Chapter 2 The Deal

The rain hammered against the roof of the black Rolls-Royce.

Amelia stood frozen on the sidewalk.

Water dripped from her soaked wedding dress.

Ethan Blackwood's words echoed in her mind.

I've been waiting three years for Lucas to lose you.

For a moment, she wondered if she'd heard him correctly.

"You know who I am?" she asked.

A corner of Ethan's mouth lifted.

"I know exactly who you are, Amelia Hart."

Something about the way he said her name sent a shiver through her.

Not because it was romantic.

Because it sounded dangerous.

The driver stepped out and opened an umbrella.

Ethan's expression never changed.

"Get in."

Amelia glanced down the empty street.

She had nowhere to go.

Her apartment belonged to Lucas.

Most of her friends were tied to Lucas's social circle.

By now, videos of her humiliation were probably spreading all over social media.

The entire city knew she had been abandoned.

Swallowing her pride, she climbed inside.

The door closed.

The warm leather interior immediately wrapped around her.

For the first time since the wedding, she felt safe.

And somehow, that frightened her more.

***

The car pulled away.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes.

Amelia stared through the rain-covered window.

Finally, she broke the silence.

"What do you want from me?"

Ethan looked up from his phone.

"Straight to the point."

"I'm not in the mood for games."

"Good."

His dark eyes studied her.

"Neither am I."

Something about him was unsettling.

Unlike Lucas, who hid behind charm and polished smiles, Ethan didn't pretend to be nice.

He was honest about being dangerous.

And somehow that made him easier to trust.

"You said you've been waiting for Lucas to lose me."

"Yes."

"Why?"

His gaze shifted toward the storm outside.

"Because Lucas never deserved you."

Amelia laughed bitterly.

"You don't even know me."

"I know enough."

The answer irritated her.

"What exactly do you know?"

Ethan remained silent.

Too silent.

As if he knew things she didn't.

Finally, he said quietly,

"I know your father didn't die of natural causes."

The words hit Amelia like a punch.

"What?"

Her chest tightened.

"What did you just say?"

Ethan's expression darkened.

The car suddenly felt much smaller.

"Your father."

He watched her carefully.

"He didn't die from a heart attack."

Amelia stopped breathing.

"No."

Her voice cracked.

"No, that's impossible."

Her father had died six years ago.

The doctors had called it a heart attack.

The case had been closed immediately.

Everyone had accepted it.

Even her.

Especially her.

Because the alternative was unbearable.

Ethan leaned back.

"That's what you've been told."

Amelia's pulse roared in her ears.

"Who told you this?"

"I have proof."

Her stomach dropped.

Proof?

The world felt unreal.

For years she had grieved her father.

Accepted his death.

Moved on.

Now Ethan was casually telling her everything she believed might be a lie.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Ethan held her gaze.

"Because you're connected to it."

The blood drained from Amelia's face.

"What do you mean?"

Before he could answer, Ethan's phone rang.

His expression instantly changed.

Cold.

Focused.

He answered.

"What happened?"

Silence.

Then his jaw tightened.

The temperature inside the car seemed to drop.

"Find her."

More silence.

"Immediately."

The call ended.

Amelia's heart was racing.

"What happened?"

Ethan looked directly at her.

For the first time, she saw genuine concern flash across his face.

"It's my sister."

"What about her?"

"She's missing."

The words hung between them.

Ethan's sister.

Missing.

Amelia remembered hearing rumors years ago.

The Blackwood family had a daughter who avoided the public eye.

No interviews.

No photographs.

Nothing.

People practically forgot she existed.

And now she had disappeared.

Ethan cursed under his breath.

The driver glanced nervously through the rearview mirror.

"What should we do, sir?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

Then they shifted back to Amelia.

A strange look appeared in them.

Like he had suddenly made a decision.

A terrible one.

"Change of plans."

Amelia frowned.

"What plans?"

Ethan reached into the briefcase beside him and pulled out a thick file.

Then he placed it in her lap.

She stared at it.

Confused.

"What's this?"

"An agreement."

"Agreement?"

His gaze locked onto hers.

Hard.

Unwavering.

"You need protection."

The words sounded absurd.

"From what?"

Ethan tapped the file.

"Open it."

Reluctantly, Amelia did.

The moment she read the first page, her eyes widened.

Marriage Contract.

She looked up so fast she nearly got whiplash.

"What the hell is this?"

Ethan remained calm.

As if proposing marriage to a complete stranger was perfectly normal.

"I want you to marry me."

Amelia almost laughed.

Almost.

But his expression told her he was serious.

Dead serious.

"You've lost your mind."

"Possibly."

"Ethan-"

"Lucas embarrassed you publicly today."

His voice cut through hers.

"Tomorrow the press will tear you apart."

Her throat tightened.

Because she knew he was right.

"The same people laughing at you now would bow the moment you become Mrs. Blackwood."

Amelia stared at him.

Speechless.

This was insane.

Completely insane.

And yet...

A tiny voice whispered inside her head.

Lucas would hate it.

The thought made her feel guilty.

Then another thought appeared.

What if Ethan was right about her father?

What if the answers she needed were connected to him?

As if reading her mind, Ethan leaned forward.

"There are things about your father's death you don't know."

Her fingers tightened around the file.

"And you'll tell me?"

"After we're married."

Amelia's eyes flashed.

"You expect me to marry you for information?"

"No."

His gaze darkened.

"I expect you to marry me because your life is about to get a lot worse."

The car suddenly slowed.

The driver cursed.

Several black SUVs had appeared behind them.

Ethan glanced through the rear window.

His expression hardened instantly.

"What is it?" Amelia asked.

Nobody answered.

Then she saw it.

One SUV accelerated.

Fast.

Far too fast.

Straight toward them.

The driver shouted.

"Ethan!"

The collision was only seconds away.

And the last thing Amelia saw before impact was Ethan reaching for her.