yl

uzz of the café. Adrian's phone was still sitting on the table, the message glowing like a warning sign. She could feel a tight knot in her throat. This was the mome

er now, steadier than sh

t with the truth staring them

omas Hart," she

" Layla looked down at her hands, pressing her nails into her palms to keep herself from shaking. "Because tha

ant you to

omething she couldn't quite put her finger on-maybe it

ever touched his money. Ev

you kept

I won't spend my life erasing my

like the city might offer an easier answe

y," he said final

u might think, Layla

en

me knew. From the moment you said your

oat. You don't even know me, she said

t no

nd up, walk out, and disappear like every othe

ropped, quiet but steady. "Wh

ed by the question. "Y

I know what my father said.

in her chest-just a

When things started going wrong at Blackwell Holdings, he tried to fix it quietly. Tried to protect his clients. But

ying he wa

y's reputation. My father signed one deal he shouldn't have-under pressure, under threats. The n

slowly, expres

ng to survive. To do good in a world that chewed up my family and s

t her, long

t stole from us. That he betrayed con

from bankrupting working-class clients to save

blinked

thing. Emails. Records. He gave them to me before

ome for me, I won't just sit quietly. Adrian stood up suddenly, t

d too, pul

ria

asked, voice sharp. "

iving the

I just want to take a look.Because if you're telling the t

ian said, his jaw tightening. "Then I walk awa

tood on. Everything below them was shar

Okay. They stood there, both feeling the weight of their pasts and the new things between them. In that moment, something real lin

ppeared: "Keep it, Layla. If anything ever happens, you'll need it. You can't trust them-

led the flap

emos that weren't supposed to

udding, the past suddenly

same way again. Not because of what her fathe

shatter h

ed to give it to him. Not f

way forward between t

buzzed b

ess

you're ready,

lie

at it for a

typed

to see everything. E

ng under the stars. The headlights created gentle streaks on the glass, but her eyes were fixed on the folder resting on her kitchen c

t want to

could bury anymore. Not now. Not wi

ne buzz

sn't a message.

ri

she answered."Hey,"

out what you said. About what I said."Layla rested her arms o

questioning if I messed up. Was I pushing you away to

know who I can trust anymore," he admitted. "But I can't forget how you looked at m

t. Then: "Do you still

check it out, he

you come, Adrian... you have to come ready

owered. "I

rrow at my place. But, Adrian... you need to

ready. "No," Layla

ped aside, l

ng fa