Sarah watched from a distance, tears rolling down her cheeks, but she was smiling. Because this... this felt right. This was healing.

The front door suddenly swung open, and heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway. Zayden’s voice called out, "I’m back! Anyone home?"

Ella pulled away from William and ran toward the door. "Zayden!"

She found him in the hallway, carrying a bag and looking tired but happy. When he spotted Ella running toward him, he dropped the bag, knelt down, and opened his arms. She jumped into him, and he caught her, laughing.

"Hey, princess. Missed me?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah! Where were you?" Ella replied.

"Just handling a few things. Nothing exciting," Zayden explained.

Ella pulled back to look at him earnestly. "Zayden, I’ve got to tell you something."

He smiled, curious. "Sure. What’s up?"

"William is my dad... my real dad. My mom just told me."

Zayden’s expression relaxed as he gently held her face in his hands.

"I get it, princess. I’ve known for a bit."

Ella blinked, caught off guard. "Really?"

"Yep."

"And you didn’t say anything?"

"It wasn’t my place. That was up to your mom and William."

Ella thought about it and then nodded. "That makes sense."

Zayden smiled. "So, how do you feel about it?"

Ella shrugged. "I’m not sure yet. It feels weird... but kind of cool too?"

Zayden laughed. "Yeah, I get that."

Ella glanced back at the lounge where William and Sarah were still chatting, then looked at Zayden again.

"Michael is gone," she said quietly. "Mom said he did bad stuff, and now he can’t come back."

Zayden nodded. "That’s true."

"Did you know him?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Was he really that bad?"

Zayden paused, trying to find the right way to explain it to her.

"Michael did bad things. He hurt people, and that’s a fact. But—" he paused again, "he also loved you a lot. Both things can be true."

Ella frowned. "How does that work?"

"Because people are complicated. They can be good and bad, nice and mean, loving and hurtful, all at the same time."

Ella thought about this.

"So... it’s okay for me to miss him, even if he was bad?"

Zayden pulled her in for a hug.

"Yeah. You can miss him, love him, and be mad at him, all at the same time."

Ella hugged him tight. "Thanks, Zayden."

"Anytime, princess."

William showed up in the hallway, paused when he saw Zayden with Ella, and stopped.

Zayden looked up and met his eyes, giving a small nod of recognition. It was a sign of acknowledgment and respect.

William nodded back to show his appreciation. Ella looked between them.

"Do you guys know each other?" she asked.

Zayden smiled. "Yeah, William and I are... friends."

William raised an eyebrow, Calling them ’friends’ felt like a stretch... but he didn’t push it. Ella seemed happy.

"Awesome! Because I like both of you and want you to be friends."

Zayden stood and gently set Ella down.

"Then, friends, we will be."

He walked over to William and offered his hand. William glanced at it and then took it.

They shook hands, firm and solid, an understanding passing between them.

William would stick around and be Ella’s dad, while Zayden would have their backs. Together, they’d make the family Ella deserved.

Sarah popped up in the doorway, saw the three of them... her daughter, her husband, and the man who saved them both.

She smiled, a genuine smile full of hope. Ella took Zayden’s hand and then grabbed William’s.

"Come on! I want to show you, Dad, my doll. Zayden gave it to me. It’s so pretty!"

She pulled them toward the lounge, chatting excitedly.

Zayden and William shared a glance over her head, both thinking the same thing... this little girl had been through so much, lost so much, and yet she was still standing, still smiling, still hopeful.

They would do everything they could to keep her that way.

Sarah followed them into the lounge and watched as Ella showed William the doll, explaining all the details... the dress, the shoes, the tiny necklace.

William listened closely, asked questions, and made her laugh, doing the whole dad thing.

Zayden sat on the sofa, watching. Sarah sat next to him.

"Thanks," she said quietly.

Zayden looked at her. "For what?"

"For everything. For saving us, for giving us a place to stay, and for helping me tell her the truth."

