Alexander Kane was in his study, staring at his laptop screen without really paying attention. His thoughts were elsewhere, drifting to his daughter, her date, and the guy who had somehow caught her eye in less than a week.

He shook his head, trying to shake off the worrying thoughts. She was fine. She was just going out for an apology dinner date. It was normal and healthy. This was what dads wanted for their daughters.

He picked up his phone and typed, "Have fun tonight, sweetheart. Text me when you leave home and when you’re on your way to the restaurant. Love you."

He hit send, then set the phone down and tried to ignore the knot in his stomach.

*****

Zayn was sitting in his car outside Emma’s place, gripping the steering wheel a bit too tightly.

His mind had been racing all day, ever since he left Zayden’s mansion. He had found out the truth about Alexander, about Emma’s real parents, and the danger hiding beneath her seemingly perfect life.

But right now, sitting there ready to take her on their first real date, none of that mattered.

What really counted was Emma. Keeping her safe, making her smile, and showing her what it felt like to be appreciated.

Zayn shook his head, trying to get his mind straight. He grabbed his phone and quickly typed, "I’m outside your house."

He hit send and waited, his heart pounding more than he wanted to admit.

*****

Emma’s phone buzzed on her dresser right as she was finishing up curling a section of her hair.

She checked her phone and saw a message from her dad.

"Have fun tonight, sweetheart. Text me when you leave home and when you’re on your way to the restaurant. Love you."

Emma grinned and quickly replied, "Got it. Love you too, Dad❤️"

She went back to curling her hair, almost done. Just a couple more sections to finish up.

Her phone buzzed again. She checked it and saw a message from Zayn.

"I’m outside your place," the message said.

Her stomach did a little flip. He was here, actually here.

Carefully, she put down the curling iron and picked up her phone with slightly shaky hands.

"Can you wait another 20 minutes?" she typed.

She bit her lip, anxious to see what he’d say.

"Yeah, no problem," came his response.

A wave of relief washed over her.

*****

In his car, Zayn saw Emma’s text and smiled.

Twenty more minutes? He could totally wait that long.

Honestly, he’d wait his whole life for her if it came to that.

*****

Twenty-three minutes later, the front door opened.

Zayn had gotten out of the car and leaned against the hood. When Emma walked outside, he forgot how to breathe.

She looked amazing.

Her blonde hair was in loose, perfect curls over her shoulders. The white dress, with pretty red and pink flowers, ended just above her knees.

Emma locked up and turned to him. Their eyes met.

Zayn couldn’t look away.

Emma’s cheeks turned from pink to red.

"Hi," she finally said. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Zayn stood up straight, grinning. "You look beautiful." He moved to open the passenger door.

"Thanks," she whispered, ducking her head as she climbed into the car.

*****

The drive was super chill.

Emma was feeling a bit on edge. Her hands couldn’t stop moving; she was smoothing her dress, twisting her fingers together, and checking her watch like it was a habit.

Zayn noticed her fidgeting and tried not to grin; she looked cute when she was nervous.

When Zayn pulled up to where they were headed, Emma almost gasped.

The place was gorgeous, with a sleek black exterior and big gold letters that said "ROSA DE ORO." Above the name was a simple gold rose logo, lit up by soft golden lights. Red roses climbed around the entrance.

Emma stared in disbelief. "This is... Rosa de Oro."

"Yep," Zayn replied.

"This restaurant is in the top three! It’s always competing with La Virelli—"

"I know."

"Do you have any idea how tough it is to get a reservation here?"

"I might have a few connections."

Just then, her door opened, and a guard appeared. "Good evening, Ms. Kane."

They knew who she was?

Another guard opened Zayn’s door. "Good evening, Mr. Virelli."

Zayn handed his keys to one of the guards. "Thanks, Marcus."

He offered Emma his arm. "Ready to go?"

The glass double doors with gold handles swung open.

"Good evening, Mr. Virelli. Ms. Kane. Welcome to Rosa de Oro."

They walked inside.

The restaurant was completely empty.

The interior was breathtaking, packed with deep burgundy and champagne gold colors. Round marble tables were scattered throughout, with hanging light fixtures that looked like blooming golden roses and shiny crystal wine glasses sparkling everywhere.

"Zayn," Emma said quietly, "where is everyone?"

"I wanted tonight to be special, no interruptions."

He had booked the whole restaurant just for the two of them.

As they waited, female staff members started coming over, one by one, each handing Emma a single red rose.

"Welcome, Ms. Kane."

"Thanks," Emma replied, gripping the rose tightly.

More staff members continued to approach, giving her roses.

Soon enough, Emma’s arms were filled with flowers, five, then ten, then fifteen, and finally twenty.

