CHAPTER 320: QUIT PLAYING GAMES

George sat at his desk, the glow from his computer screen casting a faint light on his furrowed brow. He had just reviewed the day's report, which seemed positive on the surface, but a lingering unease gnawed at him. Lauretta's words from the previous night echoed in his mind like a relentless refrain: "I don't love you." Unable to shake off the weight of her declaration, George decided he needed clarity. Glancing at his wristwatch, he noted it was past noon, nearing the office lunch hour. Lauretta would likely be in the company canteen, taking her lunch. With a heavy sigh, he retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialed her number. Ring. Ring. Ring. No answer. He tried again, three more times, growing increasingly anxious. "Maybe she left her phone at her desk," he murmured to himself, staring at the screen, hoping for a missed call notification. Hours passed, each minute feeling like an eternity as George waited for a response that never came. By 3 PM, frustration and worry had