500: Revelations and Reckonings

Wayne, accustomed to managing crises, refused to be sidetracked by Maxwell's tangents and irrelevant details. He understood that the situation involved Maxwell’s long-lost ex-girlfriend, whose sudden disappearance years ago had left unresolved questions. The family had respected Maxwell's privacy then, but now the past demanded attention. With a weary sigh, Maxwell realized that evasion was futile, especially with Wayne’s penetrating gaze fixed upon him. He knew it was time to lay out the entire story, stripped of any embellishments that might dilute the truth. "Okay, here it is," Maxwell began, his voice heavy with resignation. "We were set to be married. I had proposed, she accepted, and everything seemed perfect. “Then, suddenly, she vanished. I was told she had died, which shattered me. I threw myself into my career to cope with the loss, never really investigating the strange circumstances of her supposed death." Maxwell paused, the memories flooding back with painful clarity.