I'd been locked in my room for six hours.
Alexander had stopped knocking after the first two.
Now I just heard him. Pacing outside. Making calls. His voice sharp and deadly through the door.
"I don't care what it takes. Find her. Find Mrs. Chen. Now."
I sat on the floor surrounded by papers from the folder. Every document a piece of the puzzle. Every page another betrayal.
Bank transfers. Signed agreements. Photographs.
My mother. Smiling. Alive. With people I didn't recognize.
And one face that made my blood run cold.
A younger James Knight. Standing beside her at a charity gala.
The date: Three weeks before she died.
On the back, handwriting I didn't recognize: She knows too much. Handle it.
Handle it.
Like she was a problem to be solved.
Not a person.
Not a mother.
Not my mother.
A knock on the door. Gentler this time.
"Seraphina." Alexander's voice was raw. Exhausted. "Please. Just listen to me. Five minutes. Then I'll leave you alone if that's what you want."
What I wanted was to rewind time.
To last night. When I'd felt safe in his arms. When I'd believed the lies his touch told.
When I'd been stupid enough to fall for him.
"I'm not going anywhere," I said coldly. "Talk if you want. I'm not promising to listen."
A pause. Then:
"My uncle James worked with your mother on a children's charity board. She discovered he was embezzling funds. Millions of dollars. She confronted him. Threatened to go to the authorities."
I closed my eyes. Kept listening.
"Three weeks later, she was dead. My family paid for the investigation to be buried. Paid off witnesses. Made it look like an accident." His voice cracked slightly. "I didn't know any of this until after we married. I swear. When I started investigating your family, I found the connection. I should have told you then. I know that. But I was trying to find proof first. To give you answers, not just more questions."
"You should have told me the moment you found out."
"I know."
"You had no right to keep that from me."
"I know."
"Every moment we spent together, every conversation, every—" My voice broke. "Every kiss. You were lying."
"Not about my feelings." His hand pressed against the door. "Everything I said last night was true. Everything I feel—"
"Stop." I stood, walking to the door but not opening it. "I don't want to hear about your feelings. Not when you've been lying about everything else."
"Seraphina—"
"Is your name even in those documents? Were you involved?"
"No. I was eleven when she died. But my family's company paid the bribes. My father signed the checks. My uncle orchestrated everything." He exhaled shakily. "And I inherited all of it. The company. The guilt. The blood money."
I pressed my forehead against the door.
Hating that I still wanted to believe him.
Hating more that part of me did.
"Mrs. Chen doesn't deserve this," I said quietly. "She's innocent."
"I know. I'm going to get her back."
"How?"
"James wants me to sign over Knight Enterprises. Everything. In exchange for her life."
My heart clenched. "You can't do that. It's your entire life—"
"She saved my life." His voice was steel. "She raised me. Loved me. Taught me what family actually means. I'd burn every company I own to get her back safely."
Despite everything, despite the betrayal and lies and pain, that made something crack in my chest.
He meant it.
"When?" I asked.
"The exchange is in four hours. Abandoned warehouse on the docks. Very dramatic. Very James."
"You're not going alone."
"Yes, I am."
"Like hell." I yanked open the door.
He stood there looking wrecked. Hair disheveled. Shirt wrinkled. Eyes bloodshot.
He looked like I felt.
Destroyed.
"You're not doing this alone," I said firmly. "Mrs. Chen matters to me too. And if your uncle was involved in my mother's death, then I have just as much right to face him."
"It's too dangerous—"
"I don't care."
"Seraphina—"
"Alexander." I met his eyes. "I'm still furious with you. I still don't trust you. But Mrs. Chen is innocent. And I won't sit here safe while she's in danger because of me."
"This isn't because of you—"
"Isn't it?" I gestured to the papers scattered across my room. "Your uncle took her to hurt you. To hurt us. Because of the revenge we started. Because I wanted to destroy my family and you helped me. This is absolutely because of me."
He stepped closer. "None of this is your fault."
"Then it's ours." I lifted my chin. "So we fix it together. Or I go alone."
His jaw clenched. "You're impossible."
"You married me. Your problem now."
Something flickered in his eyes. Pain. Hope. Something raw.
"I meant what I said last night," he said quietly. "All of it. I know you don't believe me. I know I don't deserve your trust. But Seraphina, I—"
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
We both tensed.
He answered on speaker. "What?"
