Chapter 5: The Warning I Couldnt ignore
1304 Words
Leah stood frozen as Clarissa disappeared into the night like a ghost from the past. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest. Clarissa’s words echoed in her mind, refusing to fade.
“If you’re smart, you’ll leave too… before it’s too late.”
What had she meant by that?
Was Xavier dangerous? Or was Clarissa just bitter?
Leah took a shaky breath and walked back into the mansion, trying to act normal. But her hands were trembling, and the warning clung to her like a second skin.
Xavier found her near the bar and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“There you are,” he said. “My father wants us to take a picture with the other couples.”
Leah smiled tightly and nodded, but inside, her thoughts were racing.
She posed for the photos, smiled at strangers, and laughed when needed—but none of it felt real. She kept looking around, half-expecting Clarissa to show up again.
That night, as they drove back in silence, Leah kept glancing at Xavier, searching for signs she hadn’t noticed before. His jaw was clenched, his hands gripped the wheel tightly, and his eyes were unreadable.
“Do you ever miss her?” she asked quietly.
“Miss who?” he said without looking at her.
“Clarissa.”
He didn’t answer right away.
“No,” he said at last, but his voice lacked conviction.
Leah looked out the window. Her chest ached with confusion. Why did he marry her if he still carried Clarissa’s ghost?
***
The next morning, Leah sat in the garden, staring at the necklace around her neck. The same one Clarissa had worn in those pictures.
She pulled it off and placed it on the table.
She was done being someone’s replacement.
Just then, Maria approached with a phone in her hand.
“You need to see this,” Maria said, frowning.
Leah took the phone and looked at the screen.
Her heart sank.
A gossip blog post was trending: **"Billionaire Xavier Knight’s Mysterious Wife Exposed—A Contract Marriage?"**
There were pictures of her from the dinner, next to Xavier. And below, an anonymous source claiming Leah had been seen leaving a hospital months ago crying over bills—and then suddenly appeared as Xavier’s wife.
“Oh my God,” Leah whispered.
“This is bad,” Maria said. “If the media starts digging, the board will panic.”
Leah felt lightheaded. “Who could’ve leaked this?”
Maria sighed. “That dinner had over a hundred people. It could be anyone. But this puts your contract—and your safety—at risk.”
Before Leah could respond, Xavier stormed into the garden, holding his phone.
“Is this your doing?” he barked.
“What?” she blinked.
“You’re the one with the sob story background. You think this helps your image?”
“I didn’t leak anything!”
He stepped closer. “Now the board is calling an emergency meeting, my father’s furious, and Clarissa is back in town stirring trouble.”
Her heart dropped. “So you knew she was at the dinner?”
He stiffened. “I suspected she might come. But I didn’t expect her to approach *you*.”
“She warned me about you,” Leah whispered. “Said you’re not who I think you are.”
Xavier’s expression darkened. “You should’ve told me.”
“I was scared!”
He let out a bitter laugh. “You think I’m the threat? You don’t even know what kind of game she’s playing.”
Leah stared at him. “Then tell me! Stop treating me like a doll you picked off the street.”
Xavier’s jaw clenched. He looked like he wanted to say something… but instead, he turned and walked away.
She sat back down, tears stinging her eyes. This wasn’t a marriage. It was a warzone.
***
Later that evening, Leah went to visit her mother at the hospital. She hadn’t been there in weeks, and guilt was eating her up.
Her mother looked pale but smiled weakly as Leah walked in.
“My beautiful girl,” she whispered.
Leah sat beside her, holding her frail hand. “How are you feeling?”
“The medicine helps,” her mother said. “But the nurses said your husband paid everything. Why would he do that?”
Leah hesitated. “We got married.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “You what?”
“It was... sudden. A contract marriage.”
Her mother sat up slowly, shocked. “Leah—what are you doing with your life?”
“I needed to save you.”
“You don’t sell your future to pay for the present,” her mother whispered. “You should’ve told me. I never wanted this for you.”
Tears filled Leah’s eyes. “It’s done now.”
Her mother touched her cheek. “Then don’t lose yourself in it. If that man doesn’t love you, don’t give him your heart.”
Leah nodded, but deep down, she feared it was already too late.
***
That night, back at the mansion, Leah found herself drawn to the library again.
She needed answers. About Clarissa. About Xavier. About this entire mess.
She started searching the cabinets again, hoping to find something—anything.
After minutes of digging, she found a locked drawer. She pulled out a bobby pin from her hair and tried to unlock it.
Click.
It opened.
Inside were old documents, newspaper clippings, and one yellowed photo that made her heart stop.
It was a younger Xavier—with his arms around Clarissa—and in the background, a man who looked exactly like Xavier… but colder. Scarier.
She turned over the photo.
“Xavier and Darius – 2018.”
Darius?
She flipped through more documents and found a news article: **“Darius Knight arrested for embezzling company funds, rumored betrayal of brother Xavier.”**
Her mouth dropped.
Xavier had a brother. A criminal. One who had nearly destroyed the company.
No wonder Xavier was obsessed with control. No wonder he didn’t trust anyone.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps.
She quickly shoved everything back and closed the drawer.
Xavier entered, looking tense.
“What are you doing here?” he asked sharply.
“Just reading,” she lied.
He stared at her, eyes narrowing. “Did you go through my things?”
She swallowed hard. “No.”
He walked closer. “If you ever lie to me again, Leah, I’ll end this marriage before it even begins.”
She blinked back tears. “Then maybe you should.”
He stared at her, breathing hard. Then he grabbed her chin gently but firmly.
“You wanted a contract? Stick to it. Don’t dig into things you don’t understand.”
“I’m not your enemy,” she whispered.
“But you’re not my friend either,” he replied coldly.
He let go and walked out, leaving her shaking.
***
The next morning, Leah woke up to the sound of sirens outside.
She rushed to the balcony.
Two police cars were parked outside the gate.
Maria burst into the room, pale. “Leah… it’s Xavier. He’s been taken in for questioning.”
“What? Why?”
“There’s been another leak. Someone reported that he bribed the hospital for a fake marriage license.”
Leah’s stomach dropped. “That’s not true!”
Maria grabbed her arm. “The media will eat this up. You need to stay inside and say nothing. They’re going to come after *you* next.”
Leah stared out the window, heart thundering.
The man she’d married to save her mother was now being destroyed by the very contract they created.
And she had no idea who was pulling the strings.
- Writer
