The piano music faded and Emily turned to him, her voice casual but her eyes sharp as she asked about the rights to "Black and White Rabbit." Isabella wanted to buy them, that much was clear. He told Emily no. For a moment, her eyes flashed with anger. He could see it, plain as day. Most people would have been intimidated, but somehow, he almost enjoyed it.

Later, he found out there was someone new hanging around Emily—a guy named Tristan Davis. Everyone called him Mr. Davis. For five years, Tristan and Emily had always been close, just friends. Or so he thought. Then, right in front of him, Tristan introduced himself as Emily's boyfriend.

He had to admit it: he hated Tristan. The idea of him and Emily together made his chest tight with jealousy, but he knew he had no right to feel that way. After all, he still had Isabella by his side, along with her child. He could guess who the father was, but honestly, it didn't matter. What mattered was the debt he owed Isabella for everything she'd done for him.

He'd always figured he and Isabella would end up together. He could feel his emotions for Emily growing stronger with every passing day, but he knew better than to let himself get in her way. She deserved more than someone stuck in the past.

Of course, life never sticks to the plan. He found out Emily and Tristan weren't actually a couple. Around the same time, he uncovered the truth about Isabella— she was involved in things he never would have imagined. Crimes, betrayals, even things that put people's lives at risk.

He owed Isabella, but not at the cost of his own conscience. Maybe it was the shock of what Isabella had done, or maybe it was seeing Emily and Tristan together, but he knew he couldn't just stand by and let things continue. He wouldn't let Isabella keep using the fire as a shield any longer.

Over the years, he'd built his place in The Lane Group from the ground up. Now, the power had shifted—he was in control. No one, not even Kevin Lane, could override

him anymore.

He knew Emily was investigating Isabella behind the scenes, so he quietly gave her a hand, helping her track down the people involved and the witnesses she needed. He saw how desperate Isabella was becoming and noticed how she and Benjamin Gomez tried to hide their relationship from him. He pretended not to see it, just watched as events unfolded.

Eventually, the police had enough evidence to arrest Isabella. With nowhere else to turn, she came to him, asking for help one last time. He agreed, but only so he could finally cut ties with her for good.

Helping her this final time meant their old debt would be settled. He'd done more than enough to repay her for saving him during the fire. As he expected, Isabella had no choice but to accept. He knew she hated him for abandoning her when it mattered most. Still, out of respect for everything they'd shared, he promised to keep raising Dennis, her son with Benjamin Gomez, as if he were his own.

He knew all about the plan she and Benjamin had cooked up, so he quietly arranged a clean exit for her. One ticket out of the country, no trail left behind. That was the last thing he would ever do for her.

After that, no more ties. Whatever happened to Isabella from then on was no longer his concern. The fire was in the past, and he wasn't going to look back.

He also knew Benjamin Gomez had a hand in what happened to Emily-the car accident, the kidnapping. So he made a few calls abroad, just to make sure Benjamin was too busy running for his life to cause any more trouble.