Signed to Love: The Billionaire's Contract Bride

THREE

Chapter 3 – The Secret of Lea Sandoval

Several days passed, yet Althea could not find peace within herself. The mansion was quiet, but her mind was louder than ever—filled with endless questions about the mysterious woman in the red dress, and about Clarisse, who always seemed to appear and disappear like a shadow in Xavier’s life.

She tried to convince herself that it was nothing, that she was overthinking, but the unease in her chest refused to leave. Something told her that every corner of Xavier Madrigal’s world was layered with secrets—and she was now forced to live inside it.

One morning, during breakfast at the long, polished dining table, Xavier finally broke the silence. His tone was calm, but his eyes carried a certain weight that made Althea’s fork freeze midway.

“I want to introduce someone to you later,” he said simply. “She is my personal secretary—Lea Sandoval. From now on, she will assist you, guide you, and help you adapt to the responsibilities that come with being my wife… even if this marriage exists only on paper.”

Althea’s breath caught in her throat. His words struck her with a strange heaviness, as though beneath that simple introduction was something more—a warning, perhaps, or a subtle challenge. She nodded slowly, masking her unease with a polite smile.

That evening, as promised, Xavier brought her to his private office to meet the woman. When the door opened, Althea’s heart skipped. Lea Sandoval stood before them—a tall woman with sleek black hair, sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through flesh and bone, and a smile that looked perfectly polite but somehow… insincere.

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Madrigal,” Lea greeted smoothly. Her voice was soft, respectful, yet strangely cold. The chill in her tone didn’t escape Althea’s notice.

Althea extended her hand out of courtesy. “Nice to meet you, Miss Sandoval.”

Their handshake was brief, but it was enough. Beneath Lea’s well-manicured composure, Althea sensed something else—something calculated. This was not just a secretary. There was a subtle power in the way Lea carried herself, a quiet dominance that unsettled her.

As the three of them exchanged a few more words, Althea caught the way Lea glanced at Xavier—too familiar, too confident. It was as though she wasn’t just a subordinate, but someone who already knew too much about the man Althea had married.

A shiver crawled down Althea’s spine.

That night, as she lay in her room, Althea replayed the meeting over and over in her mind. Lea’s eyes, her smile, the slight pause before she addressed her as “Mrs. Madrigal.” None of it felt natural. It was as if Lea was mocking her silently, testing her limits.

But what unsettled Althea the most was the sense that Lea was hiding something—something crucial.

Who exactly was Lea Sandoval? Was she just Xavier’s loyal secretary, or was there a deeper role she played in his guarded world? Was she a possible ally… or the beginning of a new threat hidden within the contract marriage Althea had unwillingly signed?

One thing was certain: Althea could no longer ignore the gnawing voice inside her. This wasn’t just a marriage of convenience anymore—it was a labyrinth of secrets. And she had just met another keeper of those secrets.