BOUGHT BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

HIS SECRET

Chapter 3: His Secret

"Does she know what you did to your last fiancée?"

The words from Vanessa hung in the air like poison.

Amara looked up at Ethan. His jaw was clenched so tight she could see the muscle twitching. His hand on her back had turned into a fist.

"What is she talking about?" Amara whispered.

"Nothing that concerns you," Ethan said, his voice cold. He grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the crowd, through a hallway, into an empty private library. He slammed the door.

"Ethan, you are hurting me!" Amara cried as he finally let go of her arm.

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing like a caged animal. For the first time, his perfect mask broke, and she saw anger, pain, and something that looked like guilt.

"My last fiancée," he said finally, not looking at her. "Her name was Chloe. She was... like you. Sweet. Innocent."

"What happened to her?"

"I destroyed her," he said bitterly. "My father hated her because she was poor. He threatened to cut me off if I married her. So I... I pushed her away. I was cruel to her. I told her she was not good enough for a Blackwood. She left New York. I haven't heard from her since."

Amara's heart broke for him. She stepped closer without thinking.

"That is not destroying someone, Ethan. That is being scared."

He looked at her, surprised. No one had ever spoken to him like that.

"You don't know me," he growled.

"I know you are not as heartless as you pretend to be," she said softly. "A heartless man would not have paid for my mother's surgery before I even signed the contract. I checked my phone. The hospital said the money was transferred this afternoon."

Ethan froze. "You checked?"

"I did. Why did you do it before I signed? I could have run away."

For a long moment, he stared at her. Then he walked to her, slowly this time, not like a predator, but like a man.

"Because I knew you wouldn't," he whispered. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek. His touch was gentle now.

"You looked at me in that tiny apartment like I was your last hope. And I... I didn't want your hope to die."

Amara's eyes filled with tears. Her mother was safe. Because of him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Don't thank me yet, Amara," he said, his voice husky. He was so close she could feel his breath. "I am not a good man. I bought you. I will use you. But I will also protect you. No one will ever hurt you while you are mine. That is my promise."

He leaned down, his forehead almost touching hers. His lips were inches from hers. Amara's heart was beating so fast she thought it would jump out of her chest. She should push him away. This was a contract. A business deal.

But her body did not want to push him away.

"Ethan..." she breathed.

The door suddenly banged open.

"Mr. Blackwood! The chairman is looking for you and your fiancée!"

Ethan closed his eyes, fighting for control. When he opened them, the cold mask was back.

He held out his hand to her.

"Come, Mrs. Blackwood. Let's go lie to the world that we are in love."

Amara placed her small hand in his large one. His hand closed around hers tightly, possessively.

As they walked back to the party, she didn't know that Vanessa was on the phone in the corner, whispering:

"She signed the contract. Yes, she is in the penthouse. Find out everything about Amara Cole. I want her destroyed by morning."

The real danger was just beginning.