[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603220ECDF1-623":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},623,65,"Chapter 65: \"Are You Deleting the Person or the History?\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The first time was at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As Roman Griffin rose to grab a clean pair of pajamas for Violette, he caught a glimpse of her phone screen flashing in the dark. It was the holiday, after all; no one’s phone went silent on New Year's. He didn't think much of it at first—until the screen flickered again, and again. Each time, the name \"Blake Pierce\" popped up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman was a man who handled everything with clinical ease, but when it came to Violette’s ex, he was unmoored. She was someone he had spent years meticulously trapping in his web; their marriage was a calculated gamble he’d spent months orchestrating. The name \"Blake Pierce\" was the single biggest obstacle he’d ever faced. It stuck in his throat like a jagged shard of glass.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Ever since he’d first lost his composure at The White Peaks and answered a call intended for her, he’d known: if there was a first time, there would be a second.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He just hadn't expected the second time to come so soon.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When he unlocked her phone, he felt remarkably little hesitation. He told himself that because they both knew each other’s passcodes, it was an implicit agreement—a mutual right to trespass into the other’s digital sanctuary. Roman was a man of extreme self-restraint, yet Violette was his Pandora’s box, and he found himself prying it open, over and over, regardless of the consequences.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He unlocked the phone, deleted the new messages, and then returned to bed, feigning normalcy as he held her close. This had become his nightly ritual over the past few days. But tonight, he was unusually quiet.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The chat history he had memorized by heart was now scrubbed clean.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The New Year brought a steady stream of house guests. As was tradition, Bradley Harper and the rest of the circle had been dragged by their parents to pay their respects at the Griffin estate. Since Emerson Griffin was currently in Hawaii, the gathering moved to Blue Springs Estate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With no elders around to keep them in check, the younger lot acted as if they owned the place. Bradley, in particular, collapsed onto the sofa like a pile of discarded laundry. One hand was absent-mindedly petting the cat, while the other tapped furiously against his screen.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’m losing my mind! Just because I didn't fly her out to Tokyo for a shopping trip, she’s ignoring my texts and hanging up on my calls!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dax Murphy watched the drama unfold with a grin, adding salt to the wound. \"Which one is this for the year?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s just her! You know how devoted I am!\" Bradley let out a sudden, strangled squawk. \"Holy hell! She deleted me!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dax just chuckled, a dry, mocking sound. \"The price of being a liar.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley was a man raised in a bubble of constant validation; he didn't handle rejection well. He was mid-rant when he saw Roman descending the staircase. He instantly dialed back his volume. For some reason, even though Roman was the most even-tempered of the group, Bradley always felt an instinctive need to tread carefully around him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hey, Roman. You’re up?\" Bradley switched to a forced, sunny grin.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman paced the room, clicking his watch into place. \"What are you guys talking about?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Just his latest girl,\" Dax offered, serving as the group's mouth. \"She just blocked him.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman’s eyes lifted. \"Blocked?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman usually treated their romantic entanglements like background noise, never once bothering to engage in their banter. Perhaps it was the holiday mood, or the lack of real work, but the fact that Roman was even asking felt like a massive gesture of interest. Bradley’s ego inflated instantly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Ignoring the sting of being blocked, he mumbled, \"It's fine, it's not the first time. I’m used to it. She’ll add me back in a few days. We’re always blocking and unblocking each other during fights.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Fights? Blocking and unblocking?*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman’s hand dropped. He sat down, his expression unreadable.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As he settled, the cat—Sunny—scrambled off the sofa and curled into his lap, nuzzling against his chest. Roman held his hand out for the cat to rub against, his fingers rhythmic and steady. Once the animal was still, he spoke.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Do you delete the person, or just the chat logs?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was as if the sun had risen in the west. Bradley froze, looking left and right to see if his friends were as baffled as he was. \"Uh... delete the... person?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman glanced at him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley immediately pivoted. \"Or the logs?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"That’s your business,\" Roman said calmly. \"Don't look at me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Right. Right.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley kept his eyes on Roman, his voice tentative, every word measured and adjusted based on the micro-expressions on Roman’s face. \"Usually, it's the person... but if you delete the person, the history vanishes too. So, technically, you’re right, either way works. But people don't usually delete a *specific* message... I mean, those logs aren't exactly meant for anyone else to read, right?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Wait, did that sound wrong?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley licked his dry lips. \"I meant... there’s nothing really incriminating in them. It’s not like I’m worried about someone—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dammit, that sounded even worse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley scrambled again. \"Even if someone did see them, it’s not like we have anything to hide. The logs are just—\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He was spiraling. Why in the hell was he debating his toxic relationship history at Roman’s house on New Year’s? Bradley felt his scalp prickle and shot a desperate look at Dax. Dax stared pointedly at the ceiling.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Roman,\" Bradley pressed, forcing a laugh. \"Why the sudden interest in my love life?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Just curious,\" Roman said, his voice as flat as a blade.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman was generally considered a man of top-tier temperament. Under normal circumstances, no one could have hit that many landmines in one conversation and walked away unscathed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Not only did Bradley survive, but Roman even kept him for dinner.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only, the meal felt less like a celebration and more like a final request. After dinner, Roman called him into the study and tossed several project folders onto the desk.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley scanned them quickly. \"Roman, what’s this?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman was cold and precise when talking business. It was his greatest strength—he was a machine, a man who processed the world without the interference of messy, personal sentiment.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I’ve considered every option,\" Roman said. \"You’re the only one for this.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley felt a surge of pride. \"Roman, don't worry. Putting these in my hands? Piece of cake.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I thought so,\" Roman agreed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"But these regions are a bit remote,\" Bradley mused. \"Do you want me to head out there to set up a new branch, or were you thinking of finding local distributors?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Roman leaned in, his finger tapping the cover of the folder with a rhythmic, measured cadence. \"You didn't read it closely enough.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Oh?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">V-Oasis was currently operating with Deepwater as its hub. These projects were aimed at massive expansion into the far south and the deep north—places ranging from the rugged climates of Greenland to the industrial sectors of Pretoria. In areas where the infrastructure wasn't fully developed, the locals were wary of high-tech firms. It required someone with clout and a heavy hand to get things done.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bradley, blinded by the promotion, didn't notice the trap.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s not for a branch, and it’s not for distributors,\" Roman said, his voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper. \"It’s for you. You are going to go there, personally.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272919372]