Lydia hadn't slept properly since that night in the garage.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Jaden's face — the anger, the fear, the kiss.
He'd saved her life… and then vanished.
No calls.
No texts.
Just silence.
But silence had never stopped her before.
If Jaden wouldn't talk, she'd find answers herself.
That's what brought her here — the 38th floor of Steele Industries — the confidential archives section.
She wasn't alone.
A tall man in his mid-thirties waited by the door, adjusting his cufflinks nervously.
Ryan Caldwell.
Jaden's right-hand man. His operations director — and, if rumors were true, one of the few people Jaden actually trusted.
He frowned as she approached. "You're playing with fire, Miss Lydia."
She crossed her arms. "Then light the match for me. I'm tired of being left in the dark."
He studied her for a long moment before sighing. "Fine. But once you see what's in here, there's no going back."
He pressed his ID to the scanner.
The door slid open — revealing rows of glass shelves filled with sleek black files and digital drives.
Ryan handed her one marked PHX-01.
Lydia plugged it into the computer. A folder popped open, showing financial statements, offshore accounts… and one name she didn't expect to see.
> "The Callahan Group."
Her heart stopped. That was her father's company.
She scrolled faster — seeing document after document showing secret transfers, falsified investments… all leading back to Jaden Steele.
Her voice cracked. "This—this can't be real."
Ryan's tone was low. "It's real. But it's not what it looks like."
"What do you mean?"
"Jaden didn't steal from your father," Ryan said quietly. "He protected him."
Lydia blinked. "Protected him? How?"
Ryan hesitated. "Your father owed a lot of dangerous people money. When he disappeared five years ago, Jaden took the blame — absorbed the debt — and nearly lost everything in the process. Project Phoenix was created to rebuild what your father destroyed."
Lydia's lips parted. "He knew all along who I was?"
Ryan nodded slowly. "He never wanted you to find out. He thought if you knew… you'd hate him."
Her world tilted. All those moments — his distance, his coldness, his protectiveness — they all made painful sense now.
Jaden wasn't her enemy.
He was her shield.
Tears burned her eyes. "Where is he now?"
Ryan looked away. "He's in Dubai… finalizing a deal that could end Phoenix once and for all. But he's not safe there. Someone inside the company wants him gone — permanently."
Lydia clenched her fists. "Then I'm going after him."
Ryan's eyes widened. "You don't know what you're walking into.
I don't care. He saved my father's legacy… and mine. Now it's my turn to save him."