Chapter 57: Opening Wounds

Rose's POV: She was nervous as she waited for Eric to arrive. She hadn't seen him in months, and she wasn't sure what to expect. When he finally arrived, he looked tired and worn out. He gave her a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey," he said, his voice sounding strained. "Thanks for meeting with me." "It's no problem," Rose said, forcing a smile. "How have you been?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Eric looked down at the table, avoiding her gaze. "Not great," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been struggling to cope with everything that's happened." Rose knew that he was referring to the scandals and the fallout from them. "My business is failing, and everything is going down the drain," Eric said, his voice breaking. "I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm drowning." Rose felt a flicker of anger, but she pushed it down. She had to stay calm and in control. "You should have thought about that before you got yourself into thi