THE COLD CEO OBSESSIVE POSSESSION

THE BLACK ROSE PRICE

Chapter 10:

Adrian sat in the back of the black car, staring at the location Marcus had sent.

His face was calm.

Too calm.

But his hand was clenched so tightly around his phone that his knuckles had turned white.

Across from him, his head of security, Ethan, watched silently.

"Sir."

Adrian didn't answer.

"You can't go alone."

"I can."

"It's obviously a trap."

"I know."

"Then why are you going?"

Adrian finally looked up.

"Because Amelia is there."

Ethan lowered his voice.

"Sir, if they wanted to kill her—"

"They don't."

"How do you know?"

"Because she's still alive."

He looked out the window.

"Which means they need her for something."

"And if they need her?"

Adrian's expression darkened.

"Then they'll have to go through me first."

The car continued through the empty streets.

Adrian's phone vibrated.

One message.

BRING THE KEY. COME ALONE.

He stared at it.

Then another message appeared.

IF ANYONE FOLLOWS YOU, AMELIA DIES.

Adrian's jaw tightened.

He typed only four words.

Touch her and die.

He sent the message.

No reply came.

---

Across the city, Amelia sat in a dark room.

Victoria stood near the window.

Marcus was watching them.

"Tell me the truth," Amelia demanded.

Marcus smiled.

"You're impatient."

"I've been lied to my entire life."

"Then perhaps you should enjoy finally hearing the truth."

Victoria looked at Marcus.

"Don't."

He ignored her.

"Your father discovered something twenty years ago."

"What?"

"That the Blackwood family had a hidden inheritance."

Amelia frowned.

"I already know about that."

"No."

Marcus smiled.

"You don't."

He stepped closer.

"The inheritance isn't money."

Amelia stared at him.

"Then what is it?"

Marcus looked at Victoria.

"Tell her."

Victoria shook her head.

Marcus's expression hardened.

"Tell her."

Victoria sighed.

"The inheritance is a trust."

"What kind?"

"A biological trust."

Amelia didn't understand.

"What does that mean?"

Victoria walked toward her.

"Your grandfather's family was involved in a secret research program."

Amelia's face changed.

"Research?"

"Years ago."

"About what?"

"Genetics."

Amelia shook her head.

"This makes no sense."

"It will."

Victoria took a breath.

"Your mother gave birth to twins."

"Elena and me."

"Yes."

"What does that have to do with the Blackwood inheritance?"

Victoria's eyes filled with sadness.

"Your bloodline was important to them."

"Why?"

"Because your grandmother was part of the program."

Amelia stared.

"My grandmother?"

"Yes."

"What did she do?"

"She was a scientist."

Amelia's breathing became shallow.

"What did she study?"

Victoria hesitated.

"Human genetics."

Marcus interrupted.

"More specifically, inherited genetic traits."

Amelia looked at him.

"And what does that have to do with me?"

Marcus smiled.

"You inherited something from her."

"What?"

"We don't know yet."

Amelia's heart pounded.

"So you're saying people have been hunting me because of my genes?"

"Partly."

"What else?"

Marcus looked toward the door.

"Adrian."

Amelia froze.

"What about him?"

"He knows more than he's telling you."

She shook her head.

"Adrian doesn't know about this."

Marcus laughed.

"You really believe that?"

Victoria stepped forward.

"He knew your grandmother."

Amelia looked at her.

"What?"

"Adrian's father kept records."

"And Adrian saw them?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't he tell me?"

Victoria looked away.

"Because he wanted to use you."

Amelia's heart sank.

"No."

Marcus smiled.

"That's why he married you."

Amelia shook her head.

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

He pulled out a file.

He placed it on the table.

Amelia stared at it.

"What's that?"

"Your marriage contract."

She frowned.

"I already have one."

"No."

Marcus opened the file.

"This is the original."

Amelia stepped closer.

Her eyes moved across the pages.

The terms were different.

There was no one-year clause.

No divorce condition.

Instead, one sentence stood out.

Upon marriage, Amelia Carter becomes the legal heir to the Blackwood biological trust.

Amelia's blood ran cold.

"This isn't my contract."

"It was prepared before you met Adrian."

She stared at Marcus.

"Who prepared it?"

"Adrian's father."

Amelia's heart shattered.

"So Adrian knew."

Marcus nodded.

"Of course."

"No."

She shook her head.

"He wouldn't."

Victoria looked at her sadly.

"He would."

Amelia felt tears filling her eyes.

Everything Adrian had told her suddenly seemed like a lie.

The contract.

The marriage.

His protection.

His obsession.

Had it all been about her inheritance?

Marcus leaned closer.

"Adrian Blackwood didn't choose you because he loved you."

Amelia looked away.

"He chose you because marrying you would give his family access to the trust."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"No."

Marcus smiled.

"And that's not even the worst part."

---

At the same time, Adrian's car arrived at the location.

An abandoned mansion stood in the middle of nowhere.