She whispered, "Apology dinner?" Her voice was barely audible, but Zayn caught it and chose not to say anything.

She turned to Zayn, feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing.

He just shrugged and smiled.

One of the staff stepped in to help. "Let me wrap these for you," she offered, taking the flowers away.

Then they were led to a private room.

Emma paused, taking it all in.

The walls were painted a deep red, and candlelight flickered all around. Golden rose petals floated down from the ceiling.

The table was set up beautifully, with dishes from fifty different options, twenty desserts, and a bunch of drinks, including wines and champagne.

Zayn pulled out her chair, motioning for her to sit. "I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I ordered everything."

"No one has ever done anything like this for me," Emma said, really touched.

"Then they were idiots," Zayn said simply.

"Just relax," he said gently. "Just be yourself. That’s all I want."

As they ate, Zayn kept the conversation going, and Emma gradually started to feel at ease.

*****

Across the city, in a simple house that had been his home for twenty-three years, Alexander Kane was sitting alone at the dining table.

All by himself.

For the first time in twenty-three years, he was having dinner without Emma.

The table had just one setting: one plate, one glass, and one chair pulled out.

The silence was almost too much to handle.

Alexander looked at the pasta on his plate, the same carbonara he had made for Emma just days before. It tasted like ash.

He put down his fork, the sound of metal hitting ceramic way too loud in the empty room.

Twenty-three years.

Twenty-three years of breakfasts together, lunches when she was home from school, and dinners every night. Twenty-three years of her chatter filling the quiet, her laughter making the house feel alive, and her presence making everything feel worthwhile.

And now she was out on a date with Zayn Virelli.

Alexander kept telling himself he should be happy about it. Emma was young, gorgeous, and smart. Of course, boys would be interested. Of course, she would start dating eventually. This was normal. This was healthy.

But his chest felt heavy anyway.

He picked up his wine glass, swirling the red liquid without actually drinking. His thoughts were racing non-stop.

Alpha’s words from their last meeting were ringing in his head like a bad omen: "Don’t forget she’s the daughter of my betrayers. I could kill her anytime I want."

Alexander gripped the glass so tightly his knuckles turned white.

If Alpha ever laid a hand on Emma, if he even thought about hurting her—

Alexander would tear everything apart.

He knew what he was: a killer, a liar, a man who had murdered Emma’s real parents and then raised her as his own. He had no illusions about his morality, no delusions about earning forgiveness.

But Emma.

Emma was good. Emma was pure. Emma was everything he had never been and could never be.

And he loved her.

Honestly, he loved her so much that it sometimes hurt.

She was the only good thing he’d ever done in his whole miserable life. The one thing that really mattered. The only reason he got out of bed in the morning was the same reason he kept going in a world full of violence, secrets, and blood.

If something happened to Emma...

Alexander couldn’t even finish that thought.

He’d be done for. Simple as that. If Emma disappeared from his life, he wouldn’t make it. He wouldn’t want to.

The house felt way too big without her. Too empty. Too quiet.

He looked at the empty chair across from him, Emma’s chair, where she’d sat for countless meals, where she’d told him about her day, her dreams, her worries.

Where she’d smiled at him like he was the best dad ever.

Like he was worth loving.

The lie was so perfect, so complete, that sometimes even he almost believed it.

Almost.

Alexander pushed his plate away, totally losing his appetite. He walked over to the window and stared out at the darkening sky.

Somewhere out there, Emma was on her date, laughing, smiling, living her life.

Safe.

At least, he hoped she was safe.

Zayn Virelli seemed like a decent guy: polite, respectful, and successful. The kind of guy any dad would approve of for his daughter.

But Alexander wasn’t just any dad.

And if Zayn Virelli ever hurt Emma, ever made her cry, ever caused her even a moment of pain...

Alexander smirked to himself, a cold, humorless smirk.

Well.

The Virelli family would find out exactly why Alpha Dark had Elias King on his payroll.

But for now, he could only wait. Wait for Emma to come home. Wait to hear about her date. Wait to see that smile on her face that made everything, all the lies, all the blood, all the darkness, worth it.

He picked up his phone and checked the time: 8:47 PM.

She’d be home soon. Probably.

He hoped.

The house felt so quiet without her.

So painfully, unbearably quiet.

And somewhere in the back of his mind, a voice whispered what he already knew but refused to acknowledge:

One day, she would find out the truth.

One day, she would look at him with horror instead of love.

One day, she would leave him.

And on that day, Elias King Kane would finally get what he deserved.

Destruction.

But not tonight.

Tonight, Emma was still his daughter.

Tonight, she still loved him.

Tonight, he could still pretend to be the man she thought he was.

And he would hold onto that for as long as fate allowed.

Even though he knew fate was rarely kind to guys like him.