The Billionaire's Contract Bride

CHAPTER 4

UNVEILING THE PAST.

As time passed, Aria and Alexander began to see beyond their contractual agreement. They discovered that they were two good-hearted individuals who couldn't hurt each other. Their daily interactions became less transactional and more genuine, fostering a fragile but growing bond.

The tension that once defined their relationship gradually gave way to curiosity and mutual respect. Aria, who had initially found Alexander cold and distant, began to see his softer side during their evening walks by the beach. The salty breeze tangled her hair as they strolled along the shore, their bare feet sinking into the cool, wet sand.

"Why do you hate women so much?" Aria asked one evening, her voice gentle yet probing.

Alexander stared out at the horizon, the setting sun casting a golden glow on the waves. "It's not hatred. It's...fear, I guess. My mother left when I was young, and I never really understood why. It made me distrustful."

Aria nodded, understanding the pain behind his words. "My experience isn't that different. I never knew my real parents. Charles Judith was a cold, controlling figure in my life."

Their conversations deepened, turning into late-night talks under the stars. They shared their dreams, fears, and childhood stories. The more they talked, the closer they grew. They began to laugh more, their genuine smiles breaking the barriers they had both built around their hearts.

One evening, as they sat by a bonfire on the beach, Alexander turned to Aria, his eyes reflecting the flickering flames. "Aria, I never expected to feel this way, but...I think I'm falling for you."

Aria's heart skipped a beat. "I feel the same, Alexander. This started as a sham, but it's become so real for me. I love you.”

They kissed under the starry sky, their hearts entwined in a newfound love that neither had anticipated.

Alexander was in his office with Aria when the investors arrived. Alexander beamed with pride, anticipating the culmination of his hard work, and grateful for Aria's presence in his life.

"We need the documents Mr. Hilbert promised us," an investor demanded.

Alexander's confidence wavered. "Of course, I'll get them right away."

Seeing his distress, Aria stepped in. "I'll help you Alexander dear."

They combed through old files, the musty smell of aged paper filling the room. Aria’s fingers brushed against a dusty old box in the corner. She opened it and found old photographs and business papers belonging to Mr. Brown. Her heart raced as she recognized her late father in the pictures, standing beside Alexander's father.

"Why didn’t mother ever mention this?" she wondered aloud.

Aria rushed back to Alexander, clutching the photographs. “Alexander dear, I found something,” she said, her voice shaking.

He looked up, stressed. “What is it?”

She handed him the photographs. “Your father and my late father… They knew each other. Look at these.”

Alexander's eyes widened. “Where did you find these?”

“In an old box in the storage room. But there's more...” She hesitated before continuing, "I found pictures of my mother, Charles Judith, with your father... in a very intimate setting."

Alexander's face paled. "What? That can't be true." Though Alexander had no idea who Aria's mother was.

Aria’s mind was flooded with questions. Were their fathers friends? Siblings? Why had her mother never mentioned this? And what if… they were siblings? She couldn't bear the thought. "We need to understand this," she whispered.

"I don’t know anything about this," Alexander said, his voice trembling. "I never knew Mr. Leonard was your father, and Charles Judith your mother. But this means... Mr. Leonard isn't your biological father because he died with his wife, leaving a three-year-old daughter."

Aria was shocked. "So who am I then? Why did my mother lie to me?"

Alexander put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Mr. Leonard was my father's business partner and friend. That's all I know. I need to continue searching for the documents." He excused himself, leaving Aria standing lost in thought.

Aria felt the walls closing in. She needed answers and decided to visit Mrs. Kate, an old employee who knew the company’s history.

Aria knocked on Kate’s office door. “Mrs. Kate, can I speak with you?”

“Of course, dear. Come in,” Kate replied warmly.

Aria went straight to the point. “What can you tell me about Mr. Brown, his business life, his wife, his friends, and how Mr. Leonard, Mr. Brown's business partner, died?”

Kate’s expression turned serious. “hope there's no problem ma'am?” Kate asked.

“All is well Mrs. Kate,” Aria lied.

“Alright Mr. Tate Leonard and Billionaire Brown were partners. But Mr. Brown embezzled their business money. When Mr. Leonard confronted him, things turned deadly. Mr. Brown and a neighbour, Charles Judith, conspired to kill him. They ended up killing both him and his wife, leaving behind a 3-year-old daughter.”