James's smooth voice filled the space. "Hello, nephew. And hello to you too, Seraphina. I assume you're listening."
My blood ran cold. "What do you want?"
"What I've always wanted. Justice. Revenge. The same things you two have been pursuing so enthusiastically."
"You're a murderer," I spat.
"So was your grandmother, dear. So was Alexander's father. We're all monsters here. The only difference is I'm honest about it."
"Where's Mrs. Chen?" Alexander's voice was lethal.
"Safe. For now. As long as you bring what I want. Knight Enterprises. Full ownership transfer. Signed and notarized. In exchange, you get the old woman back. Alive."
"How do I know you won't kill her anyway?"
"You don't." James laughed. "But you'll come anyway. Because you're predictable, Alexander. You always do the noble thing. Even when it destroys you."
"Four hours. The docks. I'll be there."
"Alone," James added. "If I see security, bodyguards, or anyone else, she dies. Just you, the documents, and your pretty little wife if she insists on being stupid."
"I'm not—" I started.
"Oh, you are." James's voice turned colder. "You're just like your mother. Nosy. Righteous. Stubborn. She wouldn't back down either. Look where it got her."
"You killed her."
"I removed a problem. There's a difference."
Rage flooded through me. "You're going to pay for—"
"Am I? Because from where I'm standing, I'm winning. I have your beloved Mrs. Chen. I have the truth about your mother. I have all the leverage. What do you have, Seraphina? A husband who lies? A family that hates you? Nothing."
Alexander's hand found mine. Squeezed.
"We have each other," he said coldly. "That's more than you've ever had."
Silence. Then:
"How touching. See you in four hours. Don't be late."
He hung up.
I stared at the phone. Then at Alexander.
"We're walking into a trap," I said.
"I know."
"He's going to try to kill us both."
"Probably."
"So what's the plan?"
His smile was sharp. Dangerous. "We spring the trap first."
Two hours later, we stood in Alexander's study. A team of five people surrounded the desk—all handpicked. All ruthless.
"This is Marcus," Alexander introduced the driver who'd saved us during the chase. "Head of my personal security."
Marcus nodded. Military bearing. Scary eyes.
"Elena." A woman with sharp features and sharper eyes. "My lead attorney and former federal prosecutor."
"Dmitri." A massive man with a Russian accent. "Weapons specialist."
"Yuki." A tiny woman who looked too young to be here. "Tech expert. Best hacker in the country."
"And James." Not Uncle James—a different James. Twenty-something. Nervous. "Financial forensics. He's been tracking James Knight's money for the past week."
I looked at Alexander. "When did you—"
"The moment he sent the first threat." His expression was grim. "I don't walk into situations unprepared."
"The plan?" Marcus asked.
Alexander pulled up blueprints of the warehouse. "James wants me alone. He'll have the building surrounded. Snipers on the rooftops. Exits blocked. The moment I sign over the company, he'll kill us all."
"So we don't sign," I said.
"We sign." Elena slid forward a different document. "But this version has a clause on page sixteen, paragraph three. It automatically transfers ownership back to Alexander after seventy-two hours unless James provides proof of life for Mrs. Chen every six hours."
"He'll never agree to that," I said.
"He won't read it." Yuki smiled. "Because I'm going to make sure the digital version he receives has the clause buried in code he can't detect. By the time he realizes, we'll have Mrs. Chen and his entire operation exposed."
"What about the snipers?" I asked.
"Dmitri handles that." Marcus pointed to the map. "We'll have counter-snipers positioned here, here, and here. James won't know they're there until it's too late."
"And if something goes wrong?" My voice was quiet.
Everyone looked at Alexander.
His eyes met mine. "Then I get you out first. No matter what."
"That's not—"
"Non-negotiable." His tone left no room for argument. "You stay close to me. You do exactly what I say. And if I tell you to run, you run."
"I'm not leaving you—"
"Seraphina." He gripped my shoulders. "Please. I can handle James. I can handle losing the company. I can handle anything except losing you. So promise me. If things go wrong, you run."
The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch.
"You really mean that."
"Every word."
I wanted to stay angry. Wanted to hold onto the betrayal.
But looking at him now—prepared to sacrifice everything to save Mrs. Chen, to protect me—made it harder.
"Fine," I said. "But you better not die. Because I'm still mad at you, and dead men can't apologize properly."
His smile was soft. Sad. "Deal."
Three hours and forty-five minutes later, we arrived at the docks.
