Chapter 6 The Photograph

Next Morning - 10:17 AM - Cade Penthouse Study

Amara wasn't snooping.

At least... not intentionally.

She had come to drop off the revised blueprints for the master suite when she noticed the study door slightly ajar.

Inside, the room was rich-dark wood, bookshelves, minimal décor. But what caught her eye was a photo frame lying face-down on the desk. Oddly personal, in a space that felt strictly professional.

She paused.

Curiosity tugged hard.

She reached for the frame.

A younger version of Sebastian stared back at her. Barely out of his teens. Arms slung around a woman with kind eyes and a man with a distinct cleft chin and graying temples.

The resemblance was unmistakable.

But standing at the edge of the frame-almost blurred out-was another man.

And Amara's heart dropped.

Her father.

She froze.

Same smile. Same suit. That old gold watch she used to steal from his nightstand as a child.

It wasn't just some distant business partner or vague connection.

They had known each other. Closely.

Before everything fell apart.

Before Cade Enterprises skyrocketed to power, and her father went bankrupt.

She turned the frame over-there was a date etched in fine ink.

"Cannes, 2007."

She was twelve then.

The sound of a voice behind her made her jump.

"You shouldn't be in here."

Amara turned, nearly knocking the frame off the desk. "I-I was just-"

Sebastian stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, one hand tucked in his trouser pocket, the other gripping the doorframe a little too tightly.

"You were just what?" he asked quietly.

"I came to drop off the master suite specs and saw the picture and..." Her voice trailed off.

He stepped inside, picked up the photo, looked at it for a long beat, then set it back face-down on the desk.

"I don't like people in my private space," he said.

"I wasn't trying to invade anything-"

"But you did." His voice was sharper now, but underneath it... something cracked. Something hurt.

"Sebastian..." She stepped closer. "That's my father, isn't it?"

A pause. His jaw ticked.

"Yes."

Her throat tightened. "What happened between you two?"

His silence was louder than a scream.

"You think I owe you answers?" he asked, voice low.

"No. But I think you're hiding more than I signed up for."

His eyes locked with hers.

"And yet, you're still here."

Cade Enterprises - Parking Garage

Sebastian stood at the base of the underground lot, hands clenched, staring at the wall like it had the power to erase history.

She wasn't supposed to see that photo.

Wasn't supposed to ask.

But she was her father's daughter-always pushing, always digging.

He pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Get me the full archive on Lane. Every deal. Every signature. I want timestamps. Emails. Contracts."

A pause.

"And call off the private investigator for now. I need... space."

Space to think.

Because Amara Lane was becoming too real.

And if she ever found out the full truth, she'd walk away-and he couldn't let her.

Amara's Room - Late Night

She couldn't sleep.

Again.

The picture haunted her.

Why hadn't her father ever mentioned Sebastian? Why was this connection buried in silence?

She picked up her phone and dialed the one person who might know.

"Mom?"

Her mother's groggy voice filtered through the line. "Amara? It's almost midnight-are you okay?"

"Did Dad ever work with the Cade family?"

A pause.

Then: "Why are you asking about that now?"

"Because I think he did. And I think he didn't tell me something."

Another long pause.

Then her mom whispered, "Your father was a good man, Amara. But even good men make enemies."

Click.

The call ended.

And Amara's heart pounded with a new fear.

This wasn't just business.

This was personal.