Aria’s heart pounded. “Why wasn’t Mr. Brown punished?”

“As a billionaire, he was powerful. People were scared. And I remember he helped Charles Judith gain access to the orphaned baby before he moved to London,” Kate explained.

Aria’s world shattered. She realised that she had been living a lie, raised by the woman who helped murder her parents. She thanked Kate, assuring her she wouldn’t tell Alexander or anyone about their conversation.

Aria now sees why her mom Charles Judith never showed her love or cared for her as a mother should instead, she trusts her husband Fred over her.

Aria returned to the office, her heart pounding as she saw Alexander lost in thought. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

" she asked, her voice firm. "Who killed my parents?"

Alexander looked up, startled. "Are you kidding me right now? Why all these questions? Why are you asking me such things? How am I supposed to know who killed your parents?"

Aria's eyes bore into his. "It's your father, Alexander. Your father is responsible for their deaths."

Alexander's face flushed with anger. "Stop it, Aria! Stop accusing my father of being a murderer!"

Aria stepped closer, her voice trembling but resolute. "I have an eyewitness, Alexander. Someone saw what happened the night my parents were killed."

Fear flickered in Alexander's eyes. He glanced away, beads of sweat forming on his forehead despite the office's cool air. "An eyewitness?" he repeated, his voice shaky. "If that's true... I could lose everything. I could go to jail.” he said inwardly.

Alexander's expression changed, realisation dawned on him. “You… you’re the orphan daughter of the Leonards?”

“Yes,” Aria replied, her voice steady despite the chaos inside her. “And the woman I called my mother is actually not my biological mother.”

Alexander sighed, defeated. "Indeed, what goes around comes around.”

“B.. but how do you know all these?” Alexander asked.

“It doesn't matter who, or how I get to know all these, what matters right now is for you to let go of your ego and confess.”

Seeing how disturbed he was, Aria softened her tone. "Alexander, all I want is the truth. I promise, everything will be fine for you. I just need to know what actually happened to my parents."

Alexander hesitated, then sighed deeply. "Alright. I was just 15 years old when it happened. My father and Mr. Leonard happens to know each other well, and because of their friendship, they became business partners. But my father, because of his self-centeredness and selfishness, kept diverting the business profit into his own personal account and embezzled the company's money. When Mr. Leonard confronted him, things got out of hand."

He paused, his voice heavy with the weight of old memories. "My father and Charles Judith conspired to kill Mr. Leonard: the then neighbour to Charles Judith. They ended up killing both him and his wife. After that, my father left for London, leaving me with my uncle Theodore."

Aria's heart ached with the revelation, but she nodded, grateful for Alexander's honesty. "Thank you, Alexander. This means more to me than you can imagine."

Alexander looked at her, a mix of guilt and relief in his eyes. "We'll get through this, Aria. Together."

Aria took his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Yes, together. We'll uncover the truth and make things right."

“ I sincerely apologise on behalf of my Dad Aria, I'm really sorry for what he made you pass through all these years.”

“It's fine darling after all, it wasn't your fault.”

“Rest assured, your parents must get justice and those culprits must be called to book.” Alexander assured her and then kissed her lips.

“For being honest with me, thank you and I love you so much.” Aria said while hugging each other.

With their newfound resolve, Aria and Alexander prepared to confront the dark past binding their families, their love and commitment to each other guiding them through the storm ahead.

Aria was determined. “We need to call them to justice.”

Alexander promised, “We’ll fight together. Your parents will get justice.”

With the truth now partly revealed, Aria and Alexander prepared to confront the dark past binding their families. They knew the journey ahead would be fraught with emotional turmoil, but their love and commitment to each other gave them the strength to move forward.

“We’ll get through this, Aria,” Alexander said, his voice steady.

“Yes,” Aria agreed, her eyes filled with determination. “Together, we’ll uncover the truth and make things right.”

Their bond, now tested and strengthened by the revelations of the past, would guide them as they faced the challenges ahead. Together, they would uncover the secrets, confront their families' dark history, and forge a future built on truth and love.