"I didn't! Who says I'm scared? Jessica, you think anyone's gonna believe your nonsense now?" Chloe looked flustered under Alan's gaze, but she wasn't stupid-without solid proof, she didn't believe Jessica could stir up much trouble.

Jessica's heart twinged with pain-Chloe had hit a nerve. The truth of that kidnapping years ago... even if she said it now, would he believe her? But since he loved his ex-fiancée so deeply, she doubted he'd ignore what she had to say.

She shook the press badge in her hand. "I could honestly care less about your wedding. I'm just here to ask Mr. Knight how he plans on explaining his dealings with the Yorqan family."

The reporters around them, still reeling from the whole "Jessica came back from the dead" bombshell, suddenly snapped to attention at this explosive news.

The Yorqan family was infamous in finance-predatory, ruthless, gobbling up companies like it was nothing. Generations of hard work from various families had been destroyed by them. And now Alan was involved with them?

The journalists surged forward like sharks smelling blood. Was Knight Corp teaming up with the Yorqan family to take over Helvaria's major companies? If that got out, they'd become the most hated name in the country's business world.

Alan's eyes locked sharply on Jessica. The contract with Sultan had just been stolen-and here she was stirring the pot right after? No doubt about it-she was the thief.

"Don't listen to Jessica! Alan would never do something like this!" Chloe threw herself in front of him like she was ready to defend him with her life.

"Oh really?" Jessica's voice was light, but her words cut deep. "Well, I'm pretty sure that contract is with the Commercial Crime Bureau by now. Tell me, Mr. Knight, how're you feeling about that?"

Alan's lips pressed into a razor-thin line. It was a long beat before he finally spat out, voice like frost, "You've got a death wish."

Jessica let out a low laugh. "Already died once. Forgot about that, Mr. Knight?" I came back-for payback.

Just then, piercing sirens wailed and police pushed through the crowd.

"Mr. Alan, you're wanted for questioning by the International Commercial Crime Bureau regarding your alleged dealings with the Yorqan family."

"No! You can't take him! It's our wedding day!" Chloe cried out, clutching tightly to Alan, refusing to let go. She had waited so long for this-one step away from becoming Mrs. Knight.

"Chloe, let go. I'll be right back." Alan released his grip on Jessica's arm, gently pried Chloe's hands off, then patted the back of her hand softly. The cold frown he'd worn since entering the chapel finally eased a bit, and he gave Chloe a look meant to calm her down.

Standing tall with that unshakable presence of his, he followed the police with steady steps into the car. The atmosphere around him didn't slump at all-like he wasn't being taken in for questioning, just casually going out with the cops for coffee.

Chloe suddenly broke down in tears, not knowing how to deal with the mess she was left in. The grand wedding had completely turned into a farce.

Jessica didn't even glance in Chloe's direction. She walked straight through the crowd toward Daniel Cooper, her boss at the news agency.

"Mr. Cooper, I don't think there's anything more to report here. The questioning will take 48 hours."

Daniel looked like he'd just snapped out of a dream. "Jessica... you're Jessica?" His gaze faltered. He never expected this girl to be the Southern family's heiress.

Jessica gave a faint smile. "Yeah, that's me. Starting to dislike me now?" After all, who'd like a woman who caused so much trouble, even pulling off a public takedown at someone's wedding?

"No way! Why would I hate you? Actually... you're nothing like the rumors at all." Daniel quickly explained, his reaction not out of distaste, but sheer disbelief at her background.

Everyone said the Southern family's daughter was a spoiled brat, impossible to deal with-but from the time Jessica joined the news team, there'd been no sign of that. She was the most hardworking and diligent one of them all, and honestly, super grounded.

He never would've imagined Jessica could be... well, her.

"Mr. Cooper! We've got a record number of clicks on our site! That illegal deal story broke everything!" An excited assistant held up a phone for Daniel to see.

"Alright, that's it-everyone, pack up. Tonight we celebrate Jessica! It's on me!"

Cheers rang out as the team crowded around Jessica and Daniel, making their way out of the church.

Jessica sat in the car, glancing back out the window at the chapel. It still stood tall and solemn like always, untouched by the years. Fifteen years might've passed, but the place hadn't changed at all-just the people had.

The memory was still vivid: a teenage boy holding a little girl, his arms wrapped protectively around her.

"Alan, what are they doing?" the girl asked.

"They're getting married," he replied.

"I wanna get married too... That lady's dress is so pretty! I wanna wear it!"

"When you grow up, I'll marry you right here. And I'll buy you the most beautiful wedding dress in the world. So grow up quick, alright?"

He kissed her forehead-someone once said that was the purest kind of kiss.

