Chapter 96

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, Serena stepped into the Jansen residence. The moment she walked in, her eyes landed on the man sitting alone on the couch. Zach was dressed in a crisp shirt and tailored slacks, his sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal his strong forearms and a gold watch. He sat there in silence, watching her. The last rays of sunlight filtered through the windows, casting long shadows between them, as if drawing an invisible line that separated two people standing on opposite sides of a world that was no longer the same. Silence hung heavy in the air. Howard stepped forward, playing the role of the peacemaker. With a seemingly gentle gesture, he took Serena's coat and hung it up for her. Serena eyed his unusual behavior and casually slipped one hand into her pocket. In reality, Howard used the moment to say in a hushed tone, "We're about to collaborate with Foster Group. You'll have to cross paths anyway, so talk to him now and apologize to keep