THE WIFE HE NEVER EXPECTED

His choice

Chapter 6

Vanessa Reed walked into the office as though she owned it.

She placed her designer handbag on Damien's desk and smiled.

"It's been a long time, Damien."

Damien's face remained expressionless.

"I didn't invite you."

"No." She glanced at Amara. "But I couldn't resist meeting your new bride."

Vanessa circled Amara slowly, her expensive heels clicking against the marble floor.

"So this is the woman who replaced me?"

Amara stood her ground.

"I didn't replace anyone."

Vanessa laughed.

"Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea what you've walked into."

"That's enough, Vanessa," Damien said firmly.

She ignored him.

Turning back to Amara, she asked, "Do you know why he married you?"

Amara looked at Damien.

He said nothing.

Vanessa smirked.

"I knew it. He hasn't told you."

"Tell me what?" Amara asked.

Vanessa stepped closer.

"He didn't marry you for love."

"I know that."

"He didn't marry you because he wanted a wife."

Amara's heartbeat quickened.

"Then why?"

Before Vanessa could answer, Damien's voice cut through the room.

"Leave."

Vanessa smiled.

"You still think you can give me orders?"

"I won't repeat myself."

For a moment, they stared at each other.

Finally, Vanessa picked up her handbag.

As she reached the door, she paused.

Without looking back, she said quietly,

"Secrets always find their way into the light."

Then she left.

Silence settled over the office.

Amara turned to Damien.

"Was she telling the truth?"

"Yes."

"So why did you marry me?"

Damien walked toward the window.

"Because I needed someone I could trust."

Amara frowned.

"You didn't even know me."

"Exactly."

She blinked.

"What does that mean?"

"The people close to me have betrayed me before."

He looked at her.

"You were a stranger. Strangers have no reason to betray me."

Amara didn't know whether to feel insulted or relieved.

"So... I'm your wife because I'm a stranger?"

"For now."

The words stung more than she expected.

Just then, Damien's phone rang.

His expression changed as he answered.

"What?"

He stood up immediately.

"When did it happen?"

He ended the call and looked at Amara.

"Someone broke into the west wing."

Amara's eyes widened.

"But... Isabella was there."

Damien froze.

"You know her name?"

Amara realized what she'd said.

"The housekeeper mentioned it..." she lied.

Damien studied her face for a long moment but said nothing.

He rushed out of the office.

Amara followed.

When they reached the west wing, the guards were already there.

The door hung open.

The room was empty.

The piano stood silent.

The window was wide open.

On the floor lay a single white rose.

Damien picked it up.

His face turned pale.

"No..."

Amara stepped closer.

"What is it?"

He looked at the rose and whispered,

"They've found her."