Victor opened the door and stepped into the room with someone beside him—someone Clifford hadn't expected in a million years. He blinked, eyes narrowing in confusion. The woman looked unfamiliar, yet… something about her made his chest tighten.
Britney glanced at her too but didn't react. She clearly didn't recognize the woman either.
The woman's eyes shimmered with tears the moment she saw Clifford. She lifted a shaky hand to cover her mouth, as if stopping herself from breaking down right there in the office.
Victor scanned the tension in the room and spoke gently, "Am I interrupting something?"
Clifford's gaze didn't shift. "Who is this woman?" he asked, voice steady but eyes alert.
Victor sensed the pressure building and calmly turned to Britney. "Would you mind giving us a moment?"
Clifford hesitated. He didn't want her to leave—not with his son still missing—but something about this woman made him pause. Her tears… the way she looked at him. He needed to know why.
