-lipped smile. “I’m fine, Axel. Just a bit under the weather. Nothing to worry about.” He wasn’t convinced, but he nodded,