Jessica pulled her gaze back, her eyes dry but stinging. Not a single tear came out.

At the International Commercial Crime Bureau, the interrogator politely handed over a cup of coffee. "Mr. Knight, sorry for the trouble. Now that the news blew up, we had no choice but to bring you in and go through the motions. Hope the coffee helps."

Alan's temple throbbed. The Bureau had been gunning for Sultan Yorqan for a while now, but the guy was a master of wiping his tracks-every shady takeover he pulled was airtight. The director had reached out, asking Alan to help dig up some real dirt on Sultan.

Alan had been tracking him too. Sultan wasn't just tangled up in some mess from five years ago-he was now messing with Helvaria's core industries and stepping on Knight Group's toes. Alan had every reason, both official and personal, to get involved in the case.

He'd spent over six months setting the trap, finally getting that old fox just where he wanted-only to have it all blown to pieces by this damn media leak.

"Did we figure out how she stole the file?" he asked, voice tight.

"We got it. This is footage pulled straight from your company's security system," the interrogator reported, handing him a folder. "Jessica, real name unknown until recently, posed as a journalist and used the alias Alice Bennett to apply for a clerical job at your firm. Earlier today, she slipped into your office during the shift change for security, opened your safe, and walked out with the contract between you and Sultan's company. Still no clue how she got the safe's password, though."

Alan's grip on the folder tightened, crumpling the edge slightly. Of course she knew the password-it was her birthday. He had never changed it.

"Did you find out where she was these last four years?" he asked, voice low.

Michael shook his head. "I ran a full trace on the Alice identity. It's got a totally clean record in the States. Looks legit. But creating a whole person out of thin air like that? Still no clue who pulled it off."

"Put someone on her. Also find out who's been hiding her all these years," Alan ordered.

"Alan, just watching her isn't gonna cut it," Ethan Morgan cut in, clearly worked up. "That woman's nothing but trouble. Back in the day, she-"

He stopped mid-sentence. That 'back then' was a no-go zone around Alan.

"This time she didn't just crash your wedding-she blew up our entire operation! I say we pick her up right now!" Ethan fumed, practically shouting.

"If anything happens to her now, everyone's gonna pin it on us," Michael warned quickly.

"So what? Let them!" Ethan's eyes burned with fury. "She's Richard Southern's little sister-taking her out wouldn't even be over the line!"

"Richard is untouchable for now! Jessica is his weak spot-having her gives us leverage over him. Just get someone to keep watch on her, that's enough. Has the chief been updated?" Alan asked the interrogator.

"Already done. The chief will be here shortly."

Alan nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. He leaned on his hand, rubbing the bridge of his nose, clearly worn out. She was right there in front of him, alive and real. But damn it-he'd never regretted anything more than forcing her to reappear like this.

The VIP room at the bar was buzzing with laughter and noise.

A bunch of people huddled around the table, deep into a game of Truth or Dare.

The bottle just kept landing on Jessica. No one could remember how many rounds it had pointed her way.

"Jessica, we agreed this time no skipping with alcohol! You've gotta spill-what's the real story with you and President Knight? First love, you said! Come on!" They were all gossip-hungry reporters, even more curious than most.

Ugh. That question again. Honestly, how many shots had she downed over it tonight?

She rubbed her throbbing temples and knocked back another gulp of her drink. "My first love..."

When she was born, her mom had nearly died during childbirth-she was already older, a high-risk pregnancy. Her dad, totally obsessed with her mom, blamed her for it all. If he could've, he probably would've left her on a stranger's doorstep. In the end, her mom's best friend-Alan's mom-took her in.

Well, not exactly Alan's mom... it was Alan who raised her. For fifteen years.

The whole room fell silent. Everyone leaned in, afraid to miss a single word.

"He... he was the first man I ever saw in this world. He was ten then. When I was one, he gave me a bath and saw everything. At two, we were sharing a bed. At five, he told me that when I grew up, he'd marry me. At ten, he stole my first kiss. And at fifteen, he dumped me for his fiancée and threw me out on the street. At sixteen... well, you all know, I ended up being a pawn in a bombing."

She let out a dry chuckle. Fifteen years of a gut-wrenching first love-all wrapped up in a hundred words.

Daniel frowned, her laugh tugging hard at his heart. He gripped her hand tightly, just trying to show her he was there.

Suddenly, the door banged open, slamming against the wall. A cold, intimidating man stormed in, his mere presence making the room feel a few degrees colder.

Seeing those tightly held hands, a chill flickered in Alan's eyes as he let out a low, sarcastic laugh. "Jessica, how come you didn't tell the whole story? When you were ten-you're the one who kissed me. And when you were fifteen-do you even remember why I kicked you out?"

