Chapter Two:THE SECRET CONTRACT
1645 Words
Amelia couldn't move.
Her mother's words kept replaying inside her head.
Your father stole you.
What did that even mean?
She stared at her mother, waiting for an explanation.
But her mother had turned her face away.
"Mom," Amelia whispered. "What do you mean?"
"Forget it."
"How can I forget something like that?"
"It was a mistake."
"A mistake?"
Amelia stood up.
"You just told me my father stole me!"
Her mother covered her face.
"Please, Amelia."
"No!"
Her voice shook.
"I deserve to know the truth."
Her mother looked at her.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then her mother whispered,
"Your father loved you."
Amelia's heart tightened.
"Then why would you say he stole me?"
"Because—"
Her mother stopped.
"Because what?"
A knock sounded on the door.
Amelia turned.
The same two men who had followed Adrian into the hospital were standing outside.
One of them stepped forward.
"Mr. Blackwood wants to speak with you."
Amelia's eyes narrowed.
"Tell him I'm busy."
"He said it was important."
"Everything about that man is important, apparently."
The bodyguard didn't respond.
Amelia looked back at her mother.
"Mom, I have to go."
Her mother immediately grabbed her hand.
"Don't trust him."
"Who?"
"Adrian."
Amelia stared at her.
"Why?"
Her mother's eyes filled with fear again.
"Because if he finds out who you really are, everything will change."
Amelia's heart skipped.
"Who am I?"
Her mother released her hand.
"Go."
"Mom—"
"Go, Amelia."
Amelia didn't understand.
But she knew she wasn't going to get any more answers.
She grabbed her handbag and followed the bodyguard out.
Adrian was waiting at the end of the corridor.
The moment his eyes met hers, Amelia felt anger rise inside her.
She walked toward him.
"You lied to me."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"About what?"
"You said you didn't know my mother."
"I don't."
"My mother knows you."
"That doesn't mean I know her."
"She told me your family destroyed our lives."
Adrian's eyes changed.
Only for a second.
But Amelia saw it.
"What did she mean?"
"Ask her."
"I did."
"And?"
"She refused to answer."
Adrian nodded.
"Then I suggest you respect her decision."
Amelia stared at him.
"You don't get to tell me what to do."
"No."
"Then stop acting like you own me."
Something dark flashed across Adrian's face.
"I don't own you."
"Good."
"But if you become my wife, there will be certain rules."
Amelia laughed.
"Rules?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
Adrian held out his hand.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"My office."
"I don't want to."
"Then stay here."
Amelia frowned.
"You're impossible."
"I've heard that before."
He turned and walked away.
Amelia followed him.
She didn't know why.
Maybe because she wanted answers.
Maybe because she wanted to understand why Adrian Blackwood had suddenly appeared in her life.
Or maybe because she knew she was running out of options.
They entered a private room at the end of the hallway.
Adrian closed the door behind them.
Amelia immediately turned.
"Tell me the truth."
"I've already told you what you need to know."
"No, you haven't."
Adrian walked toward the window.
"You need money."
"Yes."
"Your family needs protection."
"Yes."
"I can provide both."
"Why?"
He turned.
"Because I need something from you."
"My marriage."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I need a wife."
Amelia rolled her eyes.
"That's the same answer you gave me before."
"Because it's the truth."
"You're lying."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"You have a habit of accusing people without proof."
"And you have a habit of hiding things."
"Perhaps we're both difficult."
"Perhaps."
A strange silence settled between them.
Then Adrian reached for a folder.
He placed it on the desk.
"Your family owes twenty million dollars."
Amelia stared at him.
"Yes."
"I'll pay it."
She looked up.
"In exchange for the marriage."
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"One year."
Amelia frowned.
"One year?"
"After one year, we'll divorce."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
She studied him.
"What happens after the divorce?"
"Nothing."
"You walk away?"
"Yes."
"And I walk away?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
Adrian's gaze remained fixed on hers.
"Completely."
Amelia picked up the contract.
"Then why does this feel like a trap?"
"Because you're afraid."
"I'm not afraid of you."
"You're afraid of what you don't know."
That silenced her.
Adrian wasn't wrong.
She was afraid.
She was afraid of losing her family.
Afraid of losing her mother.
Afraid of making the wrong decision.
And most of all, she was afraid of Adrian.
Not because he had threatened her.
But because something about him felt familiar.
She didn't understand it.
But she felt it every time he looked at her.
Like they had met before.
Like there was something between them she couldn't remember.
Amelia looked down at the contract.
"One year."
"Yes."
"No one can know?"
"No one."
