The Envelope

Arielle's POV

"Mrs. Blackwood?"

I opened my eyes when someone knocked on the door.

For a moment, I forgot where I was.

Then I saw the enormous bedroom, the expensive furniture, and the chandelier hanging above me.

Right.

I was married.

Wonderful.

"Mrs. Blackwood?"

"I'm awake!" I shouted.

The door opened slightly, revealing Mrs. Collins.

"Good morning, dear. Breakfast is ready."

I sat up and rubbed my eyes.

"Thank you. I'll be downstairs in a few minutes."

She smiled.

"Your husband is already waiting."

I blinked.

"Waiting for me?"

"Yes, dear."

I looked at the clock.

Seven thirty.

Who eats breakfast this early after getting married?

Apparently, Alexander Blackwood.

"Please tell him I'll be there."

After Mrs. Collins left, I dragged myself out of bed.

I barely slept last night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I kept thinking about the mysterious messages.

And Vanessa.

Especially Vanessa.

I quickly took a shower and changed into jeans and a simple blouse. I tied my hair into a ponytail and grabbed my bag.

Today, I needed to find answers.

And I wasn't going to let Alexander stop me.

When I arrived downstairs, Alexander was sitting at the dining table, reading something on his tablet.

Of course.

The man probably reviewed business reports while brushing his teeth.

"Good morning, husband," I greeted.

He looked up.

"You're late."

I stopped walking.

I stared at him.

"Good morning to you too, sunshine."

Mrs. Collins tried to hide her smile.

Alexander placed his tablet down.

"Breakfast was served thirty minutes ago."

"Then why didn't you eat?"

"I was waiting for you."

I blinked.

Oh.

That was unexpected.

I sat across from him.

"Well, that's surprisingly thoughtful."

"Don't get used to it."

And there he was again.

The refrigerator.

I reached for a piece of toast.

"Don't worry. I wasn't planning to."

We ate in silence for several minutes.

Then Alexander spoke.

"Where are you going today?"

I nearly choked on my juice.

"What?"

"You're dressed to go out."

I looked down at my clothes.

"Maybe I just enjoy wearing jeans."

"Arielle."

I sighed.

"Fine. I'm going shopping."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Shopping?"

"Yes. You know, the activity where people exchange money for things?"

He gave me a flat look.

"Do you need a driver?"

"No!"

My answer came too quickly.

Alexander narrowed his eyes.

I cleared my throat.

"I mean, no, thank you. I can manage."

He studied me.

"Take one of the cars."

"I don't need your car."

"Then take the driver."

"Alexander!"

He leaned back in his chair.

"Why are you so defensive?"

"Because you're treating me like a child!"

"I'm making sure you're safe."

I paused.

Safe?

Why would he say that?

"Why wouldn't I be safe?"

His expression changed slightly.

"You're my wife now. People will recognize you."

I stared at him.

For a moment, I wondered whether he was genuinely concerned.

Then he added, "And I don't want unnecessary problems."

Of course.

I rolled my eyes.

"Don't worry. I won't embarrass your precious family name."

He sighed.

"That's not what I meant."

"Whatever."

I finished my breakfast and stood.

"Thank you for breakfast, Mrs. Collins!"

"You're welcome, dear!"

I was almost at the doorway when Alexander called me.

"Arielle."

I turned.

"What?"

He placed a black card on the table.

"Take this."

I stared at it.

"What is that?"

"A credit card."

"I know what a credit card looks like, Alexander."

"Then take it."

I folded my arms.

"Why?"

"For anything you need."

I looked at the card.

Then at him.

"Are you trying to buy my cooperation?"

"No."

"Because if you are, I should warn you that I'm very expensive."

For the first time that morning, his lips curved slightly.

"Then it's fortunate that I can afford you."

My mouth fell open.

"Excuse me?"

He picked up his tablet.

"Have a nice day, wife."

I stared at him.

This man!

I grabbed the card from the table.

"Fine! But I'm only taking this because you insisted!"

"Of course."

"And don't call me wife!"

"Have fun shopping, Mrs. Blackwood."

I walked away before I could say something I'd regret.

An hour later, I arrived at Vanessa's apartment.

I had taken a taxi instead of using Alexander's driver.

I didn't want him knowing where I was going.

The apartment building was quiet.

I entered using the spare key Vanessa had given me months ago.

The moment I stepped inside, my chest tightened.

Everything looked exactly the same.

Her favorite flowers sat on the dining table, already beginning to wilt.

A half-empty cup of coffee rested near the kitchen sink.

Her slippers were beside the couch.

It looked as though she had simply stepped outside and would return any moment.

"Vanessa?" I called softly.

Silence.

I swallowed.

"Where are you, sister?"

I walked toward her bedroom.

Her wedding preparations were scattered everywhere.

A bridal magazine.

A list of guests.

A photograph of her and Alexander.

I picked up the photograph.

They looked perfect together.

Alexander was wearing a dark suit, while Vanessa stood beside him with a beautiful smile.

But now that I looked closely, something felt strange.

Alexander wasn't smiling.

He wasn't even looking at Vanessa.

His eyes were fixed somewhere else.

I shook my head and returned the photograph to the table.

Focus, Arielle.

The drawer.

I walked toward her dressing table.

There were three drawers.

I opened the first one.

Makeup.

The second.

Jewelry.

The third.

Nothing unusual.

I frowned.

The message said beneath the dressing table.

I crouched and examined the furniture.

Then I noticed a small wooden panel near the bottom.

"What's this?"

I touched it.

The panel moved.

My heart started beating faster.

I pulled it open.

Inside was a small envelope.

No name.

No address.

Just a plain white envelope.

I quickly opened it.

There were several photographs inside.

The first showed Alexander standing outside a building.