Zayden shook his head. "You didn’t need my help. You’re stronger and braver than you know."

Sarah smiled. "Maybe. But I’m still thankful."

They sat in a comfortable silence, watching William and Ella as they started to bond. In that moment, everything felt right.

Not perfect, not without scars, but right... and that was enough.

*****

Zayden was kicked back on the leather couch, feeling totally relaxed. Aylin was sitting right next to him, their hands intertwined.

She was whispering something to him, and he smiled, leaning in to whisper back.

Aylin blushed and looked down, so he lifted her chin and gave her a soft kiss. She melted right into him.

Moments like these were hard to come by, just peaceful and calm. Just the two of them. No fighting, no threats, no chaos. Just love.

Then... Knock, knock.

They pulled apart fast, sitting up and straightening their clothes. Zayden cleared his throat. "Come in."

The door opened, and Liam walked in, looking apologetic. "Sorry to interrupt."

Zayden waved him off. "You’re good. What’s up?"

Liam glanced at Aylin. "I need to chat with you about the operation—the auction night."

Aylin frowned. "What’s going on?"

"When you got out of the van to help Zayden, a message popped up on your laptop."

Aylin blinked. "A message?"

"Yeah, on your encrypted server."

There was a moment of silence. Aylin’s mind was racing. She had been so focused on Zayden that she hadn’t checked her systems in over a week.

Liam went on, "I saw it when I was shutting everything down. I didn’t read it, but it looked important."

Aylin stood up. "I haven’t opened my laptop since the operation. I was with Zayden the whole time. I need to check it now."

She walked over to Zayden’s desk, opened the bottom drawer, and grabbed her laptop. Bringing it back to the couch, she set it down on the coffee table.

Zayden leaned in, curious, while Liam stood by, waiting.

Aylin opened her laptop and typed in her password. The screen lit up as she logged into her secure server with her fingerprint and retinal scan.

A list of folders popped up, and one unread message stood out, highlighted and time-stamped from the night of the operation, right when she had left the van.

Aylin clicked on it. The message opened up, and she read it slowly and carefully. Her expression changed to one of confusion, surprise, and tension.

Zayden noticed that Aylin was uneasy. "What does it say?"

Aylin started reading it out loud.

"I’ve got info about Michael Arthur, stuff that goes back further than what you’ve found. Someone sent me files five years ago while investigating him, but that person died before finishing the job. If you want the whole truth and justice for everyone he hurt, hit me back."

She paused before continuing.

"I spotted the hacking patterns you used: Phantom X and Nova X. If you know what that means, you get why I’m reaching out. It’s time to wrap up what they started."

Silence settled between them. Aylin looked at Zayden, and he met her gaze, both lost in their own thoughts.

Zayden broke the silence first. "But it’s too late now. We’ve already wrapped things up. Alpha is dead, and we’ve got it all sorted."

Aylin nodded in agreement. "Right. But—" She glanced back at the message. "Who are Nova X and Phantom X? I don’t know anybody with those names."

She frowned, her mind racing.

"And this person is saying someone started the job and died before finishing it. Who died? We didn’t find anyone linked to this except—"

She suddenly stopped, her eyes going to Liam and then back to Zayden.

"Except my parents."

Liam stepped forward. "Maybe Nova X and Phantom X are code names for your parents."

Zayden leaned back, thinking it over.

"It could be. That makes sense. Your dad was looking into Alpha five years back. If he was using a code name—"

Aylin jumped in. "Then this person knew him and worked with him."

Zayden nodded. "And they might know who took him out."

Aylin held her breath.

Zayden carried on, "Alexander told us that Alpha sent someone to mess with your dad’s car—to cut the brake lines. But he said he wasn’t the one who did it. Someone else did."

There was a pause.

"Maybe this person knows who it was."

Aylin felt her hands start to shake.

The killer... the one who murdered her dad... was still out there.

And now... someone might know who it was.

Who were Phantom X and Nova X... really?