Adrian stepped out.

He looked around.

No guards.

No cars.

No movement.

He walked toward the entrance.

The doors opened by themselves.

Adrian entered.

The door slammed shut behind him.

A voice echoed through the hall.

"Welcome, Mr. Blackwood."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Where is she?"

"Who?"

"You know exactly who."

A man stepped from the shadows.

Marcus.

Adrian immediately recognized him.

"Where is Amelia?"

Marcus smiled.

"Always straight to business."

Adrian stepped forward.

"You have ten seconds."

"Or what?"

"I kill you."

Marcus laughed.

"That's exactly what I expected."

Adrian's eyes remained cold.

"Where is she?"

"Alive."

"Bring her."

"Not yet."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"What do you want?"

"The key."

Adrian pulled it from his pocket.

He held it up.

Marcus's eyes immediately focused on it.

"Put it on the table."

Adrian did.

"Now Amelia."

Marcus smiled.

"You really think this is a simple exchange?"

Adrian said nothing.

Marcus stepped closer.

"You don't understand what you've married into."

"I don't care."

"You should."

"I only care about getting her back."

Marcus studied him.

Then he smiled.

"That's your weakness."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"No."

He stepped closer.

"She's my strength."

Marcus laughed.

"We'll see."

---

Back in the room, Amelia was staring at the original contract.

Her hands were shaking.

"Why would Adrian do this?"

Victoria sat beside her.

"Because power changes people."

"He told me he needed a wife because of his grandfather's will."

"That was only part of the truth."

"He said he wanted me."

"He did."

Amelia looked up.

Victoria's words surprised her.

"He wanted you."

"Then why?"

"Because obsession and love aren't always the same thing."

Amelia's eyes filled with tears.

"Did he ever love you?"

Victoria remained silent.

"Please."

Victoria finally answered.

"Once."

Amelia looked at her.

"And then?"

"He became obsessed with control."

"What happened?"

"He wanted to know where I was."

"That's not love."

"I know."

"He wouldn't let me leave."

Victoria's voice broke.

"That's why I disappeared."

Amelia looked at her.

"From Adrian?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you warning me?"

"Because I know what it feels like to become trapped inside Adrian Blackwood's world."

Amelia lowered her gaze.

"But he has been kind to me."

Victoria smiled sadly.

"That's how it begins."

A loud explosion shook the building.

Amelia screamed.

Marcus rushed into the room.

"Stay here!"

"What happened?"

"Blackwood."

Victoria's eyes widened.

"Adrian?"

Marcus nodded.

"He came."

Amelia's heart jumped.

Despite everything she had just learned, relief flooded through her.

"Where is he?"

Marcus grabbed her arm.

"You aren't going anywhere."

"Let me go!"

He tightened his grip.

Then—

The door exploded open.

Adrian stood in the doorway.

His suit was torn.

Blood marked his forehead.

His eyes were filled with fury.

"Take your hands off my wife."

Marcus smiled.

"Right on time."

Adrian looked at Amelia.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"No."

His eyes softened for a second.

Then he looked at Marcus.

"Release her."

Marcus laughed.

"You came for the woman who may destroy your entire family."

Adrian didn't move.

"I said release her."

Marcus held Amelia tighter.

"Do you even know what she is?"

Adrian's expression didn't change.

"She's Amelia."

Marcus smiled.

"That's not what I asked."

Adrian's eyes darkened.

"I don't care."

Amelia stared at him.

He knew.

Or maybe he didn't.

She couldn't tell anymore.

Marcus leaned toward Amelia.

"Ask him."

Adrian's gaze remained fixed on her.

Marcus smiled.

"Ask your husband whether he knew about the trust before he married you."

Amelia's heart stopped.

She looked at Adrian.

"Did you?"

Silence.

Adrian didn't answer.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Adrian."

He finally spoke.

"Yes."

The word shattered her.

Amelia stared at him.

"You knew?"

"Yes."

"Before you met me?"

"Yes."

"You knew about the trust?"

"Yes."

Her voice broke.

"Then why did you marry me?"

Adrian looked at her.

His answer came quietly.

"Because I needed you."

Amelia closed her eyes.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Marcus smiled.

"Now you understand."

But Adrian's next words changed everything.

"I needed you..."

He stepped forward.

"...but not for the reason he thinks."

Marcus's smile disappeared.

Adrian's eyes remained fixed on Amelia.

"I knew about the trust."

"I knew about your family."

"I knew about the contract."

"But I didn't know one thing."

"What?" Amelia whispered.

Adrian's voice broke for the first time.

"That I would fall in love with you."

Silence.

Marcus's expression hardened.

Victoria looked away.

And Amelia couldn't tell whether the tears in her eyes were from betrayal—

or from the terrible realization that she might still love the man who had lied to her.

Then a gunshot rang through the mansion.

Everyone turned.

A figure stood at the doorway.

Elena.

She was holding a gun.

And she was pointing it directly at Adrian.

"Step away from my sister."