Michael stood near his penthouse office's floor-to-ceiling windows, where the drizzle obscured the cityscape. The glass of scotch he hadn't sipped was encircled by his fingers, and his jaw was clenched so tightly it hurt.
The call had come from him that morning.
to the police.
To his legal team.
To put an end to it all.
Edward Reed had gone too far in trying to undermine the business, coercing Lorna, and threatening to harm her. And for too long, Michael had put up with too much. However, he was fighting for more than just his company this time.
She was under his protection.
Edward was done.
The arrest had been made quickly. He was linked to surveillance footage, threats sent through burner phones, and Lorna being harassed by a paid proxy. Everything had been turned in by Michael.
In the evening, Edward was taken into custody, and the court issued a restraining order—swift, cold justice.
However, the most difficult part was still to come.
Hours later, storm-eyed, breathless, and distraught, Lorna arrived at his penthouse.
"You didn't tell me that he was arrested?" As soon as she entered, she snapped.
Slowly, Michael turned, his face unreadable.
"You ought to have approached me, Michael. I had to participate in that choice.
"I took the necessary action," he stated bluntly.
He caught Lorna's attention. "Once more, you cut me off. You have no right to make decisions about my life without consulting me.
"He posed a threat."
"I had to deal with him."
Quiet.
Then, with a low, determined voice, Michael spoke again. "I am no longer able to do this."
Like ice, the words struck her.
"What?"
He let out a hollow exhale. "Us. This back and forth. I feel like I'm losing control every time I let you in. I can't afford to break again, either.
"You're just... calling it quits?" Her voice cracked as she asked.
His eyes flitted away as he said, "I'm not the man you think I am. And I never will be." "It's better for you. For both of us." Her throat constricted. "You don't get to decide what's better for me."
"But I already have." She stared at him for a long moment, seeing the barricades in his eyes and the distance he was determined to create, and then she walked away without saying another word.
Michael stood by himself in the dark as the door clicked shut, the scotch glass finally slipping from his fingers and breaking at his feet, but the silence that followed was much worse than the sound of glass breaking.