Lydia sat by the window long after Jaden's car disappeared through the gates. The city below moved on — honking cars, distant chatter, the pulse of normal life — but inside, her world was quietly unraveling.
The man she trusted was keeping secrets.
And not just small ones — dangerous ones.
She needed answers, and she knew exactly where to start.
On the corner of Jaden's desk, she'd seen a business card last night. She didn't think much of it then, but now… now it was everything.
The name on it read: "Dr. Adrian Vale — Strategic Consultant, Cassian Group."
Cassian again.
Cassandra's surname.
Lydia opened her phone, searched the name, and found an old interview — a finance summit held three years ago. There was Adrian Vale, standing beside Jaden, both younger, both confident. The caption beneath the photo read:
> "Business partners turned rivals: The fall of the Cassian-Vale Syndicate."
Her stomach dropped.
She hit the call button before she could stop herself.
One ring. Two rings. Then—
"Dr. Vale speaking."
"Um… hello. My name is Lydia. I'm— I'm calling about Jaden Blackwell."
Silence. Then a low chuckle.
"I was wondering when someone would finally reach out. How is the prince of cold hearts these days?"
Her throat tightened. "You know him?"
"Oh, I knew him," Adrian said darkly. "But I also know what he's become. Let me guess — he's been keeping things from you, hasn't he?"
Lydia swallowed hard. "I just want the truth."
Adrian's tone softened a little. "Then meet me in person. There are things you need to see — things even Jaden wouldn't dare tell you."
"Where?"
"The old Cassian warehouse. Pier 9. Midnight. And Lydia… come alone."
The line clicked dead.
Lydia's hands shook as she lowered the phone. A cold chill ran through her body — fear mixed with curiosity. Every instinct told her to walk away, but she couldn't.
If Jaden truly cared about her, why was he hiding this world from her?
As she turned toward the window again, a flash of movement caught her eye — a black car parked just beyond the gate, engine running.
And for the first time, Lydia wasn't sure if she was being watched… or protected.