The sun had barely risen over the skyline, casting a pale light across the polished floors of Malia's office. She sat behind her desk, a sea of papers and contracts spread out in front of her. The weight of the decision she had made still felt heavy, but there was a sense of clarity now that she had finally taken control of her own future. The overseas deal—the one she had fought for, the one that promised to elevate her company into new territories—was within her grasp. It was the next step, the one that would define her as both a businesswoman and a person who no longer needed anyone's approval to succeed.
The deal was done, the papers ready to be signed. But more than that, it was a promise to herself. A promise that, from here on out, she would no longer be tethered to the ghosts of her past—especially not to Nixus and Selene.
