Chapter 6
1332 Words
Chapter 6 — The First c***k in the Wall
Amara barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she heard Daniel’s words again.
There’s something else in the will.
And then there was his uncle.
Everything is connected.
She didn't know what frightened her more—the fact that Daniel had secrets or the possibility that she was one of those secrets.
By morning, she had convinced herself not to ask any more questions.
At least, not yet.
She walked into the kitchen to find Daniel already there, dressed in a dark suit with his sleeves rolled slightly above his wrists. He was reading something on his tablet while drinking coffee.
He looked up.
“You're awake early.”
“So are you.”
“I have a meeting.”
Amara opened the refrigerator.
“Do you ever have normal mornings?”
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“What is a normal morning?”
“Waking up late. Complaining about school. Burning breakfast. Something.”
“I don't burn breakfast.”
“You don't make breakfast.”
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
“Fair point.”
Amara stopped.
She had never seen him smile like that.
Not the polite smile he used around his family.
A real one.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Daniel cleared his throat and returned his attention to the tablet.
Amara looked away.
Don't overthink it.
She poured herself some juice.
“How's your mother?” Daniel asked.
“She slept well. The doctor said she's responding to the treatment.”
“That's good.”
“Thank you.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You don't have to thank me every time I help.”
“I know.”
“You're doing it again.”
Amara smiled faintly.
“I'm still getting used to all this.”
“So am I.”
She looked at him.
“You?”
Daniel nodded.
“Being married isn't exactly something I planned.”
Amara laughed softly.
“Neither did I.”
Their eyes met.
And for a few seconds, the room felt strangely comfortable.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
The moment he saw the caller, his expression changed.
“It's my uncle.”
He stood and walked away.
Amara didn't mean to listen.
But then she heard Richard's voice through the phone.
“You need to understand, Daniel. Your grandfather's deadline isn't a suggestion.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“I know.”
“Then act like it.”
“I am handling it.”
“Are you?”
Silence.
Richard continued.
“Six months isn't long.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“I said I'm handling it.”
“And what happens when your wife decides she doesn't want to cooperate?”
Amara froze.
Daniel glanced in her direction.
His eyes met hers.
“Don't talk about her.”
Richard laughed quietly.
“You're already protective.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“She's my wife.”
“Exactly. So make sure she remembers why she's there.”
The call ended.
Daniel stood still for a moment.
Amara couldn't pretend she hadn't heard anymore.
“Why does everyone keep talking about me like I'm part of some plan?”
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
“Amara—”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Don't tell me it's complicated. Don't tell me you can't explain. I need to know what I walked into.”
Daniel sighed.
“I told you the truth about the will.”
“You told me part of it.”
“I couldn't tell you everything.”
“Why?”
“Because some things aren't mine to reveal.”
Amara stared at him.
“Then whose are they?”
Daniel didn't answer.
She grabbed her bag.
“I'm going to university.”
“I'll drive you.”
“No.”
“Amara—”
“I said no.”
She walked out.
For the first time since their marriage began, Daniel didn't stop her.
---
At university, Amara struggled to concentrate.
She stared at her lecture notes without absorbing a single word.
Nia noticed immediately.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Something happened.”
“Nothing happened.”
“That's your lying face.”
“I have a lying face?”
“You've had one since secondary school.”
Amara sighed.
“Daniel's family is hiding something.”
Nia's expression changed.
“What kind of something?”
“I don't know.”
“That's not comforting.”
“I know.”
Amara told her about the phone call, leaving out the details of the contract.
Nia listened carefully.
“So basically,” she said, “his family wants something from this marriage.”
“Yes.”
“And you don't know what.”
“No.”
“And Daniel won't tell you.”
“No.”
Nia leaned back.
“Amara…”
“I know.”
“You should be careful.”
“I am.”
“No. You're trying to convince yourself that you're okay because your mother's treatment is being paid for.”
Amara looked down.
That sentence hit harder than she expected.
“I just don't want to lose everything because I asked too many questions.”
Nia reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
“You're allowed to ask questions.”
Amara nodded.
“I know.”
But deep down, she wasn't sure anymore.
---
That evening, Daniel came home earlier than usual.
Amara was sitting in the living room with her textbooks spread across the coffee table.
He stopped when he saw her.
“How was school?”
“Fine.”
He knew immediately that it wasn't.
He walked over and sat opposite her.
“Are you still angry?”
“I'm not angry.”
“Then you're upset.”
“Maybe.”
Daniel was quiet.
After a moment, he said, “I'm sorry.”
Amara looked up.
She hadn't expected that.
“For what?”
“For putting you in a situation you didn't fully understand.”
She closed her textbook.
“Then explain it.”
Daniel looked at her for a long moment.
“I can't tell you everything yet.”
Amara's disappointment returned.
“But I can tell you this,” he continued.
She waited.
“My uncle wants control of the company.”
“I figured.”
“He believes I'm too young to lead it.”
“And the will?”
“The will prevents him from taking over immediately.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“My grandfather knew there would be a fight after his death. So he created conditions.”
“Marriage and an heir.”
“Yes.”
Amara swallowed.
“And if you don't meet those conditions?”
“I lose control of the company.”
“And your uncle gets it?”
“Possibly.”
“Possibly?”
“There are other conditions.”
Amara stared at him.
“You really enjoy keeping secrets.”
“I don't enjoy it.”
“Then stop.”
Daniel looked away.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Amara noticed something on the table.
A small envelope.
Her name was written across it.
She reached for it.
Daniel immediately stood.
“Don't.”
Amara froze.
“What is that?”
Daniel took the envelope.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You're really bad at making things less suspicious.”
He almost smiled.
“I'm aware.”
He slipped the envelope into his pocket.
“I'll explain when I can.”
Amara shook her head.
“That's what you always say.”
She gathered her books and walked upstairs.
Daniel watched her go.
He wanted to call her back.
He wanted to tell her everything.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
Because the letter in his pocket wasn't from his uncle.
It was from his grandfather's lawyer.
And the first sentence had changed everything.
The marriage contract is not the only contract Daniel Williams is bound by.
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