The warehouse loomed ahead. Dark. Ominous. Exactly like something from a thriller movie.
"Ready?" Alexander asked.
I wasn't. Not even close.
But I nodded anyway.
We walked forward together. His hand found mine in the darkness.
"Whatever happens," he said quietly, "thank you."
"For what?"
"For reminding me what it feels like to care about someone. To want to be better. To—" He stopped. "For making me feel human again."
My throat tightened. "Alexander—"
"I know you don't forgive me. I know I don't deserve it. But Seraphina, I need you to know—I love you."
The words hit like lightning.
"What?"
"I love you." He stopped, turning to face me. "I didn't mean to. I didn't want to. But I do. And if we don't make it out of there, I needed you to know."
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
"You don't mean that—"
"I do." He cupped my face. "I love your strength. Your fire. The way you survived everything they did to you and still chose kindness. I love how you make me want to be the man you see instead of the man I am."
Tears burned my eyes. "This is a terrible time for a confession."
"When else would I say it?" His smile was crooked. "In case you haven't noticed, we're about to walk into a death trap."
"You're an idiot."
"Probably." He leaned down, pressing his forehead to mine. "But I'm your idiot. If you'll still have me."
I should have said no.
Should have pushed him away.
But I was an idiot too.
"Ask me again when we survive this," I whispered.
"Deal."
He kissed me. Soft. Sweet. Like a promise.
Then we walked into the warehouse.
James was waiting.
And so was hell.
The warehouse was exactly as ominous inside as outside. One flickering light. Shadows everywhere. And in the center, tied to a chair—
"Mrs. Chen!" I started forward.
Alexander's arm stopped me. "Wait."
James stepped into the light. Smiling. Triumphant.
"Right on time. How refreshingly predictable."
"Let her go," Alexander said coldly.
"Documents first."
Elena stepped forward with the folder. "Everything you asked for. Transfer of ownership. Signed. Notarized. Legal."
James took it. Flipped through. "Thorough. I'm impressed."
"Now let her go."
"Not quite yet." James pulled out a gun. Pointed it at Mrs. Chen's head. "First, I want Seraphina to understand something."
My blood turned to ice.
"Understand what?"
"Your mother didn't just discover my embezzling." His smile was cruel. "She discovered something far worse. She found out about the Knight family's real business. Human trafficking. Money laundering. Weapons deals. Things that would have destroyed not just me, but the entire empire."
Alexander went rigid. "That's not—"
"Oh, but it is, nephew." James laughed. "Your father. My brother. He built this empire on blood and suffering. Your precious Mrs. Chen knows. She's known for decades. Haven't you, old woman?"
Mrs. Chen's eyes filled with tears.
"Tell them," James demanded. "Tell them how you helped cover it up. How you knew what the Knight family really was and said nothing."
"Mrs. Chen?" Alexander's voice broke.
She looked at him. At me. Tears streaming.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you. But your father threatened— If I said anything, he'd hurt you. So I stayed silent. I watched him destroy lives and I said nothing because I loved you and I couldn't—"
"Touching." James cocked the gun. "Now that everyone knows everyone's secrets, we can—"
Gunfire erupted.
The lights shattered.
Everything went to chaos.
"Seraphina, down!" Alexander tackled me to the ground.
Bullets flew overhead. Shouting. Running.
"Marcus, now!" Alexander yelled into his comm.
More gunfire. Return fire from our snipers.
James screamed—rage, not pain.
"You think you're clever?" His voice came from the darkness. "You think you've won?"
A spotlight blazed on.
James stood there. Gun pointed not at us.
At Mrs. Chen.
"One move," he said calmly, "and she dies."
Everyone froze.
"That's better." James smiled. "Now, Alexander. You have a choice. Give me the real documents—not the fake ones with hidden clauses—or I kill her. Then I kill Seraphina. Then I disappear with everything."
"You won't get away with this—"
"Won't I?" He pressed the gun to Mrs. Chen's temple. "I've gotten away with worse. Your call, nephew. The company, or her life. Ten seconds."
"Alexander, don't—" Mrs. Chen started.
"Quiet." James cocked the gun. "Ten. Nine. Eight."
I watched Alexander's face. Saw the calculation. The pain.
The impossible choice.
"Seven. Six. Five."
"Stop!" I stepped forward. "I'll give you what you want."
Everyone turned.
"Seraphina, no—" Alexander reached for me.
