By morning, Elara was gone.
Again.
But this time, she left the door to her bedroom cracked open, as if she was finally starting to believe she didn't have to lock herself away from the world.
Jace sat on the edge of her bed, shirtless, restless, and wide awake. The memory of her voice, her breath, her body was still burned into his skin. But beneath the warmth was something colder:
The name he'd seen in that file.
Dorian Thorne.
And the contract that had his signature right next to hers.
It wasn't just about betrayal.
It was calculated destruction.
And now, someone else held the receipts.
Jace spent the morning digging.
His first call was to an old friend—ex-hacker, now a cybersecurity consultant. It didn't take long.
Dorian Thorne: founder of a rising tech firm six years ago, son of an old-money family, engaged to Elara Quinn for less than six months before the company mysteriously tanked. All the rumors pointed to an insider leak that exposed embezzlement, causing a shareholder revolt and the firm's total collapse.
But the strange thing?
No one ever named the source.
It had been anonymous.
Until now.
When Elara returned that afternoon, she was wearing dark sunglasses, a crisp navy pantsuit, and a face carved from stone.
Jace met her at the door.
He didn't say anything at first. Just took her coat. Watched her move.
"You didn't sleep," he said.
"I didn't need to."
She poured herself a glass of white wine. "I had meetings."
"With the board?"
She nodded.
"They're getting nervous."
"About Raymond?"
"About rumors," she said quietly. "He's already moving. I saw a leak on one of the minor business blogs. 'Anonymous tip: The Ice Queen of Quinn Holdings Once Torched an Empire for Love.' Sound familiar?"
Jace exhaled slowly. "He's testing the waters."
"And if I don't give him what he wants by Friday, he'll blow everything open."
Jace leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Then we take him down first."
She gave a dry laugh. "You're sweet. But you're also a little naive."
"You really think I can't help you?"
"I think you're too good for what this will take."
He stepped forward. "You used a man to get information once. That doesn't make you a monster."
"I ruined his life, Jace."
"He gave it to you the moment he handed over control of his company."
She flinched. "You read the file."
"I did."
She looked away. "Of course you did."
"And I'm still here," he said.
That caught her.
Made her pause.
They stood in silence for a long moment.
Then she said, softer this time, "You don't understand what Dorian meant to me."
"Then tell me."
She sat down at the bar. "We met at a gala. He was charming. Ambitious. The kind of man who believed in me when no one else did. He said I was born to lead—and for a moment, I believed him."
Her voice dropped.
"But then my father's company was under attack. From within. And I found out Dorian's father was one of the men trying to buy us out and shut us down."
Jace stiffened.
"So you used him."
"I tried not to," she said. "I told myself it was strategic. Temporary. But the longer we were together… I think I actually fell for him."
"What happened?"
"I asked for documents. Pretended it was to secure an investment deal. He gave them to me, trusting me with everything. I used them to destroy his father. I leaked everything to the press anonymously."
"And Dorian?"
She looked up. "He found out. He didn't say a word. Just… disappeared."
Jace swallowed the tightness in his chest.
"And you've never seen him again?"
"No."
Her eyes glistened. "I never even apologized."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Jace said, "Maybe it's time you did."
She blinked.
He stepped closer. "What if you stop running from it? What if you stop letting Raymond use your guilt against you and actually own what happened?"
"And tell the board?"
"Not yet. But find Dorian. Set things right. Then fight back."
"You think I deserve peace?"
"I think you deserve a damn break."
That night, they didn't touch.
Not like before.
They just lay together — limbs tangled, heartbeat to heartbeat.
And for the first time, Jace saw her sleep without twitching.
Without fear.
But peace doesn't last.
The next day, the leak went public.
A headline on every major financial blog:
ICE QUEEN'S BURNING SECRET: DID ELARA QUINN DESTROY HER EX TO SAVE HER EMPIRE?
The article was full of "anonymous sources," "insider leaks," and strategically redacted details — just enough to throw Quinn Holdings into doubt.
Board members were already calling her office.
And worst of all?
Someone slid an envelope under the penthouse door.
Jace picked it up.
Inside:
A copy of the same photo from the file.
Elara and Dorian kissing.
On the back: one sentence, written in neat, black ink.
"Friday is too late now."
Elara stood frozen when she saw it.
"This is it," she whispered. "He's going to the board tomorrow."
Jace stood behind her, rage simmering.
"I'll handle him."
She turned. "How?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Jace—"
"I said don't."
She saw the look in his eyes.
Fury. Loyalty. Madness.
And something that scared her more than Raymond ever could.
Devotion.
That night, Jace disappeared for four hours.
No calls.
No texts.
When he returned, his knuckles were bruised. Shirt stained at the collar.
He didn't speak as he stepped into the penthouse.
Elara met him in the hallway.
"What did you do?"
He stared at her.
"He won't be bothering you again."
Her heart jumped. "What does that mean?"
"It means I had a conversation with a few of his rivals. Let's just say he's about to have bigger problems than you."
"Jace—"
"I didn't kill him," he added.
"Good God—"
"But I made sure he remembers something very important."
She swallowed. "What's that?"
Jace stepped into her space.
Cupped her face with both hands.
"That you belong to me now."
Her breath hitched.
"Say it," he whispered. "Say you're mine."
Elara's lips parted.
"You think I'm some prize to be claimed?"
"No. I think you're a fire that needs someone who won't run from the heat."
She stared up at him.
Heart slamming in her chest.
Then said—
"I'm yours."
And kissed him like she meant it.