Rain poured down the glass walls of the penthouse, each drop echoing like distant memories. Jaden stood by the window, a glass of whiskey untouched in his hand. The city lights shimmered below, but his mind wasn't in the present — it was years away, in a place he swore never to return.
Three years earlier…
The office smelled of power — expensive cologne, polished wood, and ambition. Cassandra Hayes walked in like she owned the room. Her red heels clicked softly against the marble, matching the crimson lipstick that framed her smile.
"You called for me, Mr. Cross?" she asked, voice smooth as silk.
Jaden leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold but curious. "You've been intercepting accounts under my name."
Her lips curved into a smirk. "Correction — I've been protecting your accounts from the people trying to ruin you."
He studied her for a long moment. "And why would you do that?"
She stepped closer, her perfume filling the air between them. "Because, Jaden… we could make a great team — you with your empire, and me with my secrets."
That was the beginning.
What started as partnership quickly became something darker. She was brilliant, manipulative, beautiful — and dangerous. Together, they built deals that shook the finance world, and together they crossed lines that should never have been crossed.
Until one night, everything shattered.
Cassandra had betrayed him — millions gone, reputations destroyed, and a scandal that could've ended his life. But what broke Jaden wasn't the money. It was the moment she whispered before walking away:
> "You'll never love anyone else the way you loved me."
Back in the present, Jaden exhaled sharply, the weight of her voice still haunting him.
He placed the empty glass down and turned — Lydia was standing quietly at the door, her eyes soft but searching.
"You loved her," she said simply.
He didn't deny it. "I thought I did," he replied. "But I didn't realize love can be the most dangerous investment of all."
Lydia's chest tightened. "And now you're afraid to let anyone in again."
Jaden's eyes met hers — vulnerable for the first time. "Maybe," he whispered. "But you're the first
person who's made me want to try."