Alan leaned in, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. He hooked a finger under her chin, his eyes glinting with mockery. "What? Cat got your tongue? Want me to say it for you? You stripped naked and climbed into my bed at fifteen, practically assaulted me."

Jessica locked eyes with him, her gaze sharp and defiant. The shocked gasps from around the room stabbed at her ears. Fifteen, already crawling into a guy's bed-how shameless did she seem to everyone now?

Her lashes fluttered, heart stung. If he hadn't suddenly shown up back then with some woman on his arm, saying she was his fiancée, would she have done something that crazy?

He was already twenty-five at the time. Weren't guys supposed to have needs? He spoiled her like she was the only one in the world. Other than her being too young... she couldn't think of any reason he'd leave. She just wanted to prove that whatever that other woman could give him, she could too.

Now, she understood. He meant to humiliate her like this-make sure everyone knew exactly what kind of "cheap" girl she was.

She pulled away, shaking off his hand. Turning to Daniel, she gave a bitter smile. "Yeah... I was reckless and stupid. Guess I was just that cheap, right?"

She was laughing, but it wasn't funny-it was the kind of laugh that made your chest ache. Daniel gripped her hand tighter. "No. You were just a good girl who fell for the wrong guy."

Her heart clenched. Someone had once said that to her, too-that she was a good girl.

Alan's face went cold, jaw tight, lips spitting out just two words: "Clear out."

His bodyguards immediately started ushering everyone out of the room.

Daniel stood up, placing himself in front of Jessica. "Mr. Knight, you two aren't together anymore. A real man doesn't throw a woman's past back in her face like this. That's just common decency."

Alan gave a cold chuckle. "So you're saying I lack class, huh? Well, I don't need your lecture on manners. You-get him out of my sight."

"What are you trying to do? Forty-eight hours in interrogation wasn't enough for you? I can report you for this!" Daniel didn't budge from in front of Jessica.

"Go ahead. Try it if you dare." Alan had clearly had enough. With a wave of his hand, a few bodyguards grabbed Daniel and tossed him out without hesitation.

Jessica stayed put, grabbing a glass of wine and plopping her feet up on the coffee table. Leaning into the couch, she said lazily, "Say what you gotta say, dear ex-brother-in-law."

Alan's foot came down hard toward her leg. "Feet down. Sit properly."

He'd spent fifteen years shaping her into a perfect, obedient girl-a little princess. And now, in just a few years, she'd turned into this defiant mess right in front of him.

Jessica quickly pulled her leg back, and the man's foot hit nothing but air. She didn't even glance his way, just took a slow sip from her drink. "Alan, I'm not the same Jessica you used to know."

Alan's brows knotted tight. That move of hers-sharp, quick-yeah, she must've learned some serious self-defense. He kept a bit of distance, trying to keep his tone calm. "So, who've you been with these past four years?"

Someone had given her a fake identity, taught her how to fight, wiped every trace of her past clean-whoever it was, they weren't average. And Alan was sure it wasn't Richard-he'd been combing the globe for her all this time too.

Jessica paused for a second. Shouldn't he be asking how she'd survived the blast?

"A stranger helped me out. Took me in. Got me patched up." She lowered her gaze slightly, hiding whatever flashed in her eyes.

Helped her, huh? Alan's eyes flickered with too many tangled emotions. His lips pressed into a hard line, holding everything in tightly.

"Who was it?" His voice had turned cold and sharp, almost instinctively assuming it was a man.

"Not your problem." Jessica tossed back the drink in her hand.

Alan's hand shot out and smacked the glass from her fingers, face dark with anger. "Who said you could drink? Who the hell is he?" What else did he teach her? Damn it, who took her away?

Jessica stared at the broken glass scattered on the floor-it didn't sting anymore. She'd gotten over the fragile part of herself long ago.

She turned her gaze on him, eyes sharp. "Alan, what, you mad that I made it out alive? You gonna go kill the guy who saved me too?"

"Yeah! He deserves it! And so do you! Ever stop to think why he picked you?"

Jessica let out a cold laugh. What, was she so worthless that nobody should've saved her?

"At least he didn't want me dead!"

Alan froze. His lips moved slightly, like he wanted to say something, but he held it back-barely.

A long beat passed.

"So, why come back? Revenge? Or you planning to spill the 'truth' from back then?"

"What if I told you Chloe helped me find those kidnappers-would you even believe it?"

"She's dead. And that's on you. Nothing can change that."

Jessica's expression darkened. He'd dodged the real question again. She scoffed, "You don't believe me, so why bother asking? I came back to find out how my parents really died. Did you have anything to do with it?"

Alan flinched, his deep eyes sliding away from hers.

The room went so quiet, even the sound of breathing felt out of place.