The one

*Arielle*

"She's the woman I was supposed to marry before your sister."

I stood frozen in front of the bedroom door, trying to understand what Alexander had just told me. I knew that wealthy families often arranged marriages to strengthen their businesses, but I never imagined that my husband had almost married another woman before Vanessa.

How many women had this man planned to marry?

Was marriage some kind of business expansion strategy for him?

I took a deep breath before opening the door. Alexander was standing outside with his hands inside his pockets, looking as calm as ever. Meanwhile, I felt as though someone had thrown a hundred questions into my head.

"Come inside," I told him before walking back toward the couch.

He followed me without saying anything, and I waited until he had closed the door before turning to face him.

"Let me get this straight. Before Vanessa, you were supposed to marry Eleanor Whitmore?"

"Yes."

"And you didn't think that was something you should have mentioned before marrying me?"

Alexander frowned. "Why would I need to tell you about my previous relationship?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Because I'm your wife!"

The moment those words escaped my mouth, I regretted saying them. Alexander raised an eyebrow, and I immediately knew he was going to use them against me.

"So you're finally acknowledging that you're my wife?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't change the subject, Alexander. You know exactly what I mean."

He walked toward the couch and sat down, looking as though we were discussing something as ordinary as the weather.

I remained standing because I was too frustrated to sit.

"How did you know I found Eleanor's photograph?" I asked.

"Marcus contacted me."

I blinked. "What?"

"He called me after leaving Vanessa's apartment."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The same man who threatened me had apparently called my husband as though they were old friends.

"Are you telling me that the man who threatened me has your phone number?"

"Yes."

"Wonderful! Does he also send you Christmas greetings?"

"Arielle."

"What? I'm just curious!"

Alexander sighed and rubbed his forehead. I could tell that I was testing his patience, but I wasn't particularly concerned about that. He had been testing mine since the day we met.

"Marcus used to work for my father. He knows things about our family that aren't supposed to become public."

"Like Eleanor Whitmore?"

Alexander's expression changed at the mention of her name.

"Yes."

I finally sat across from him.

"Then tell me about her."

For several seconds, Alexander remained silent. He looked toward the balcony, seemingly deciding how much he wanted to reveal.

I waited patiently, although patience had never been one of my strongest qualities.

"Eleanor and I met eight years ago," he finally began. "Her father was one of my father's closest business partners. Our families had known each other for years, and when I returned from studying abroad, they started discussing a possible marriage between us."

I listened carefully.

"Did you agree?"

"Not immediately."

"Why?"

"Because I was twenty-four and had no intention of getting married."

I nodded slowly. At least we had something in common. I hadn't intended to get married either, especially not to my sister's fiancé.

"What changed your mind?"

Alexander looked at me.

"Eleanor was different from the women my family usually introduced to me. She wasn't interested in my money or my position in the company. She wanted to build her own career, and she wasn't afraid to disagree with me."

I raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds familiar."

He looked confused. "What?"

"Nothing. Continue."

He studied me for a moment before speaking again.

"We became close, and eventually, I agreed to the engagement."

I felt something strange in my chest.

I wasn't jealous.

Of course not.

Why would I be jealous of a woman my husband had almost married eight years ago?

That would be ridiculous.

Still, I couldn't stop myself from asking the next question.

"Did you love her?"

Alexander looked away.

His silence lasted long enough for me to understand the answer before he finally spoke.

"Yes."

I swallowed.

"Oh."

It was a simple answer, but for some reason, it bothered me more than I expected.

I reminded myself that our marriage was only an arrangement. Alexander could have loved ten women before me, and it wouldn't change anything between us.

Besides, I didn't even like him.

Most of the time.

"What happened to your engagement?" I asked.

Alexander leaned back against the couch.

"Eleanor disappeared three weeks before our wedding."

I stared at him.

For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood.

"She what?"

"She disappeared."

I slowly straightened in my seat.

"Wait a minute. Are you telling me that your first fiancée disappeared before your wedding, and now Vanessa has disappeared before hers?"

Alexander didn't answer.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Alexander, do you realize how suspicious that sounds?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you acting like this is normal?"

"Because I already know what you're thinking."

I crossed my arms.

"Really? Then tell me."

"You think I had something to do with their disappearances."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

The truth was that the thought had crossed my mind.

