Danielle walked into the office building as usual, carrying her laptop bag.
Inside the lab, her colleagues were already busy, the air filled with the sounds of keyboard clicks and quiet discussions.
Danielle set her bag down and was about to open her computer to review yesterday’s test data when she remembered she hadn't had a chance to use the restroom that morning. She stood up and headed towards the end of the hall.
It was quiet in the restroom, with only the soft click of a stall door.
Just as Danielle stepped into the farthest stall, she heard the voices of two female colleagues. They were speaking quietly, but their words pierced her like needles.
“Did you hear? Chief Engineer Crawford apparently walked out on her husband and child!”
The speaker was a new intern, her voice buzzing with gossipy excitement.
“Really? She seems so dedicated to her work. She doesn't seem like the type to do something like that.”
The other voice was tinged with doubt.
“Of course it’s true! I heard it from someone close to Miss Gaylord. Not only was Chief Engineer Crawford married to Mr. Davidson, but they had a son named Raffy. She abandoned the child just to climb the ladder here at the Institute!”
“And now that Mr. Davidson is engaged to Miss Gaylord, she’s still always trying to cozy up to him at the office. Isn’t that the classic homewrecker?”
Abandoned her child. Homewrecker. The words struck Danielle like heavy hammers. Her hand on the stall door tightened, her knuckles turning white.
These rumors couldn't have come from nowhere. Someone was deliberately spreading them.
The discussion outside continued, but Danielle stood frozen, leaning against the cold stall door.
She could only imagine how wildly these stories were spreading through the company.

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