THE BILLIONAIRE SECRET WIFE

Amelia Carter had always believed that the worst day of her life would be the day she lost her father. She was wrong. The worst day was the day she discovered that losing him had left her family with nothing but debts, enemies, and a secret she never knew existed. And it all began with a knock on a hospital door. "Amelia." She looked up from the uncomfortable chair beside her mother's hospital bed. Her mother's weak voice immediately caught her attention. "Yes, Mom?" "Come here." Amelia quickly stood and walked to the bed. Her mother looked pale. Too pale. Amelia forced a smile as she sat beside her. "What is it?" Her mother stared at her for several seconds. There was fear in her eyes. Amelia noticed it immediately. "Mom?" "Your uncle came again." Amelia's smile disappeared. "Uncle Richard?" Her mother nodded. "What did he want?" Her mother looked away. Amelia's heart sank. "Mom, what did he want?" "He said we have until tomorrow." "Until tomorrow for what?" Her mother's lips trembled. "To pay the money." Amelia went completely still. "What money?" "Twenty million dollars." The room suddenly felt too small. Amelia stared at her mother. Twenty million dollars. She almost laughed. Not because it was funny. But because the number was so unbelievable that her mind refused to accept it. "Twenty million?" Her mother nodded. "But how?" Amelia stood. "How can we owe that much money?" "Your father—" "Don't." The word came out sharper than she intended. Her mother flinched. Amelia immediately regretted it. She closed her eyes. "I'm sorry." She sat down again. "I didn't mean to shout." Her mother reached for her hand. Amelia held it tightly. Since her father's death, she had become the person everyone depended on. Her mother's hospital bills. The family business. The unpaid debts. The creditors. Everything had fallen on her shoulders. She had sold her jewelry. Used her savings. Borrowed money. Worked until she barely had time to sleep. But twenty million dollars? That was impossible. "Mom," she whispered, "what did Dad do?" Her mother's eyes filled with tears. "I don't know." Amelia stared at her. "How can you not know?" "Your father never told me everything." "Then who knows?" Her mother didn't answer. Amelia's stomach tightened. "Mom." "I don't know." Before Amelia could ask another question, someone knocked on the door. Three slow knocks. Amelia turned. The door opened. A man walked inside. He was tall. Very tall. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit that probably cost more than everything Amelia owned. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his face was cold enough to make the room feel several degrees colder. Two men followed him. Bodyguards. Amelia immediately stood. "Who are you?" The stranger's eyes moved toward her. And suddenly, Amelia understood why his face looked familiar. She had seen him everywhere. Newspapers. Business magazines. Television. Social media. Adrian Blackwood. The billionaire everyone feared. The owner of Blackwood International. A man whose name could make business competitors tremble. A man who had never been publicly known to fall in love. Amelia frowned. "What are you doing here?" Adrian didn't answer. Instead, his eyes moved to her mother. Her mother froze. The color drained from her face. Amelia noticed. "Mom?" Her mother looked at Adrian as though she had seen a ghost. Adrian's expression changed. Only slightly. But Amelia saw it. He knew her mother. Amelia turned back to him. "Do you know my mother?" Adrian's eyes returned to hers. "No." The answer came too quickly. Amelia didn't believe him. Before she could question him, Adrian reached inside his jacket. He pulled out a black envelope. He held it toward her. "Amelia Carter?" She didn't move. "How do you know my name?" "I know everything I need to know." "That's not an answer." His eyes narrowed. "Take the envelope." Amelia hesitated. Then she took it. She opened it. Her eyes moved across the document inside. Her face slowly changed. Marriage contract. She looked up. Then down again. Then back at him. "Are you insane?" Adrian remained completely calm. "No." "You came into my mother's hospital room with a marriage contract?" "Yes." "Why?" "I need a wife." Amelia stared at him. "Then find one." "I did." Her mouth fell open. "What?" "You." Amelia laughed. A bitter, disbelieving laugh. "You don't even know me." "I know enough." "You don't know anything about me." "I know your family is twenty million dollars in debt." Amelia's laughter disappeared. Adrian continued. "I know your mother's medical expenses are increasing." Her fingers tightened around the document. "I know your family's house is about to be seized." Amelia stared at him. "I