Not because I believed Alexander was capable of hurting someone, but because the coincidences were becoming impossible to ignore.

Two women.

Two engagements.

Two disappearances before their weddings.

And now I was married to him.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable.

"Did the police investigate Eleanor's disappearance?" I asked.

"Yes."

"And?"

"They found her several months later."

I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Thank goodness! So she's alive?"

Alexander nodded.

"Then why did she disappear?"

He looked down at his hands.

"She never explained."

I frowned. "You didn't ask her?"

"Of course I did."

"And what did she say?"

"That she couldn't marry me anymore."

I stared at him.

"That's it?"

"That's all she was willing to tell me."

I leaned back against the couch, trying to make sense of everything.

Eleanor had disappeared before their wedding, only to return months later without an explanation. Years afterward, Vanessa had done almost exactly the same thing.

Was it really a coincidence?

Or was there something about the Blackwood family that made women run away before marrying into it?

I looked at Alexander.

"Can I ask you something without you getting angry?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"That depends on the question."

I took a deep breath.

"Do you have a child?"

His expression immediately hardened.

For several seconds, he simply stared at me.

"Why are you asking me that again?"

I reached for the envelope on the table and removed the photograph of Eleanor and the little boy.

"Because I found this."

Alexander's eyes moved toward the photograph.

The moment he saw it, his entire expression changed.

He reached for it, but I pulled my hand away.

"Not so fast. Answer my question first."

"Arielle, give me the photograph."

"No."

His jaw tightened.

"Where did you get that?"

"It was inside Vanessa's apartment."

He looked at me sharply.

"Vanessa had this?"

"Yes."

Alexander stood abruptly and walked toward the window.

I watched him carefully.

"Alexander?"

He didn't answer.

I stood and approached him.

"Is that little boy your son?"

He remained silent.

I felt my stomach twist.

"Alexander, please don't make me ask again."

He finally turned toward me.

"No. He's not my son."

I studied his face.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Yes."

I wanted to believe him.

I really did.

But there was something about the way he looked at the photograph that made me think he was still hiding something.

"Then who is he?"

Alexander looked at the picture again.

"His name is Ethan."

"Ethan what?"

"Ethan Whitmore."

I frowned.

"Is he Eleanor's son?"

"Yes."

I glanced at the photograph.

The little boy looked so much like Alexander that it was difficult to believe they weren't related.

"Then why does he look like you?"

Alexander gave me a tired look.

"Arielle, people can resemble each other without being related."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Well, forgive me for asking. It's not every day that I discover my husband has an ex-fiancée with a child who looks exactly like him."

Alexander sighed.

"Ethan is Eleanor's nephew. She adopted him after his parents died."

I blinked.

"Oh."

That was unexpected.

For a moment, I felt embarrassed about my assumptions.

Then I remembered something.

"Wait. If he's her nephew, why does he have her surname?"

"Because his father was Eleanor's older brother."

I nodded slowly.

That explanation made sense.

Still, it didn't explain why Vanessa had hidden their photograph.

"Does Ethan have anything to do with my sister's disappearance?"

Alexander looked at me.

"I don't know."

I frowned.

"How can you not know?"

"Because I didn't know Vanessa had been investigating Eleanor until today."

I stared at him.

"Investigating?"

He nodded.

"Marcus told me that Vanessa had been asking questions about what happened eight years ago."

I felt my chest tighten.

"Why would she do that?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

I looked down at the photograph.

There was still something bothering me.

The date.

October 14.

I turned the picture over and showed Alexander the writing.

"What happened on this date?"

He looked at it.

For the first time since our conversation began, I saw something that looked like genuine fear cross his face.

"Where did you get this photograph?" he asked again.

"I already told you."

"Was there anything else inside the envelope?"

I hesitated.

There was Vanessa's handwritten note.

The photograph showing Alexander with my father.

And the other pictures.

But I wasn't sure whether I should tell him everything.

"Why?" I asked instead.

Alexander stepped closer.

"Arielle, I need you to tell me exactly what you found."

I tightened my grip on the envelope.

"Then tell me what happened on October 14."

He looked at me for a long moment.

Finally, he spoke.

"That was the day Eleanor's brother and his wife died."

I froze.

"What?"

"They were involved in an accident."

I looked at the photograph again.

The little boy suddenly seemed much younger.

"Was Ethan with them?"

"No. He was staying with Eleanor."