"Not my family?"
"No."
"Not your family?"
"Absolutely not."
Amelia looked up.
"Why?"
Adrian's expression changed.
"Because I have my reasons."
"That's not good enough."
"It will have to be."
Amelia sighed.
"Where will I live?"
"With me."
Her head snapped up.
"What?"
"My wife lives in my house."
"Your wife?"
"Yes."
"But we're not actually married."
"Not yet."
Amelia stared at him.
The thought of living with Adrian made her uncomfortable.
"I need my own room."
"Fine."
"I don't want you entering my room."
"Fine."
"I don't want you touching me."
Adrian's eyebrows rose.
"I wasn't planning to."
Amelia's cheeks warmed.
"Good."
"Anything else?"
"Yes."
She pointed at the contract.
"I want my family to be protected."
"They will be."
"My mother needs the best medical treatment."
"She'll receive it."
"And the business?"
"I'll handle it."
"Without taking ownership?"
Adrian paused.
"Yes."
Amelia narrowed her eyes.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll sign."
Adrian looked at her.
"You haven't read everything."
"I know enough."
"That's not wise."
"Neither is marrying a stranger."
Something almost like a smile appeared on his face.
Amelia stared.
It was the first time she had seen him look remotely human.
Then the expression disappeared.
He pushed a pen toward her.
Amelia stared at it.
Her hand trembled.
She knew what signing meant.
Once she signed, there was no going back.
She thought about her mother.
Her family.
Their home.
The business her father had built.
Then she picked up the pen.
Adrian watched her.
Amelia signed.
The room went silent.
She put the pen down.
"Done."
Adrian looked at the contract.
Then at her.
"Congratulations."
Amelia gave him a cold smile.
"Don't congratulate me yet."
"Why?"
"Because I still have one question."
"What's that?"
Amelia stood.
"Why do I feel like you knew me before we met?"
Adrian went completely still.
The silence that followed was different.
He looked away.
"You're imagining things."
"I don't think I am."
"You're tired."
"Adrian."
He turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian said quietly,
"You remind me of someone."
"Who?"
His expression became unreadable.
"My mother."
Amelia's heart skipped.
"Your mother?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Adrian looked at her.
"Your eyes."
Amelia didn't know what to say.
He walked toward the door.
"Get ready."
"For what?"
"Our wedding."
Her eyes widened.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
"You planned this already?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Adrian stopped.
He looked back at her.
"Because I knew you would say yes."
Amelia frowned.
"How?"
His eyes darkened.
"Because you would do anything to save your family."
Then he walked away.
Amelia stood alone in the room.
She hated him.
She hated his confidence.
His arrogance.
The way he seemed to know everything about her.
But what she hated most was the fact that he was right.
She had agreed to marry a man she didn't love.
A man she didn't trust.
A man who was hiding something from her.
And she had no idea that Adrian Blackwood had been waiting twenty-four years for this moment.
Because the moment Amelia signed that contract...
She became the most important person in his world.
And the most dangerous target of his enemies.
That evening, Amelia stood in front of the mirror in the wedding dress Adrian had chosen for her.
She stared at herself.
A stranger stared back.
She touched the diamond necklace around her neck.
Everything felt unreal.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Adrian stood there.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
His eyes moved over her.
Amelia suddenly felt self-conscious.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Then stop staring."
He looked away.
"You look beautiful."
Amelia froze.
It was the first compliment he had given her.
She didn't know what to say.
"Thank you."
Adrian walked inside.
"Are you ready?"
"No."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are you standing here?"
"Because apparently, I'm getting married tonight."
"To me."
"Don't remind me."
His lips twitched.
Amelia stared.
"Did you just smile?"
"No."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"Come."
He held out his hand.
Amelia stared at it.
Then at him.
Slowly, she placed her hand in his.
The moment their fingers touched, something strange happened.
A sharp pain went through her head.
Amelia gasped.
Adrian immediately looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
"I..."
She pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
For one brief second, she had seen something.
A little girl.
A burning house.
A woman screaming.
And a young boy standing beside her.
Then everything disappeared.
Amelia looked at Adrian.
He was staring at her.
His face had gone pale.
"You saw it."
Her heart stopped.
"Saw what?"
Adrian released her hand.
"Nothing."
"Adrian."
He walked toward the door.
"Let's go."
Amelia followed him.
But she couldn't stop thinking about the vision.
Because the little boy she had seen...
Had Adrian's eyes.
And she had a terrible feeling that the wedding wasn't the beginning of her story with Adrian Blackwood.
It was the beginning of the truth.
- Writer
