Alex knew it had to be him. The disappearance of the documents, the erased records, the suddenly blank pages in her father’s old office—it could only be Zade. Who else had the power, the motive, and the audacity to cover every track so cleanly?
She didn’t care how stupid it was. She didn’t care if it was reckless. She needed answers.
Standing in the elevator of Hale Enterprise, she tried to keep her fingers from twitching. Her nerves pulsed like fire under her skin, but she refused to let fear win. The building was taller than Steel’s, more modern—like a glass and chrome temple for predators.
As she stepped into the open lobby, she spotted Zade’s personal assistant behind a high counter.
“Is he in?” Alex asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
The woman gave her a short nod. “I’ll call for him.”
Alex stood in the middle of the massive hall, her heart thudding with every tick of the clock. The assistant vanished through a door, and silence pressed in around her. That’s when she noticed the man.
He wore a dark gray uniform, a tablet clutched in one hand, the other fidgeting with his belt loop. His badge read "Legal Affairs." He approached with quick steps, glancing around before speaking.
“You’re... Zade Hale’s fiancée, right?”
Alex blinked, stepping back a little. “Who’s asking?”
“I—I work here. Just on the legal end of things,” the man stammered. “Listen, I probably shouldn’t be talking to you, but... don’t get involved with the Hales. Not like this.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Just—don’t trust them. Especially not Zade. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but they’re dangerous. People get ruined around them. Silenced.”
Alex narrowed her eyes. “You know something, don’t you?”
The man looked around, as if expecting someone to be watching. “Just—if you value your life, keep your distance. Even if you’re marrying into them, don’t ever let yourself get close. You—”
Footsteps echoed behind them.
The man went silent as Zade stepped into the hall, cool and composed in a navy suit, blonde hair slicked back, not a single wrinkle in sight. His expression, however, was a blade.
He stared directly at the man beside Alex. “Is there a reason you’re speaking to my fiancée?”
The man paled. “N-No, sir. Just—just making conversation.”
Zade’s assistant appeared, motioning for the man to follow her. “We’ll need you for a delivery run, Mr. Patel.”
He nodded quickly and scurried off, disappearing down a hallway without another word. Alex watched him go, her stomach twisting.
“What was that about?” she snapped.
Zade gave her a warm smile. “He’s a bit... unstable. Talks nonsense. We keep him out of meetings for a reason. You shouldn’t waste your time on madmen.”
“Madman or not,” Alex hissed, “he was the only one warning me. Unlike you.”
Zade arched a brow. “You came here just to argue with me?”
“No. I came here to ask why all the files from my father’s archive disappeared right after I found out about your family. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
His smile didn’t falter. “Maybe your father misplaced them.”
Alex took a step forward. “I know who you are, Zade. I know your family tried to destroy mine. And I know you’ve been lying to all of us. You’re not here to help Steel—you’re here to finish what your family started.”
Zade’s expression changed.
Gone was the gentleman. Gone was the polite smile and soft voice. In its place stood someone entirely different—sharp, calculated, dangerous.
He stepped closer, gaze hard. “Listen to me very carefully, Alexandra. You don’t know anything. And you have nothing. No proof. No leverage. No one who will believe you.”
“My father will.”
Zade chuckled. It was low, humorless. “You think Luca Steel is going to throw away a lifetime business partnership because his daughter has a hunch? Please. You’re young. Idealistic. Naïve.”
“You’re a liar,” she spat.
“And you’re too emotional to lead an empire,” he replied coldly. “This arrangement between our families is bigger than you. It was set long before you were even born. You were simply the final piece.”
Her throat tightened. “Why me? What do you want from me?”
He stared at her, voice dropping. “Control. Access. Legacy. And maybe a bit of irony, marrying the daughter of the man who tried to cheat mine.”
Alex slapped him.
It wasn’t hard enough to hurt, but it was enough to break the moment.
Zade blinked, then adjusted his cuff with eerie calm. “You really shouldn’t have done that.”
Alex turned and stormed out before she could scream. She didn’t stop moving—not even to breathe—until she was back in the car. “Take me to the hospital,” she told the driver, her hands trembling.
Ten minutes later, she stood in the hallway outside her mother’s room. She peeked in—Nova was resting peacefully, tubes and machines humming beside her. Luca sat by the bed, head bowed, fingers brushing over his wife’s hand.
Alex entered quietly. “Dad.”
He looked up, clearly exhausted. “Hey, sweetheart. Your mom’s stable. They’re moving her home tomorrow.”
Alex nodded, then sat down beside him. “I need to tell you something important. About Zade.”
Luca sighed, rubbing his eyes. “Alex, not now—”
“You have to listen to me. He’s not who he says he is. He lied to us. I found documents linking his family to Grandpa’s death. And now they’re gone. He erased everything. He’s dangerous.”
Luca’s eyes darkened. “Alex... are you saying this because you don’t want to marry him?”
“No!”
“You’ve been pushing back against this arrangement from the start. Now you’re accusing him of—of murder? Come on.”
“I’m not making this up.”
Luca stood. “You don’t have proof. You don’t have witnesses. You just have a story and a lot of emotion. Right now, your mother’s health is my only priority. Please—don’t make this harder than it already is.”
“But Dad—”
“I’m sorry,” he said gently. “But I can’t pull out of the contract based on this.”
Alex felt her heart cave in. She watched him sit back down, take Nova’s hand again like their conversation never happened.
For a second, she just stood there, numb.
And then she turned and left the room.
Alone.