"Not the company," I said to James. "Something better. The evidence your brother kept. The real records of the Knight family crimes. I know where they are."
James's eyes narrowed. "You're lying."
"Am I?" I pulled out my phone. Showed him a photo. "Mrs. Chen told me before all this started. Where your brother hid everything. Decades of evidence. Names. Dates. Transactions. Everything you'd need to blackmail half the city. Or to protect yourself from prosecution."
His hand wavered slightly. "Where?"
"Let her go first."
"Not a chance."
"Then you'll never find it." I smiled. Cold. Channeling Alexander's ruthlessness. "Those records are your only leverage. Your only safety net. Kill us, and they disappear forever. Or make a deal. Mrs. Chen's life for the location."
"Seraphina, what are you doing?" Alexander whispered.
"Saving her," I whispered back. "Trust me."
James considered. Gun still pressed to Mrs. Chen's head.
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"You don't." I met his eyes. "But you can't risk it. Can you?"
The warehouse was silent except for breathing.
Then James lowered the gun. Slightly.
"Fine. Tell me where—"
"After you let her go."
"You think I'm stupid?"
"I think you're smart enough to know when you're beaten." I stepped closer. "You wanted leverage? You have it. But she walks free first. Or I set those records on fire and watch your entire world burn."
For one horrible moment, I thought he'd shoot anyway.
Then he laughed.
"You're definitely your mother's daughter." He cut Mrs. Chen's bonds. "Go. Before I change my mind."
Mrs. Chen stumbled forward. Marcus caught her, pulling her to safety.
"Now," James said. "Where are they?"
I smiled.
"Did you really think I'd tell you?"
His face went purple. "You lying—"
"NOW!" Alexander shouted.
Smoke grenades exploded.
The warehouse filled with thick white smoke.
"Run!" Alexander grabbed my hand.
We ran.
Bullets screamed past. James's roar of fury echoing behind.
"I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!"
We burst through a side door. Marcus waiting with the car.
"Go, go, go!"
We dove in. The car peeled out just as James emerged, firing wildly.
A bullet hit the back window. Spider-webbed the glass.
But we were already gone.
Racing into the night.
Safe.
Alive.
Together.
Ten minutes later, far from the docks, Alexander pulled me close.
"That was insane," he breathed.
"I know."
"You could have died."
"But I didn't."
"The evidence you mentioned—"
"Doesn't exist. I made it up."
His eyes widened. "You bluffed?"
"Completely." I grinned. Adrenaline still flooding my system. "But it worked."
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then kissed me. Hard.
"You're incredible," he murmured against my lips.
"I know."
"And terrifying."
"Also true."
"And I love you."
The words made my heart stutter.
I pulled back. Met his eyes.
"Alexander—"
"I know you don't trust me yet. I know I have to earn that back. But Seraphina, tonight proved something. We're better together than apart. We're—"
"A team," I finished softly.
"Yes."
I thought about the lies. The betrayal. The pain.
But I also thought about him standing between me and bullets. Willing to sacrifice his empire. Loving me despite every reason not to.
"I don't forgive you yet," I said.
His face fell.
"But," I continued, "I want to. Eventually. If you're willing to be patient."
"I'll wait as long as it takes."
"And no more lies. Ever. About anything."
"No more lies," he promised. "I swear."
"Then..." I took a breath. "Ask me again."
"Ask you what?"
"What you asked me earlier."
Understanding dawned. "Seraphina Knight, will you—"
"Will I really be your wife? Not just on paper?" I smiled. "Yes. Yes, I will."
He kissed me again. Deeper this time.
And for the first time since Grandma died, I felt something other than pain.
I felt hope.
My phone buzzed.
We both tensed.
But it wasn't James.
It was a news alert:
BREAKING: James Knight Arrested Following Warehouse Shootout
Evidence of Money Laundering, Fraud, and Murder Uncovered
I looked at Alexander. "How—"
"Yuki." He smiled. "While we distracted him, she hacked his phone. Downloaded everything. Sent it straight to the FBI."
"So it's over?"
"For him? Yes." His expression darkened. "But there's still the matter of my family's crimes. Mrs. Chen's involvement. All of it."
"We'll face it," I said firmly. "Together."
"Together," he agreed.
The car drove through the night toward safety.
Toward truth.
Toward whatever came next.
And for the first time, I wasn't afraid.
Because I wasn't alone anymore.
I had him.
And maybe—just maybe—that was enough.