Chapter 6
1298 Words
Demitria’s POV
The company.
The will.
My family.
And now my marriage.
I look at the picture of my father sitting on my desk.
“Why did you leave me with this?”
Of course, he doesn't answer.
I close my eyes.
For years, I believed I was prepared to take over Walker Holdings.
I knew the business.
I knew the numbers.
I knew the people.
But I never prepared myself for war.
And that's exactly what this feels like.
War.
My phone rings again.
This time, it's Elle.
I answer.
“Please tell me you're not calling about the wedding.
”
“I was actually calling about the wedding.
”
“Elle.
”
“Okay, okay. I won't.
”
“Thank you.
”
There is silence.
“So…
”
I groan.
“What?”
“Are you excited?”
“No.
”
“Terrified?”
“No.
”
“Confused?”
“Yes.
”
“I knew it!”
“Elle, this isn't funny.
”
“I know.
”
Her voice becomes softer.
“You're really okay?”
I look around my office.
“No.
”
She goes quiet.
“I think someone is trying to interfere with the company.
What?”
“I found altered documents.
”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.
”
“Who?”
“My uncle.
”
She curses under her breath.
“I knew that man was trouble.
”
“I'm handling it.
”
“You always say that.
”
“Because I am.
”
“Demitra.
”
“What?”
“You don't have to handle everything alone.
”
I smile faintly.
“I'm getting married in two weeks. I think I've already lost the right to say I'm handling my life
alone.
”
She laughs.
“Speaking of that…
”
“Don't.
”
“I didn't even say anything.
”
“You were about to.
”
“Fine.
”
She pauses.
“Luke called me.
”
I sit up.
“Luke called you?”
“Yes.
”
“Why?”
“He wanted your wedding measurements.
”
I blink.
“My what?”
“Your measurements.
”
“For what?”
“I don't know. Maybe the dress?”
“I already have a dress.
”
“You do?”
“Yes.
”
“When?”
“Yesterday.
”
“You didn't tell me!”
“Because I knew you'd make it dramatic.
”
“It's your wedding!”
“It's a legal arrangement.
”
“Same difference.
”
“No, it isn't.
”
She laughs.
“Anyway, he sounded serious.
”
“Luke is always serious.
”
“Not with you.
”
I frown.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.
”
“Elle.
”
“Okay, fine. He asked me if you were doing okay.
”
I stare at the wall.
“Why?”
“How should I know?”
I don't answer.
For some reason, that bothers me.
Luke doesn't care about me.
He made that very clear.
This is simply an arrangement.
Nothing more.
I remind myself of that.
Over and over.
When I finally leave the office, the sun is already setting.
I walk toward my car.
Then I notice a black SUV parked across the street.
I stop.
The vehicle looks familiar.
I can't remember where I've seen it before.
I shake my head.
I'm probably imagining things.
I get into my car and drive home.
When I arrive at the mansion, I immediately notice something strange.
The front door is open.
I freeze.
I know I locked it this morning.
Slowly, I step out of the car.
“Hello?”
No answer.
I walk inside.
The house is quiet.
Too quiet.
I grab my phone.
I consider calling security.
Then I hear something upstairs.
A loud sound.
I look toward the staircase.
My heart begins beating faster.
“Who's there?”
Nothing.
I walk upstairs carefully.
The hallway is dark.
I switch on the lights.
Nothing.
I check my bedroom.
Everything looks untouched.
Then I walk into my father's old study.
The door is slightly open.
I push it.
My eyes widen.
The room has been searched.
Drawers are open.
Papers are scattered across the floor.
I rush to the desk.
My father's old files are missing.
“No.
”
I search through the drawers.
Nothing.
My father's private documents are gone.
But one thing remains.
A small envelope.
I pick it up.
My name is written on it.
Demitra.
I stare at the handwriting.
It's my father's.
My fingers tremble.
He had left me something.
Something he didn't put in the will.
I quickly open it.
Inside is a single sheet of paper.
I read the first sentence.
My breath catches.
If you're reading this, then I'm already dead.
I sit down.
My eyes move across the page.
There are things I couldn't tell you while I was alive. Things that could destroy everything
if they fall into the wrong hands.
I swallow.
What was he talking about?
I keep reading.
Do not trust Andrew Combs.
My heart stops.
Luke's father?
I read the sentence again.
Especially after the marriage.
I stare at the page.
Why would my father warn me about Luke's father?
My phone suddenly rings.
I nearly drop the letter.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answer.
“Hello?”
This time, someone speaks.
A man's voice.
Low.
Calm.
“You found the letter.
”
I freeze.
“Who are you?”
“You shouldn't have opened it.
”
Who are you?”
A pause.
Then he says something that makes my blood run cold.
“Your father didn't die naturally, Demitra.
”
My breathing stops.
“What did you say?”
“He was killed.
”
I grip the phone tightly.
“Who killed him?”
Silence.
Then the man speaks again.
“Ask Luke Combs what his father did to Stephen Walker.
”
The call ends.
I stare at the phone.
My father's warning is still in my hand.
Do not trust Andrew Combs.
Suddenly, everything makes sense.
The marriage.
The will.
Luke already knowing about it.
My father's strange decisions.
And now this letter.
Someone wanted me to marry Luke.
But why?
I look at the letter again.
There is another line at the bottom that I hadn't noticed before.
My heart pounds as I read it.
Demitra, if Luke is already your husband when you discover the truth, don't trust him
either.
I stop breathing.
Because beneath that sentence is another name.
A name my father had circled twice.
Andrew Combs.
I hear footsteps behind me.
I slowly turn around.
And Luke is standing in the doorway.
His eyes are fixed on the letter in my hands.
“What are you doing here?”
He doesn't answer.
His gaze drops to the paper.
Then back to me.
“Where did you get that?”
I take a step backward.
“Why?”
His expression changes.
For the first time since I've known him, Luke looks afraid.
“Demitra…
”
“What aren't you telling me?”
He walks toward me.
I hold the letter tightly against my chest.
“Stay away from me.
”
He stops.
“Listen to me.
”
“No.
”
“You don't understand.
”
“Then explain it.
”
He remains silent.
And that silence tells me everything.
There is a secret.
A huge one.
And somehow, my father, Luke, and Andrew Combs are all connected to it.
I look at Luke.
“Did your father kill mine?”
His face goes completely pale.
He doesn't say no.
He doesn't deny it.
He simply looks at me.
And in that moment, I realize the wedding I thought would save my inheritance might be the very thing that destroys me.
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