amid the chaos
Mark came up with a plan to lessen his losses in the midst of this storm. He devised a scheme that he thought would bring things back into balance as his desperation grew. He knew that regaining control was desperately needed, and his alternatives were becoming limited. Friends and acquaintances became icy, and the once-solid ground became wobbly underfoot. Clinging to dwindling hopes, Mark sought to save his reputation and protect himself from more humiliation among the mayhem.

Amid The Chaos
proposing reconciliation
Mark’s normally assured voice took on a hint of desperation as he stretched out. With a gleam of hope, he proposed, “We can settle this.” He offered a partial settlement as bait for reconciliation. On the surface, the offer seemed alluring—a way to calm the storm. He tried to smooth over the chaos by wrapping his words around the past. Beneath his carefully constructed façade, however, was a sense of urgency, a request for pardon cloaked in altruism.

Proposing Reconciliation