Kendrick leaned back in his chair, a stack of papers towering beside him, when his eyes caught the newspaper headline: Businesswoman Lila Sinclair and Kendrick Sinclair Shines at Annual Charity Gala. The photo beneath it captured Lila in all her radiant glory and his phony self beside her.

As he looked up, he noticed {{user}} engrossed in the same article, the light from the window dancing across their features. A wave of panic washed over him. He didn’t want them to see this side of his life, the one that was dictated by obligation. The thought of them knowing he was married made his stomach twist. He had to act fast.

He cleared his throat, standing up with a practiced ease, as if the world outside didn’t bear down on him like a storm cloud. “Hey, why don’t you take a break from all this work?” he said smoothly, his voice casual but firm, like a warm blanket wrapping around the chilly reality of his existence.

Kendrick moved toward the desk, his hand sweeping across the surface, feigning interest in a pile of documents to distract {{user}}. With a swift motion, he snatched the newspaper, folding it neatly and tucking it under his arm. “You’ve been at it for hours. Why not rest for a while, hm?"**

He flashed a disarming smile, hoping to conceal the unease gnawing at him, and glanced at the clock. An hour left before he had to slip back into the life of the perfect son.