THE BILLIONAIRE'S UNEXPECTED BRIDE

CHAPTER 5 -THE PHOTOGRAPH

Weeks went by and slowly, but surely, Amelia became accustomed to the happenings in the mansion and its odd staff. Adrian remained distant from her, spending most of his time in his study. Their marriage was founded on indifference, but the more he evaded, the more her curiosity awoke. Whenever she confronted him on the matter of his mother or what Richard told him about his past, he would turn away from her. There was something the Blackwood men kept from her, something that neither of them wished to talk about. Amelia, however, did not know that the secret was already waiting for her.

One afternoon, she wandered into the library. Sunlight streamed through the large windows as she trailed her fingers across the spines of the books. Then her eyes fell upon something strange. A small drawer tucked beneath a shelf. The drawer was slightly ajar. Her curiosity awoke, and she carefully pried it open. Inside were old documents, letters, and even a few photographs. She picked up the photograph and was about to brush away the dust when she froze. Her own mother's face stared back at her from a black-and-white photograph. She was smiling next to a far younger version of Richard Blackwood as if they had been married twenty-five years. Her hands shook as she turned the photograph around. Two names and a date were written on the back. 2001. Richard Blackwood and Clara Carter. Amelia's heart pounded in her chest. Why had her mother not told her about Richard? What had happened to her?

A loud creak echoed through the room, and Amelia whirled around. Richard stood in the doorway, the color drained from his face. His eyes snapped to the photograph in Amelia's hands. "Where did you get that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Amelia clutched the photograph to her chest. "Why does my mother have a photograph with you?" Richard stepped forward. "Put it down, Amelia." "Tell me the truth about my mother." Richard's expression hardened. "You knew her," Amelia accused. "You knew her; therefore, you know what happened to her!" Richard's jaw tightened. "You should never have come back here." Amelia glanced up at him. "What does that mean?" His eyes flashed with something dark. "You should not be here.“Then make me understand!” Amelia demanded. Richard's voice grew low. "You should have left that alone."

Before Amelia could ask another question, loud, thunderous footsteps pounded down the hall. The door burst open and in strode a familiar figure. Adrian. His eyes fell upon Amelia, then onto the photograph in her trembling hands, before snapping to Richard. As white as chalk, he carefully crossed the room and took the photograph from her shaking fingers. "Who is she?" he asked. Amelia's voice trembled. "My mother." He shot a glare at Richard. "You knew her? How long have you known her?" Richard looked away. "A long time." Adrian's grip on the photograph tightened. "What happened in 2001?" Richard shook his head. "That belongs to the past." "Not anymore," Adrian said coldly. "It involves my wife."

Amelia's voice shook. "I should be dead because of what happened twenty-five years ago." Richard's eyes grew wide, and he quickly said, "Your mother didn't work here. She wasn't connected to us." Amelia narrowed her eyes. The lie was transparent. "Then what was she?" Adriand glanced at his father. "Why are you lying to me, Dad?" Richard shifted uncomfortably. "This is not the place for your questions."

Then a new voice entered the room.

"You should never have found that."

They all turned towards the doorway to see Mrs. Whitmore standing there with tears streaming down her cheeks. Richard ordered her to disappear, but she refused. She fixed her gaze on Amelia. "Your mother wanted you far away from this family."

" Why?" Amelia whispered.

Mrs. Whitmore glanced at Richard, then at Adrian. "She knew what this family was really about."

A hushed silence fell over the room.

Adrian's expression darkened, and Amelia continued to stare at the photograph in his hands.

Mrs. Whitmore's voice grew low.

"It was what this family did twenty-five years ago."

And suddenly, it dawned on Amelia that the photograph was not the secret. It was merely the beginning of it.