Evening fell as the city lights began to glow, illuminating the capital's streets still damp from the remnants of the afternoon drizzle. Inside a private, classic-concept restaurant tucked away in the Menteng district, the atmosphere felt profoundly serene and exclusive. The private booths, separated by carved wooden partitions and bathed in dim lighting, provided total privacy for important guests wishing to escape the clamor of the outside world.

Aileen sat in a maroon velvet chair, wearing a cream-colored long trench coat draped over her professional work dress. Her fingers slowly stirred a cup of warm chamomile tea before her, while her gaze occasionally drifted toward the private entrance.

Not long after, the sliding door opened softly. A tall, imposing figure clad in an elegant black suit stepped inside. Damian Baskara. The man removed his outer jacket and hung it over the back of his chair before taking a seat directly across from Aileen.

"Forgive me for keeping you waiting, Aileen," Damian said, his baritone voice soft yet commanding.

Aileen shook her head gently with a subtle smile. "It's quite alright, Damian. I only just arrived myself."

Damian observed Aileen’s face intently, as though making sure no lingering traces of fatigue or stress remained from the incident at her office earlier that day. Once the waiter finished serving the appetizers and left the enclosed room sealed tight, Damian reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and withdrew a thick, oversized brown envelope neatly sealed.

He placed the envelope on the table and pushed it slowly toward Aileen.

Aileen stared at the envelope with a slight frown. "What is this?"

"The proof you need to crush them down to their very roots," Damian answered calmly, leaning back against his chair as he stared straight into Aileen's eyes. "My investigative team worked twenty-four full hours to trace every single dark financial flow belonging to Rehan."

With slightly trembling hands, Aileen opened the brown envelope. She pulled out a stack of banking transaction documents, digital transfer history printouts, and several large-sized printed photographs concealed inside.

Instantly, Aileen's breath hitched.

The photographs captured Rehan and Clara stepping out of a luxury apartment unit in an elite neighborhood, walking hand in hand while carrying international designer shopping bags. Not only that, but the following pages contained detailed lists of property purchases, luxury sports cars, and foreign vacations—all funded using holding accounts from a shell company that leeched off the operational budget of PT Hartono Jaya Utama.

Aileen stared at the pages of evidence with a chest hammering violently. Even though she already knew her husband was having an affair and stealing her family's fortune, seeing authentic, meticulous proof right before her eyes still struck her core with profound disgust and incandescent rage.

"They... they actually used my father's company money to fund that cheap woman," Aileen whispered in a trembling voice, her knuckles turning white as she clutched the document papers.

Damian leaned forward, gazing at Aileen with a deep, unwavering sincerity and warmth. His voice sounded remarkably soothing as he spoke, "Rehan hasn't just betrayed your marriage, Aileen. He is digging his own grave. Those documents contain his direct digital signatures, which means he won't be able to wiggle his way out before the law."

Aileen looked up, meeting Damian's gaze with tear-filled eyes. A wave of profound awe and emotion surged within her chest. She hadn't expected Damian to move with such swift precision, such meticulous detail, and such fierce protection without a single request from her. In her past life, she had lived blindly and alone, surrounded by sweet-talking hypocrites intent on murdering her. Yet in this second life, Damian stood as an unshakeable fortress supporting her every step.

"Damian..." Aileen murmured, her voice catching in her throat. "Why... why are you going this far for me? I even rejected you back then, ignoring your warnings..."

Damian smiled—a genuine smile he rarely ever showed anyone else. He reached for his teacup, then stared intently at Aileen.

"Because in my previous life, I failed to protect you," Damian replied softly, though every spoken word carried a heavy, profound weight. "I arrived too late at the bottom of that ravine, Aileen. And I swore to myself that if fate granted me a second chance, I would never let a single tear fall from your eyes because of that bastard."

Thump!

Aileen's heart pounded erratically. Those words reaffirmed that Damian remembered every single second of the agony from the past—that the man before her carried a burden of regret just as immense. The tears she had fought to hold back finally slipped down her cheeks.

Seeing Aileen weep, Damian swiftly pulled a clean tissue from its box, extending his hand to gently wipe away the residual tears on her cheek. That warm touch caused Aileen's body to stiffen briefly, yet the sense of safety wrapping around her was infinitely greater.

"Don't cry, Aileen," Damian whispered softly. "Your tears are far too precious to waste on a man like Rehan. From now on, let me be your shield."

Aileen nodded slowly, smiling through the remnants of her tears. "Thank you, Damian. I don't know what I would do if you weren't by my side."

They spent the remainder of dinner in warm conversation that deepened the bond between them. There was no hesitation left; there remained only an alliance born of blood and a growing trust blossoming into seeds of genuine love atop the ruins of a dark past.

The clock struck ten in the evening when the two walked side by side out of the private restaurant toward the dimly lit basement parking area. The rain outside had stopped, leaving behind a cool, damp night air.

Damian's black sedan was parked in a slightly secluded corner. Aileen paused for a moment beside her own car, preparing to unlock the driver's side door.

However, before Aileen could open the door, Damian stepped closer and halted her with a gentle grip on the sleeve of her coat.

"Wait a moment, Aileen," Damian said, reaching into his jacket pocket.

He withdrew a small, thin rectangular object—a specialized mini smartphone in a sleek matte-black design, completely devoid of logos and looking remarkably futuristic.

Aileen blinked in confusion. "What is this?"

Damian handed the device into Aileen's palm. "This is a custom-built phone equipped with military-grade encryption. It cannot be wiretapped, tracked, or hacked by anyone, including Rehan's office IT team."

Aileen stared at the mini phone in wonder, then looked up at Damian. "Why would I need this?"

"So we can communicate freely and securely without Rehan or anyone around you knowing," Damian answered in a low, mesmerizing voice. "My number is already stored inside as the sole emergency contact. If Rehan dares to act violently or suspect you at home, call me the exact same second."

Aileen clutched the encrypted phone tightly in her palm. The device felt remarkably warm, as though carrying a piece of Damian's soul to watch over her always.

As Aileen looked up to thank him, the distance between them suddenly vanished. Damian stood exceedingly close before her, shielding her from the night wind with his broad frame.

Damian's sharp gaze pierced straight into Aileen's pupils, radiating an emotional wave that sent her heartbeat racing out of control.

Damian slowly raised his hand, tucking a stray lock of Aileen's hair blown by the night wind behind her ear. His whisper drifted close, brushing intimately against Aileen's ear:

"Remember, Aileen... no matter what happens, I am always standing one step behind you. Sleep peacefully tonight, and let me handle the rest of that scum for you."

Aileen's heart thundered wildly. That meaningful gaze, the warmth of Damian's breath brushing against her skin, and the absolute vow slipping past the man's lips caused every remaining wall around her heart to collapse entirely.

Aileen nodded slowly with a sweet, sincere smile. "I trust you, Damian."

Damian slowly withdrew his hand, allowing Aileen to climb into her car. He stood beside the vehicle, watching until Aileen's car pulled away from the basement parking lot and vanished around the street corner.

Behind the wheel, Aileen gripped the encrypted phone given by Damian with a subtle smile. This deadly game of chess had entered a brand new phase, and she knew full well that the ally she held was infinitely more lethal than the enemies seeking to destroy her.