Chapter 8 – The Studious Son
Alex surprised the staff.
He woke early.
Sat in the study with management books stacked high.
Took notes.
Asked the butler for coffee, black, no sugar.
Even skipped dinner twice, claiming he was “deep in a chapter.”
The housekeeper reported it with wonder.
“Never seen him touch a book longer than ten minutes before.”
Sophia watched him over breakfast.
“He seems different,” she said.
I buttered my toast.
“People can seem anything when they’re desperate.”
She glanced at me.
“You think it’s an act?”
I didn’t answer directly.
“I think desperation makes good theater.”
That evening, I pulled the first week’s footage.
Alex at the desk.
Headphones in.
Screen angled away from the hidden lens—just enough.
But the audio caught everything.
Soft laughter.
A woman’s voice, low and teasing.
Chloe.
Every single night.
He hadn’t cut contact.
He’d just gotten better at hiding it.
I paused the clip.
Felt the familiar chill settle in my chest.
Not shock.
Not even anger.
Just confirmation.
I closed the laptop.
Tomorrow, he would ask to come to the office.
I already had the role picked out.
Junior technician.
Far from power.
Close enough to watch.