know your uncle has already spoken to three different investors about buying your family's company." Her heart stopped. "How do you know that?" Adrian stepped closer. "Because I was the fourth person he approached." Amelia's eyes widened. "What?" "He wanted me to buy your family's company." "And?" "I refused." "Why?" Adrian looked directly into her eyes. "Because I wanted something else." Amelia's heart began to pound. "What?" "Your marriage." Silence. Amelia slowly shook her head. "No." Adrian's expression didn't change. "Think carefully." "I already have." "You haven't heard the terms." "I don't care." "Your family's debt disappears." Amelia froze. Adrian continued. "Your mother's medical expenses will be paid." She stared at him. "Your family home will remain yours." Her heart pounded faster. "And your family's business?" "I'll save it." Amelia couldn't speak. Adrian stepped closer. "All you have to do is marry me." "Why?" "Because I need a wife." "Why me?" His eyes held hers. For a second, something unreadable passed through them. Then it disappeared. "Because you are the woman I chose." Amelia shook her head. "That's not good enough." "It will have to be." She threw the contract onto the table. "I refuse." Adrian didn't react. "Think about it." "I already said no." "Forty-eight hours." "What?" "That's how long you have." Amelia stared at him. "Forty-eight hours to do what?" "Accept my offer." "And if I don't?" Adrian's face became colder. "Your family loses everything." Amelia's heart dropped. "You can't threaten me." "I'm not threatening you." "Then what are you doing?" "I'm giving you a choice." Amelia laughed bitterly. "A choice?" "Yes." "You know exactly what you're doing." "Yes." "You know I can't afford to pay that debt." "Yes." "You know my mother is sick." "Yes." "You know my family is desperate." "Yes." Amelia stepped closer. "Then this isn't a choice." Adrian stared at her. "What is it?" "A trap." For the first time, something flickered in his eyes. Amelia didn't know what it was. Anger? Amusement? Something else? He leaned closer. "Perhaps." Her breath caught. The two of them stared at each other. The air between them suddenly felt different. Too intense. Too dangerous. Amelia quickly stepped away. "I will never marry you." Adrian straightened. "We'll see." He turned toward the door. Amelia watched him. "Adrian." He stopped. She didn't know why she had called his name. Maybe she wanted answers. Maybe she wanted to understand. "Why do I feel like you knew me before today?" Adrian didn't turn around. The silence stretched. Then he finally said, "Because I did." Amelia's blood ran cold. "What?" Adrian looked over his shoulder. Their eyes met. "You just don't remember me." And then he walked out. Amelia stood frozen. She didn't move. She didn't breathe. She couldn't understand what he meant. She had never met Adrian Blackwood. She was sure of it. Or at least... She thought she was. Behind her, her mother suddenly began to cry. Amelia turned. "Mom?" Her mother covered her face. "Mom, what's wrong?" "Don't marry him." Amelia froze. Her mother's voice trembled. "Whatever you do, don't marry Adrian Blackwood." "Why?" Her mother looked at her. And for the first time in Amelia's entire life, she saw something she had never seen in her mother's eyes. Fear. Pure, uncontrollable fear. "Because that family destroyed our lives once." Amelia's heart stopped. "What are you talking about?" Her mother shook her head. "Forget I said anything." "No." "Amelia—" "Who is Adrian Blackwood?" Her mother remained silent. "Mom!" The older woman began to cry harder. Amelia grabbed her hand. "Tell me the truth." Her mother looked at her. And whispered the words that would change Amelia's life forever. "Your father wasn't the man you think he was." Amelia stared at her. "What?" Her mother closed her eyes. "Your father stole you." The world stopped. Amelia couldn't breathe. "What did you say?" But her mother refused to speak again. And somewhere outside the hospital room, Adrian Blackwood stood in the corridor. He had heard everything. His fists were clenched. His jaw tight. Because there was one thing Amelia didn't know. The billionaire hadn't come to the hospital to propose a marriage. He had come to reclaim what his family had lost twenty-four years ago. And Amelia Carter... Wasn't who she thought she was. She was the missing heir to the Blackwood family. And Adrian Blackwood had just made her his secret wife. Not because he loved her. Not yet. But because he needed to protect her before the people who had stolen her identity found her first. Unfortunately, Adrian had no idea that the biggest danger wasn't outside his mansion. It was already inside. And she was waiting for Amelia.