THE BLACKWOOD MANSION
1752 Words
Chapter 3
The next morning, Amelia woke up with one thought pounding inside her head.
I am getting married.
She sat upright in bed and stared at the wall.
For a few seconds, she couldn't remember why her heart felt so heavy.
Then everything came rushing back.
The contract.
Adrian Blackwood.
The money.
Her mother's treatment.
The strange messages.
And the final sentence that had refused to leave her mind.
You have no idea what you've just agreed to.
Amelia reached for her phone.
There were no new messages.
She let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
Maybe she had overreacted.
Maybe the message had simply been part of Adrian's strange way of doing business.
She looked toward the clock.
She was already late for work.
"Great."
She rushed out of bed.
By the time Amelia arrived at the hospital, her mother was awake.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
Amelia forced a smile.
"Good morning, Mum."
Her mother studied her face.
"You look worried."
"I'm fine."
"You've been saying that for years."
Amelia sat beside her.
Her mother's fingers gently touched hers.
"Tell me what's wrong."
Amelia looked down.
There were some things she couldn't explain.
How could she tell her mother that she had agreed to marry a billionaire she'd barely known for twenty-four hours?
How could she explain that the marriage was a contract?
How could she explain that the man seemed to know almost everything about her?
"I'm just tired."
Her mother smiled sadly.
"Don't carry the whole world on your shoulders."
Amelia squeezed her hand.
"I won't."
A knock sounded.
A nurse entered.
"Mrs. Carter?"
"Yes?"
"Your treatment has been approved."
Amelia's head snapped up.
"What?"
The nurse smiled.
"The payment was made early this morning."
Amelia froze.
"Payment?"
"Yes. The entire amount."
Her mother looked at her.
"Amelia?"
"I..."
She couldn't speak.
The nurse left.
Amelia's phone immediately vibrated.
One message.
Adrian: Your mother's treatment begins today.
Her heart pounded.
She typed quickly.
Amelia: You said the money would be available after the marriage.
His reply came almost immediately.
Adrian: You signed the contract.
Amelia stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
Adrian: I keep my promises.
She didn't know whether to feel grateful or frightened.
She typed:
Amelia: Thank you.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally:
Adrian: Don't thank me yet.
She frowned.
Before she could reply, another message came.
Adrian: Pack your things.
Amelia's eyes widened.
Amelia: Why?
His response was simple.
Adrian: You're moving into my house today.
---
By afternoon, a black luxury car was waiting outside the hospital.
Amelia stared at it through the glass doors.
She recognized the driver.
It was one of Adrian's men.
The man stepped out and opened the back door.
"Miss Carter."
Amelia tightened her grip on her handbag.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Blackwood Mansion."
Her stomach tightened.
"Mr. Blackwood said I could stay in my apartment."
"He changed his mind."
Amelia frowned.
"He can't just change the terms."
The driver remained polite.
"The contract states that you will reside at Blackwood Mansion during the marriage."
Amelia sighed.
She had forgotten that part.
She looked back at the hospital.
Her mother was going to be safe.
Her brother's fees would be paid.
Everything she had fought for was finally falling into place.
So why did she feel as though she were walking into a cage?
She entered the car.
The door closed.
As the vehicle pulled away, she looked through the window.
The city disappeared behind her.
---
Blackwood Mansion was not a house.
It was a palace.
The gates opened slowly as the car approached.
Beyond them stood a massive estate surrounded by perfectly trimmed gardens, towering trees, fountains and stone pathways.
Amelia stared.
"This can't be real."
The driver smiled faintly.
"It belongs to Mr. Blackwood."
The mansion itself was enormous.
Dark stone.
Tall windows.
Grand pillars.
A staircase leading to enormous double doors.
Everything about it screamed wealth.
But there was something else.
It was cold.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
And strangely lifeless.
The front doors opened before Amelia reached them.
A middle-aged woman stood there.
She wore a black dress and held herself with quiet authority.
"Miss Carter."
"Yes?"
"I am Mrs. Evelyn."
"The housekeeper?"
"Yes."
Her eyes traveled briefly over Amelia.
Then she stepped aside.
"Welcome to Blackwood Mansion."
Amelia entered.
The inside was even more impressive.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
Marble floors reflected the lights.
Paintings decorated the walls.
Everything looked expensive enough to belong in a museum.
Yet nobody spoke.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody moved unnecessarily.
Amelia felt like she had entered a place where happiness was forbidden.
Mrs. Evelyn led her upstairs.
"This will be your room."
Amelia stopped.
Her room was larger than her entire apartment.
There was a king-sized bed, a sitting area, a dressing room and a balcony overlooking the gardens.
She slowly walked inside.
"This is too much."
"Mr. Blackwood does not believe in too little."
Amelia looked at her.
"Where is he?"
"At the company."
"When is he coming back?"
"Usually late."
"Usually?"
Mrs. Evelyn's expression changed slightly.
"He keeps unusual hours."
Amelia nodded.
She turned toward the wardrobe.
It was filled with clothes.
Designer dresses.
Shoes.
