The Billionaire's Secret Vow

The Warning

Amelia barely slept after seeing the photograph.

She kept thinking about her mother standing in the background beside her father and Adrian.

Her mother had told her she knew nothing about the business.

Now Amelia wasn't sure what to believe.

She was still awake when Adrian returned to the bedroom hallway around two in the morning.

She opened her door.

"Where have you been?"

He stopped.

"Handling the break in."

"Did you find anything?"

"No."

Amelia crossed her arms.

"Nothing?"

"Whoever broke in knew exactly what they were doing. They didn't take anything obvious."

"What about the envelope?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Still here."

He held up the photograph.

Amelia had seen it already, but somehow seeing it again made her uncomfortable.

"Why was my mother there?"

"I don't know."

"You knew she was connected to my father's business."

"I knew she was around the company. I didn't know how involved she was."

"That's different."

"I know."

Amelia sighed.

"Do you ever get tired of saying that?"

"Sometimes."

She almost smiled, but stopped herself.

"Did you find out who broke into your office?"

"Not yet."

"Could it be my uncle?"

"It could."

"Or my mother?"

Adrian didn't answer.

That silence told her enough.

She stepped closer.

"You think it could be her."

"I think we shouldn't rule anyone out."

Amelia shook her head.

"I can't believe I'm even considering this."

"You don't have to believe it yet."

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Watch."

"Watch what?"

"People."

He looked directly at her.

"Pay attention to who suddenly becomes interested in your marriage. Pay attention to who asks questions about your father's letter. And don't tell anyone what you know."

Amelia nodded slowly.

"Even my mother?"

"Especially your mother until we know more."

She didn't like hearing that.

But she couldn't ignore the photograph.

The next morning Amelia woke up early.

She went downstairs and found the housekeeper preparing breakfast.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Mrs Blackwell."

Amelia stopped.

"Mrs Blackwell?"

The woman smiled.

"Sorry. I suppose I should still call you Miss Hart."

"It's fine."

The word felt strange.

She wasn't used to being called Adrian's wife.

They weren't even properly married yet.

Adrian walked into the room a few minutes later.

He was already dressed for work.

"You didn't have to get up this early."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I."

They sat across from each other.

For a few minutes they ate in silence.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He checked the screen and immediately stood.

"Excuse me."

He walked toward the window.

Amelia tried not to listen.

She wasn't trying to invade his privacy.

But she heard enough.

"Are you sure?"

A pause.

"Where did you get it?"

Another pause.

"Send everything to my office."

He ended the call.

Amelia looked at him.

"What happened?"

"Something came up."

"About my father?"

"Possibly."

She put down her cup.

"I want to know."

"I'll tell you when I know more."

"Adrian."

He looked at her.

"I promised you the truth."

"Then start keeping your promises."

He walked back to the table.

"Someone found an old financial record connected to Hartwell Group."

Amelia's heart jumped.

"What kind of record?"

"A transfer made two days before your father's company collapsed."

"Who made it?"

"We don't know yet."

"Where is the record?"

"At my office."

"I want to see it."

Adrian hesitated.

"Fine."

They drove to his office together.

The building was busy despite the previous night's break in. Employees moved through the halls as if nothing had happened.

Adrian took Amelia into his private office and closed the door.

A file was waiting on his desk.

He opened it.

Inside was a copy of a bank transfer.

Amelia leaned over the desk.

She recognised the account number.

"That's my father's company."

"Yes."

"Where did the money go?"

Adrian pointed to the second account.

Amelia read the name.

Her face changed.

"Daniel Hart."

Her uncle.

She looked at Adrian.

"So it was him."

"Not necessarily."

"How can you say that?"

"Because the account was opened using his company name. That doesn't prove he personally made the transfer."

"But the money went to him."

"Yes."

"How much?"

Adrian told her.

Amelia stared at the figure.

It was enough to destroy a company that was already struggling.

"Why would he do this?"

"I don't know."

She sat down.

"My father trusted him."

"That's why this is complicated."

Amelia looked at the document again.

Then something caught her attention.

There was a second signature at the bottom.

She leaned closer.

"What's that?"

Adrian looked at it.

"I don't know."

"It looks familiar."

"Are you sure?"

Amelia nodded.

"I've seen this before."

"Where?"

She thought for a moment.

Then she remembered.

Her father had kept a leather folder in his study. She had seen the same signature on some of the papers inside.

But she couldn't remember whose it was.

Before she could speak, Adrian's phone rang again.

This time his expression changed immediately.

"What?"

He listened.

Then he looked at Amelia.

"Stay here."

"What happened?"

"Your uncle is coming."

Amelia stood.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

A few minutes later Daniel Hart walked into the office.

He looked calm.

Too calm.

His eyes moved from Amelia to Adrian.

"So this is where you are."

Amelia studied him.

"What are you doing here?"

Daniel smiled.

"I came to see my niece."

"You could have called."

"I wanted to surprise you."

Adrian remained silent.

Daniel looked at him.

"I suppose congratulations are in order."

Amelia frowned.

"We haven't announced anything."

"I know."

Daniel smiled again.

"People talk."

Adrian finally spoke.

"Why are you really here?"

Daniel's expression hardened for a second.

Then it disappeared.

"I wanted to make sure Amelia is making the right decision."

"She can decide for herself," Adrian said.

Daniel looked at Amelia.

"Can she?"

The question bothered her.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing."

He walked closer.

"Your father would have hated the idea of you marrying Adrian."

Amelia's expression changed.

"You don't know that."

"I knew your father better than you think."

Daniel turned toward Adrian.

"You should be careful with her."

Adrian's face remained expressionless.

"Are you threatening me?"

"I'm warning you."

Daniel looked at Amelia one last time.

"Some people don't change, no matter how much time passes."

Then he left.

Amelia waited until the door closed.

"What was that?"

Adrian walked toward the window.

"Your uncle knows more than he's saying."

"Do you think he knows about the letter?"

"I think we should assume he does."

Amelia looked at the financial document on the desk.

For the first time, the evidence against Daniel felt real.

But there was still something she couldn't understand.

Why had he come here today?

And why did he seem more interested in Adrian than in her?

That evening Amelia returned to her room and opened her father's letter again.

She read the final lines.

Then she noticed something she had missed before.

There was a faint mark at the bottom of the page.

Three small numbers.

7 14 3

Amelia stared at them.

She didn't know what they meant.

But she knew one thing.

Her father hadn't written them by accident.