The Billionaire's Secret Vow

Amelia Hart had forgotten how uncomfortable these events could be. The ballroom was full of people dressed in expensive clothes, talking about business, investments and charity as if none of them had ever had a bad day in their lives. She stood near one of the windows with a glass of water in her hand and watched them quietly. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be around people like this. Three years ago, she had belonged here. Her father had been a respected businessman and the Hart family name had opened almost every door in the city. Amelia had grown up attending dinners like this one and never had to think twice about the price of anything. Then everything changed. Hartwell Group collapsed almost overnight. The company that her father had spent years building was gone. Their properties were sold and the people who once called her father a friend suddenly stopped answering his calls. Amelia still remembered the first night they were told they had to leave their home. Her father had sat quietly in the living room while lawyers explained what would happen next. He had barely spoken that night. He was never the same after that. Amelia took a small sip of her water. She still remembered who everyone blamed. Adrian Blackwell. The billionaire businessman who had somehow been involved in the events that brought her father's company down. Amelia had hated him for three years. Then he disappeared. There had been reports of an accident overseas. Nothing was ever confirmed, but after months without seeing him, most people assumed Adrian Blackwell was dead. Amelia had believed it too. Until tonight. "You're doing it again." Amelia turned and saw Chloe standing beside her. "Doing what?" "Thinking about leaving." Amelia smiled slightly. "Maybe I am." Chloe looked around the ballroom and shook her head. "You promised me you would stay for at least an hour." "I've been here for almost an hour." "You've been here for forty minutes." "That's close enough." Chloe laughed. "You haven't changed." Amelia looked down at her glass. "A lot has changed." Chloe's smile disappeared. She knew exactly what Amelia meant. Before she could say anything, the lights in the ballroom became slightly dimmer and the conversations around them started to fade. The host stepped onto the stage. "Good evening everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight." Amelia listened while he spoke about the charity and the people they were trying to help. She wasn't really paying attention. Then the host mentioned a special guest. Amelia looked up. "After several years away from the public eye, we are pleased to welcome back one of the city's most successful businessmen. Please welcome Adrian Blackwell." Amelia froze. She thought she had heard the name wrong. Then she saw the doors at the entrance open. A man walked into the ballroom. Her heart sank. It was him. Adrian Blackwell. He looked older than she remembered. His dark hair was shorter and his face seemed harder than it had three years ago. But there was no doubt. Amelia knew him. She had spent too many years trying to forget that face. Chloe looked at her. "Amelia, is that him?" Amelia could barely speak. "Yes." "But I thought he was dead." "So did I." Adrian slowly looked around the room. Then his eyes found hers. He stopped for a moment. Amelia felt her stomach tighten. There were hundreds of people in the ballroom, but somehow it felt as if there was no one else there. Adrian started walking toward her. Amelia wanted to leave. She wanted to turn around and walk straight out of the building. Instead she stayed where she was. When Adrian reached her, he stopped a few steps away. Neither of them spoke. Amelia looked at him for a moment before finally saying what had been running through her mind since she saw him. "You were supposed to be dead." Adrian didn't look surprised. "I know." Amelia gave a short laugh. "That's all you have to say?" "What would you like me to say?" "An explanation would be a good start." His expression remained calm. "Not here." Amelia folded her arms. "Of course. You always had a talent for keeping secrets." Adrian looked at her for a moment. "I need to speak with you." "I don't want to speak with you." "You will after you hear what I have to say." Amelia almost laughed again. "You disappeared for three years and now you think you can just walk back into my life and expect me to listen?" "I don't expect anything from you." "Then why are you here?" Adrian glanced around the room before looking back at her. "I can give your family everything back." Amelia stared at him. For a moment she wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. "What did you say?" "Everything your family lost." Her anger returned. "You think money fixes what happened?" "No." His answer surprised her. "It doesn't." "Then what are you offering?" Adrian was quiet for a few seconds. "I need something from you." Amelia looked at him suspiciously. "What?" He looked directly into her eyes. "I want you to marry me." She stared at him. For once Adrian looked completely serious. Amelia couldn't help laughing. "You've lost your mind." "I'm serious." "Why would I ever marry you?" "Because I can restore your family's life." "And what do you get?" "One year." "One year of what?" "Marriage." Amelia's smile disappeared. She didn't know what to say. The man she had spent three years believing was dead had suddenly returned and was asking her to marry him. It made no sense. Adrian seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. "You don't have to answer tonight." "Good." "Take some time." "I won't need much." He nodded and stepped away. Before leaving, he looked at her one last time. "There are things about your father's downfall that you don't know, Amelia." She frowned. "What does that mean?" But Adrian was already walking away. Amelia watched him disappear into the crowd. For the first time in three years, she began to wonder if Adrian Blackwell really had destroyed her family. And if he hadn't, she wanted to know who had.