Eliza knew deep down that everything Tristan did was for her own sake. However, she didn't want to leave Nolan alone to face the coming storm. "Regarding my engagement to Nolan... I haven't had the chance to tell you properly—" "Halbert already filled me in." A gratified smile touched Tristan’s face. "Nolan is a good man. I am very happy the two of you are together, and I believe Evelyn would be too. It has been over twenty years, and after all that time, the two of you have ended up investigating the very leads she left unfinished. Perhaps this is simply fate." "Perhaps... it is," Eliza murmured, though she shook her head slightly. "I'm not sure if 'fate' is the right word." She had never even met her mother, yet here she was, finishing the work her mother had started decades ago. Whenever she thought about it, her chest felt tight. It felt as if a tangible connection was finally forming between her and the mother she never knew. That evening. Tristan returned to his study to find Zayden still standing there, exactly where he had left him. "I know how willful Tracy is," Tristan began. "You must have suffered quite a bit by her side these past few days. However, I’ve noticed your patience is remarkable. It’s a pity your family’s fortunes fell as they did." "Sir, you promised you would help me." "I heard that you treated our Eliza very poorly in the past. Originally, I wouldn't have helped you for that reason alone, but since you seem truly repentant, I’ve decided to give you one more chance." Zayden pressed his lips together at those words. He had repented long ago. Tristan tossed a folder onto the desk in front of Zayden. "This is the file on your family. It explains exactly why your estate collapsed overnight. Read it carefully, then come see me again." Zayden had spent months enduring Tracy’s whims specifically for this information. As Tristan watched him open the file with poorly concealed urgency, he added casually, "Tracy lied to you. She has nothing in her possession, so there’s no need for you to return to her side. I can help you dissolve your engagement." "There's no need for that." After skimming the documents, Zayden’s gaze gradually turned cold. "It isn't necessary." Zayden had been too young back then to understand why his family had gone bankrupt. But now he knew. He also realized that Tracy was currently his only viable shortcut to rebuilding his reputation in the industry. Moreover, a marriage to Tracy wasn't without its benefits—if they stayed together, everything belonging to her family would eventually be his. Tristan saw exactly what was going through the young man’s mind. "You’re quite the opportunist," Tristan remarked. "You may go now. However, I don't want Eliza knowing about this, and I don't want you having any further contact with her." "You can rest assured, sir. I have no intention of pestering Eliza. We no longer belong to the same world. If there is any overlap between us now, it is only that we share a common enemy." With that, Zayden turned and left. As he opened the door, he came face-to-face with Eliza, who was walking up from the ground floor. They ran right into each other, but Zayden quickly lowered his head, acting as if he hadn't even seen her. Eliza thought he was acting strange and opened her mouth to call out to him, but Tristan’s voice drifted from the study: "Don't just stand there at the door. Come in." Eliza pushed the door open and saw Tristan sitting behind his desk with a slight smile. "Why aren't you eating?" "I was just curious about what you and Zayden were discussing." Eliza had grown up with Zayden; she knew his character well. He was meticulous, and a partnership with Tristan wouldn't be a fleeting arrangement. She wondered why her brother, with all his resources, would bother choosing someone like Zayden. He must have fought incredibly hard to prove his worth to Tristan to earn this position. "He has his path, and you have yours. They don't cross. I’ve already told him that our conversation today remains confidential." "Confidential even from me?" "Especially from you." Tristan stood up and lightly flicked Eliza’s forehead. "I really don't know what to do with you. You're always rushing to investigate everyone else’s business, never stopping to think if you're going to land yourself in trouble for the sake of others." "It isn't just for others. Besides, if I hadn't investigated Saint Corp and Wendy, how could I have happened upon the same truth Mom was looking for?"