Handbags.
Everything in her size.
She stared.
"I didn't ask for these."
"They were selected for you."
"By whom?"
Mrs. Evelyn hesitated.
"Mr. Blackwood."
Amelia's heart skipped.
He had never asked her measurements.
She looked down at herself.
How did he know?
She walked to the wardrobe and opened another section.
More clothes.
Then another.
Jewelry.
Perfume.
Accessories.
Her phone vibrated.
Adrian: Everything you need is there.
Amelia stared at the message.
She typed:
Amelia: How did you know my sizes?
His reply came seconds later.
Adrian: I know you.
She swallowed.
She typed:
Amelia: You don't.
This time, there was a longer pause.
Then:
Adrian: You will.
Amelia locked her phone.
She didn't like that answer.
Not at all.
---
That evening, Amelia sat alone in the enormous dining room.
A long table stretched across the room.
There were enough seats for twenty people.
Yet only one plate had been prepared.
Hers.
She looked around.
"Does he eat here?"
Mrs. Evelyn stood nearby.
"Sometimes."
"With me?"
"If he chooses."
Amelia sighed.
She was beginning to understand the rules of this house.
Nothing happened normally.
At exactly nine o'clock, the doors opened.
Adrian walked in.
He was dressed in a black suit.
His tie was loosened slightly.
His expression remained cold.
Amelia immediately became tense.
He took his seat at the opposite end of the table.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he looked at her.
"How is your mother?"
"Her treatment started."
"Good."
"Thank you."
"I told you not to thank me yet."
She frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian picked up his glass.
"It means there are things you don't know."
"Then tell me."
He looked at her.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you aren't ready."
Amelia's patience snapped.
"You don't get to decide what I'm ready for."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You signed a contract with me."
"A marriage contract, not a surrender document."
Silence.
Mrs. Evelyn quietly left the room.
Adrian leaned back.
"You have a strong temper."
"You have a controlling personality."
"Perhaps."
"Perhaps?"
"Definitely."
Despite herself, Amelia almost smiled.
But she quickly stopped.
Adrian noticed.
Something softened in his eyes for half a second.
Then it disappeared.
"Tomorrow," he said, "we announce our engagement."
Amelia's smile vanished.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"That's too soon."
"There is no reason to delay."
"There are plenty of reasons."
"Name one."
"I barely know you."
"You know enough."
"No, I don't."
Adrian leaned forward.
"Then ask."
Amelia stared at him.
"Fine."
She took a breath.
"Why are you really marrying me?"
His face became unreadable.
"You already know the answer."
"No."
She shook her head.
"I don't believe you."
Adrian stared at her for a long moment.
Then he said quietly:
"That's your first mistake."
"What?"
"Thinking I would lie to you."
He stood.
Their conversation was clearly over.
But before leaving, he stopped beside her chair.
"One more thing."
"What?"
His voice dropped.
"Do not leave this house without telling me."
Amelia looked up at him.
"I can go wherever I want."
"You can."
He walked away.
Then turned.
"But if something happens to you, everyone around you will pay for it."
Amelia's blood ran cold.
"Is that a threat?"
"No."
His eyes held hers.
"It's a warning."
Then he disappeared.
---
Later that night, Amelia stood on the balcony.
The mansion was silent.
She looked at the city lights in the distance.
She had thought marrying Adrian would solve her problems.
Instead, it seemed to have created new ones.
Her phone buzzed.
She expected Adrian.
It wasn't him.
Unknown number.
You shouldn't have married him.
Amelia's heart stopped.
Another message arrived.
Leave Blackwood Mansion before the wedding.
She stared at the screen.
Then a third message appeared.
Because the last woman who tried to become Mrs. Blackwood never survived long enough to wear the ring.
Amelia's fingers went numb.
She looked toward the bedroom door.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
But she suddenly felt as though someone was watching her.
She slowly turned toward the dark garden below.
For a moment, she saw nothing.
Then—
A shadow moved between the trees.
Amelia stepped backward.
Her breathing became shallow.
The shadow disappeared.
Her phone vibrated one final time.
Unknown: He's not the man you think he is.
Amelia stared at the message.
Behind her, the bedroom door slowly opened.
She turned.
Adrian stood there.
His face was expressionless.
But his eyes went directly to the phone in her hand.
"What are you reading?"
Amelia couldn't answer.
Adrian stepped closer.
"Amelia."
She swallowed.
"Nothing."
His eyes narrowed.
"Show me."
She tightened her grip around the phone.
"No."
For the first time since she had met him, Adrian's expression changed completely.
His coldness disappeared.
Something darker took its place.
"Who is messaging you?"
Amelia took a step backward.
"I said no."
Adrian stared at her.
Then he quietly closed the bedroom door behind him.
The click of the lock echoed through the room.
Amelia's heart raced.
And for the first time, she wondered whether the stranger who had warned her was telling the truth.
She had married a man she knew nothing about.
And now she was trapped inside his world.
A world filled with secrets.
Danger.
And a possession that Adrian Blackwood had already decided would never be allowed to escape him.
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