The second showed him speaking with an unfamiliar man.

The third—

I froze.

"What?"

I brought the photograph closer.

It showed Alexander standing beside a woman.

A beautiful woman with long dark hair.

But that wasn't what shocked me.

The woman was holding a little boy's hand.

And the boy looked remarkably like Alexander.

I stared at the photograph.

"Who are they?"

I turned it over.

There was something written on the back.

Alexander Blackwood — October 14.

I frowned.

October 14?

What happened on that date?

I checked the other photographs.

Then I noticed another piece of paper inside the envelope.

It was a handwritten note.

I recognized Vanessa's handwriting immediately.

If anything happens to me, don't believe everything Alexander tells you.

My hands trembled.

I continued reading.

I thought I knew the man I was going to marry. I was wrong.

There was another sentence.

The truth about the Blackwood family is more dangerous than I imagined.

I swallowed hard.

What truth?

I turned the paper over.

At the bottom was a name.

Eleanor Whitmore.

I frowned.

Who was Eleanor Whitmore?

Was she the woman in the photograph?

And who was the little boy standing beside her?

I sat on the edge of Vanessa's bed.

My mind was spinning.

Alexander had told me that he didn't love Vanessa.

But what if he was already involved with someone else?

What if the little boy was his son?

I shook my head.

No.

I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

But why would Vanessa hide these photographs?

And why would she write a warning about Alexander?

I carefully returned everything to the envelope.

I needed to find out who Eleanor Whitmore was.

Maybe she could tell me what happened to Vanessa.

I was about to place the envelope inside my bag when I heard a sound coming from the living room.

I froze.

Someone was inside the apartment.

Suddenly, I heard slow, heavy footsteps coming from the living room, and my heart began to pound as the sound grew closer to the bedroom. I stood frozen for a moment, wondering who could have entered Vanessa's apartment without my knowledge. A frightening thought crossed my mind. Has someone followed me here? I tightened my grip on my bag and carefully stepped backward, keeping my eyes fixed on the bedroom door as the footsteps continued to approach.

I looked around the bedroom, searching for another exit.

There wasn't one.

Then a man's voice echoed from the hallway.

"Miss Bennett?"

I covered my mouth.

Who was that?

"Miss Bennett, I know you're here."

My blood ran cold.

I slowly stepped backward.

The bedroom door began to open.

And standing on the other side was a man I had never seen before.

He was tall, wearing a gray suit, with a scar near his eyebrow.

He looked at me.

Then in my bag.

His expression darkened.

"Give me the envelope."

I froze.

"What envelope?"

He stepped inside.

"Don't play games with me."

I tightened my grip on my bag.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He sighed.

"Your sister made the same mistake."

My heart stopped.

"What did you do to Vanessa?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he took another step toward me.

"Give me what you found, and nobody needs to get hurt."

I backed away.

"Stay away from me!"

Suddenly, my phone rang.

Both of us looked at my bag.

I quickly pulled it out.

Alexander Blackwood Calling...

The man stared at the screen.

For the first time, he looked nervous.

"Don't answer that."

I looked at him.

Then at the phone.

"Why?"

His jaw tightened.

"Because if Alexander finds out I'm here, everything will become complicated."

I swallowed.

"Who are you?"

He stared at me.

Then he said something that made my entire body go cold.

"I'm the man your sister was supposed to meet before she disappeared."

My phone continued ringing.

I slowly pressed the answer button.

"Alexander?"

His voice came immediately.

"Arielle, where are you?"

I looked at the stranger standing in front of me.

Then I answered in a trembling voice.

"Alexander, I think I'm in trouble."

There was a brief silence.

Then his voice changed.

"Listen to me carefully, Arielle."

I held my breath.

"Don't let that man take you anywhere."

My eyes widened.

"How do you know—"

Alexander interrupted me.

"Because the man standing in front of you is the same man who threatened Vanessa three days before our wedding."

I stared at the stranger.

He smiled.

And then he said,

"Tell your husband that his secrets won't stay buried forever."

I couldn't move.

Alexander's voice came through the phone again.

"Arielle, listen to me. I'm coming to get you."

But before I could answer, the stranger suddenly reached into his coat.

My heart almost stopped.

"What are you doing?"

He pulled out another photograph and placed it on Vanessa's dressing table.

"Ask your husband about this."

I stared at the photograph.

It showed Alexander standing beside Vanessa.

But they weren't alone.

There was another man standing behind them.

A man I recognized immediately.

My father.

I slowly looked up.

"What does my father have to do with this?"

The stranger smiled.

"More than you can imagine, Mrs. Blackwood."

I froze.

He knew I had married Alexander.

He knew about the envelope.

And somehow, he knew my father.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

He stepped toward the doorway.

"Someone who knows why your sister disappeared."

"Then tell me!"

He stopped.

For a moment, I thought he was finally going to answer.

Instead, he looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand.

"Your sister wasn't the only woman Alexander Blackwood was supposed to marry."

I stared at him.

"What?"

He glanced at my wedding ring.

"Ask your husband why he agreed to marry you so quickly."

Then he walked away.

I remained standing in the middle of Vanessa's bedroom.

My phone was still pressed against my ear.

"Arielle?"

Alexander's voice sounded distant.

"Arielle, answer me!"

I swallowed.

"Alexander?"

"Are you all right?"

I looked at the photograph on the dressing table.

Then at the envelope inside my bag.

And finally, at the wedding ring on my finger.

There was only one question I wanted to ask.

"Alexander..."

"What is it?"

My voice trembled.

"Did you already know that Vanessa was going to disappear?"

Silence.

I waited for his answer.

But instead of denying it, Alexander said something that made my heart sink.

"Arielle, there are things about our marriage that you don't understand yet."