Present Day

Ayzel Harper leaned over the mahogany desk, her manicured fingers tapping restlessly against the surface as she skimmed through the spreadsheets before her. Numbers blurred together, figures that shouldn't exist standing out like flashing warning signs. Next to her, Zaiden Sinclair was just as engrossed, his dark brows furrowing as he cross-referenced the ledgers with old financial records.

"This isn't just embezzlement," Ayzel murmured, her voice laced with frustration. "These transactions—Zaiden, they go back years."

Zaiden exhaled sharply, closing the laptop with a snap. "This is deeper than we thought. Whoever was funding the rival mafia had access to our family's finances long before the attack."

"Someone was helping them from the inside," Ayzel said, gripping the armrest of her chair. "And now, they're still pulling strings."

Zaiden leaned back, eyes dark with thought. "We need to follow the money. I have a contact who might recognize these shell companies."

Ayzel studied him for a moment. "You're thinking about your father, aren't you?"

Zaiden's jaw tightened. "He always warned me about betrayal coming from within. Looks like he was right."

A beat of silence passed before Ayzel spoke again. "We'll figure this out, Zaiden. We have to."

He met her gaze and gave a small nod. "Yeah. We will."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Levi Sinclair stood in the locker room, surrounded by the sounds of his teammates celebrating their latest victory. His coach had just told him that scouts from major leagues were watching him closely, but Levi could barely focus. His thoughts were elsewhere—on the family he had left behind.

He unlocked his phone and scrolled through old pictures. Ayzel's smirk. Kai's ridiculous antics. Runa's infectious laughter. Zaiden's sharp wit. Haelyn's quiet presence.

They had all been inseparable once. And now? He wasn't sure where he stood with them.

He should be happy. His football career was taking off, just like he had dreamed. But guilt gnawed at him. He had walked away when they needed him most.

Sighing, he locked his phone and shoved it into his bag. Maybe one day, he'd have the courage to face them again.

But today wasn't that day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The roar of engines echoed in the underground racing circuit, neon lights casting eerie glows on the pavement. Kai Harper tightened his grip on the wheel of his sleek black bike, eyes locked on the opponent beside him—a racer known only as "Ghost."

The stakes were high. If he won, he got information. If he lost... well, losing wasn't an option.

The signal flared. They took off.

The wind howled in his ears as he weaved through the course, adrenaline flooding his veins. Ghost was good, but Kai was better. He cut a sharp turn, barely missing the edge of a concrete barrier.

The finish line was within reach.

Then—impact.

Pain exploded through his side as he skidded across the pavement. His bike spun out, crashing a few feet away. He gasped, forcing himself onto his knees as Ghost walked over, smirking.

"You're reckless, kid," Ghost said. "But you won."

Kai wiped blood from his lip. "Then talk."

Ghost crouched beside him. "The people you're looking for? They're watching you, too."

Kai's blood ran cold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haelyn Rosewood and Runa Campbell sat in Haelyn's room, surrounded by old files they had sneaked out from their families' archives. Documents, letters, faded newspaper clippings—pieces of a puzzle they weren't sure they wanted to solve.

"This doesn't add up," Haelyn murmured, flipping through a report. "Our families weren't just handling legal work for Ayzel and Zaiden's families. There are mentions of... secret negotiations, hidden agreements."

Runa's expression turned serious. "You're saying our families knew more than they let on?"

Haelyn hesitated before nodding. "They weren't just lawyers and doctors. They were involved."

Runa exhaled, sitting back. "So, what do we do with this?"

Haelyn met her gaze. "We keep digging. The truth is buried in here somewhere."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flashback – Eiffel Tower, Paris

Beneath the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, Ayzel and Haelyn sat on a stone bench, a blanket draped over their shoulders as they watched the city come alive.

"It's beautiful," Haelyn murmured.

Ayzel glanced at her. "Yeah. It is."

A comfortable silence settled between them before Haelyn spoke again, softer this time. "Do you ever think about the future? What it'll be like when we're not just... students traveling through Europe?"

Ayzel chuckled. "I try not to. The present is chaotic enough."

"But you've always known what you want," Haelyn said. "The business. Your family. You have a plan."

Ayzel sighed, her confident exterior slipping for a moment. "Having a plan doesn't mean it's easy, Haelyn. Sometimes, I wonder if I'll ever have a life outside of all that."

"You will," Haelyn said firmly. "And if you ever need someone to remind you, I'll be here."

Ayzel smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. "You know what, Rosewood? I think I'd be lost without you."

Haelyn grinned. "Well, it's a good thing I'm not going anywhere, then."

And as they sat there, wrapped in the glow of the city, they knew—no matter what the future held, they would always have this moment.

End of Chapter 4