The Billionaire’s Secret Bride👰‍♂️❤️

CHAPTER 3:THE FIRST CLUE

I woke before sunrise.

For a few seconds, I forgot where I was.

Then I remembered the mansion, Alexander, the key, my father's message, and the stranger watching from outside.

I sat up quickly.

The room was silent.

Too silent.

I walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside.

The garden was covered in pale morning mist. Security guards stood near the gates, but there was no sign of the man from last night.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me.

I turned away from the window.

The small metal key was lying on the bedside table.

I picked it up.

My father had hidden it inside a card meant for Alexander.

Why?

What did it open?

A knock sounded at the door.

I jumped.

"Amara?"

Alexander.

I opened the door.

He stood outside wearing a dark suit, his expression serious.

"You didn't sleep."

"Neither did you."

"I asked first."

I looked at him.

"How long have you known about the key?"

"Since I received the card."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't know where it led."

"You could have told me it existed."

"I needed to be certain you weren't being followed because of something else."

I crossed my arms.

"Someone is watching this house."

His expression hardened.

"I know."

"You know?"

"My security team found tire tracks near the eastern wall."

My stomach tightened.

"Was it the man from last night?"

"We don't know."

"Then what do we know?"

Alexander looked at the key in my hand.

"We know your father wanted you to find something."

"Where?"

"That's what we're going to discover."

He turned.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"The study."

I followed him downstairs.

The mansion looked different in daylight. It was still beautiful, but the silence made it feel less like a home and more like a fortress.

Alexander opened a large wooden door.

The study was filled with bookshelves, old paintings, and cabinets.

"Your father spent a lot of time here," he said.

I stared at him.

"My father came here?"

"Several times."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't know whether you were ready."

I laughed softly.

"Everyone keeps deciding what I'm ready for."

Alexander ignored the comment.

"He used to work with my father. They handled investments together."

I looked around.

"Could the key open something here?"

"Possibly."

We searched the room.

For almost an hour, nothing happened.

I checked drawers, books, cabinets, and even the paintings.

Nothing.

Then I noticed something.

A painting above the fireplace showed a black tree surrounded by silver stars.

I stared at it.

"Alexander."

He came closer.

"That symbol."

"What about it?"

"It's on the key."

He looked at the painting carefully.

Then he removed it from the wall.

Behind it was a small metal box.

My heart began pounding.

Alexander inserted the key.

It clicked.

The box opened.

Inside was a folded piece of paper and a photograph.

I picked up the photograph first.

My father stood beside my mother.

They were younger.

My mother was smiling.

I had almost forgotten what her smile looked like.

But there was someone else in the photograph.

A man stood several feet behind them.

His face was partly hidden.

"Who is that?" I asked.

Alexander took the photograph.

His expression changed.

"You know him?"

"I've seen him before."

"Where?"

"At a meeting years ago."

"Who is he?"

Alexander didn't answer immediately.

"His name is Daniel Carter."

"Is he dangerous?"

"Yes."

My fingers tightened around the paper.

"What does he have to do with my parents?"

"I don't know yet."

I unfolded the note.

There were only a few words written in my father's handwriting.

If you are reading this, they know where you are.

Do not trust the people around you.

Find the place where your mother hid the truth.

My breathing stopped.

"That's it?"

Alexander nodded.

"There is something else."

He pointed to the bottom of the page.

A small drawing showed a rose with a single black line through its center.

I stared at it.

"I've seen that before."

"Where?"

I closed my eyes.

Then I remembered.

"My mother's jewelry box."

Alexander looked at me.

"What about it?"

"She had a necklace with that symbol."

"Do you still have it?"

"I don't know."

I suddenly remembered the old box in my apartment.

It had belonged to my mother.

After she died, I kept it hidden beneath my bed.

I had never opened it because every time I touched it, memories came rushing back.

"We have to go to my apartment."

"No."

I looked at Alexander.

"No?"

"It's too dangerous."

"My mother's necklace could contain the next clue."

"And your apartment may be watched."

"Then I'll go alone."

"Absolutely not."

"You can't keep controlling my life."

"I'm trying to keep you alive."

"And I'm trying to find my father!"

The room went silent.

Alexander stepped closer.

"Amara, your father disappeared because he knew something powerful people wanted hidden."

"I don't care."

"You should."

"I care about knowing why my family was destroyed."

His expression softened.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he said quietly, "I'll take you."

We left twenty minutes later.

Two security cars followed us through the city.

I watched the streets pass by, anxiety growing with every block.

When we reached my apartment building, everything looked normal.

Too normal.

Alexander noticed it too.

"Stay in the car."

"No."

"Amara."

"I'm coming with you."

He sighed.

We entered the building.

The hallway was empty.

I unlocked my apartment door.

It opened easily.

My heart sank.

"I locked this."

Alexander immediately moved in front of me.

Someone had been inside.

Drawers were open.

Clothes were scattered across the floor.

My small table had been overturned.

I ran toward my bedroom.

The space beneath my bed was empty.

The jewelry box was gone.

"They took it," I whispered.

Alexander crouched near the floor.

"Look."

A small piece of paper lay beneath the bed.

I picked it up.

There was only one sentence.

Stop searching, Amara.

I looked at Alexander.

"They know."

He nodded.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

His security chief spoke quickly.

Alexander's face became colder.

"What happened?"

He listened.

"How long?"

Another pause.

"Get everyone to the mansion."

He ended the call.

"What is it?"

He looked at me.

"The mansion's security system has been breached."

My blood ran cold.

"Lily."

"We're going back."

We hurried outside.

As the car sped away, I looked at the note in my hand.

For the first time, I understood the truth.

This wasn't about finding my father's secret anymore.

Someone was making sure I never discovered it.

And they were getting closer.

Whoever had taken my mother's jewelry box hadn't wanted the necklace. They wanted me to know they could reach me anywhere. And they had just proven it. They were coming.