CONTRACT BRIDE'S BABY

Chapter 4: The Secret Letter

Theme: Trust begins to disintegrate as secrets are revealed, revealing hidden agendas and upending the foundation of Hannah and Jonah's tenuous marriage.

"Jonah, stop!" Hannah's voice echoed through the car as it screeched to a stop. She pulled her fingers from his grasp, breathing irregularly. "You need to tell me what Mason meant."

Jonah gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. "He is lying. That's all you need to know.

"That’s not enough!" Hannah shouted, her voice trembling. "He asserted that you required a wife for a reason. Why?

Jonah looked at her, and his jaw tightened. "As I said, it isn't true. Mason is just trying to make you angry.

Hannah crossed her arms, her expression unflinching. "Then show it. Describe the situation to me.

For a long, the only sound in the car was their breathing. At last, Jonah sighed and leaned back in his seat. "You wouldn’t understand."

"Try me," Hannah said, her voice lower but no less determined.

Jonah hesitated, then turned to face her. This marriage is about more than simply you and me. The anticipated outcomes are...

"Expectations?" Hannah repeated, her brow wrinkled. "What kind of expectations?"

Before Jonah could reply, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and mumbled a curse. "I have to take this."

Hannah grabbed his arm. "No. This conversation won't be avoided by you."

"It’s important," Jonah shouted, letting go of his arm. "Wait here."

Hannah watched Jonah exit the car while he paced and spoke on the phone. She grew frustrated. He kept her in the dark and never responded to her questions. How could she trust him when he wouldn't tell the truth?

She glanced at the glove box. An idea came to her and she shook her head. "No, Hannah. Don't put yourself on his level.

She couldn't help but wonder, though. What if she discovered something that would enable her to discover the solutions?

Before she could talk herself out of it, she reached over and opened the compartment. She found a stack of papers inside a sealed envelope with her name on it.

She felt her heart skip a beat. Why had Jonah written her a letter?

She opened the mail with trembling hands. Inside was a handwritten letter. As she read the words, her vision was blurred by tears.

The Letter

Hannah

By the time you're done reading this, I hope you'll understand. I was obliged to include you in this, even though I didn't want to. This union is essential to the company's future. Without it, everything falls apart. I promise to do all in my power to keep you safe, even though I know it's unfair to you.

Jonah

Hannah's hands were shaking as she folded the letter. The company's future? Was this the primary goal? She felt angry and betrayed at the same time. How could he have taken advantage of her like this? How come he hadn't told her?

The door opened and Jonah slipped back inside the car. "Sorry about that," he murmured without looking at the envelope on her lap. "Where were we?"

Hannah looked at him while clenching the letter in her fist. "You lied to me."

Jonah's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

She held up the letter. "This! You said Mason was lying, but you've been hiding the truth from me all along.

Jonah's expression went white. "Where did you get that?"

"Does it matter?" Hannah became upset. "I was taken advantage of by you. This marriage isn't about us. It's related to your company.

Jonah reached for the letter, but she pulled it away. "Hannah, let me explain."

"Explain what what?" she asked. That all I am is a pawn in your business deal? that my feelings don't matter?"

"It’s not like that," Jonah said frantically. "I didn’t want to involve you, but I had no choice."

"There’s always a choice," Hannah murmured, and her voice cracked. "You just didn’t care enough to make the right one."

Jonah combed through his hair, obviously annoyed. "You're clueless about the situation. If this deal fails, thousands of jobs may be lost. I couldn't let that happen.

"So you sacrificed me instead?" Hannah asked, tears streaming down her face. "Do you even hear yourself?"

Jonah was about to respond when a loud hammering on the car window surprised them both. Outside, Mason was grinning as snarly as ever.

"Well, well," Mason said as Jonah rolled down the window. "Looks like I interrupted something."

"What do you want?" Jonah asked in a chilly voice.

"Just thought you’d like to know," Mason replied, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "The board isn’t happy."

"What are you talking about?" Jonah demanded something.

"Oh," Mason said with a smile, "you'll find out soon enough." "But let’s just say your little plan might not go as smoothly as you hoped."

Mason exited, leaving Jonah and Hannah in stunned stillness.

Hannah glanced to Jonah and her anger was momentarily replaced by confusion. "What did he mean by that?"

Jonah's expression was solemn. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's not good.

Hannah was trying to piece things together, her mind whirling. The letter, Mason's warning, and Jonah's concealment all alluded to something far bigger than she had previously believed.

"Jonah," she murmured in a faltering voice. "What aren’t you telling me?"

Jonah's silence was an adequate answer.