I swallowed.

"That's terrible."

Alexander nodded.

"It was."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

I imagined how difficult it must have been for Eleanor to lose her brother and sister-in-law, then suddenly become responsible for a young child.

But something still didn't make sense.

"If October 14 was the day his parents died, why would Vanessa write that date on the photograph?"

Alexander looked at me.

"That's what worries me."

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath.

"Because the accident happened eight years ago, Arielle. But the photograph you're holding was taken only six months ago."

I stared at him.

Six months?

That meant Vanessa had somehow obtained a recent photograph of Alexander with Eleanor and Ethan.

"How do you know?"

"Because I remember that day."

My heart began beating faster.

"You met Eleanor six months ago?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Alexander hesitated.

I was beginning to hate that habit of his.

Every time I asked an important question, he suddenly needed several seconds to decide whether I deserved an answer.

"Alexander."

He looked at me.

"Eleanor contacted me because she needed help."

"What kind of help?"

"Financial assistance."

I frowned.

"Why would she need financial assistance?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Then he said, "Because someone had been threatening her."

I stared at him.

"Threatening her?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

Alexander's expression darkened.

"Marcus Reed."

My mouth fell open.

The same man who had threatened me at Vanessa's apartment.

I slowly sat down on the couch.

This was becoming more complicated than I had imagined.

Marcus had worked for Alexander's father.

He had threatened Eleanor.

He had approached Vanessa before she disappeared.

And now he was threatening me.

"Alexander, what does Marcus want from your family?"

He looked toward the window.

"Money."

I shook my head.

"I don't believe that's the only reason."

He turned toward me.

"Why?"

"Because if he only wanted money, he wouldn't be going after women connected to you."

Alexander remained silent.

I continued, "First Eleanor, then Vanessa, and now me. Don't you think there's a pattern?"

He looked at me with an expression I couldn't understand.

For a moment, I thought he was impressed.

Then he said, "That's exactly why I don't want you getting involved."

I laughed bitterly.

"Too late, husband. I'm already involved."

"Arielle—"

"No. Listen to me this time."

I stood and faced him.

"I didn't ask to marry you. I didn't ask to become part of your family's business problems, and I certainly didn't ask to be threatened by some mysterious man. But my sister is missing, and whether you like it or not, I'm going to find her."

Alexander stared at me.

I expected him to argue.

Instead, he nodded.

"Fine."

I blinked.

"Fine?"

"Yes. I'll help you find Vanessa."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"What's the catch?"

"There is no catch."

"Alexander, you don't agree with me that easily. What's going on?"

He sighed.

"I'd rather know what you're doing than have you secretly visiting dangerous places."

I considered his words.

Well, that was reasonable.

Surprisingly reasonable.

"Fine," I answered. "But I have one condition."

He raised an eyebrow.

"What condition?"

"No more secrets."

Alexander looked at me for several seconds.

Then he extended his hand.

"Agreed."

I stared at his hand.

Was he seriously expecting me to shake hands with my own husband?

I almost laughed.

But I took it anyway.

"Deal."

His hand was warm, and for a brief moment, I became strangely aware of how close we were standing.

I quickly released him.

"Don't think this means we're friends."

The corner of his mouth lifted.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

I rolled my eyes.

"Good."

Later that evening, Alexander received an urgent call from his office and left the mansion.

Before leaving, he reminded me not to go anywhere without informing him.

Naturally, I told him to stop acting like my father.

He didn't appreciate that.

After dinner, I returned to my bedroom and examined the envelope again.

There was something about Vanessa's note that continued bothering me.

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

If Marcus was only demanding money, why would Vanessa describe the family's secret as dangerous?

I turned the photographs over one by one.

Then I noticed something I hadn't seen before.

The photograph showing Alexander, Vanessa, and my father had a small number written near the bottom.

Room 407.

I frowned.

Was it a hotel room?

An office?

Or something else?

I reached for my phone and searched for the building in the photograph.

After several minutes, I found an image that looked almost identical.

It was an old private medical facility that had closed several years ago.

I stared at the screen.

Why would my father, Vanessa, and Alexander meet outside an abandoned medical facility?

Before I could investigate further, my phone vibrated.

Another message from the unknown number.

Have you asked Alexander about Eleanor?

I immediately replied.

Me: Yes. What does she have to do with Vanessa?

The response came a few seconds later.

More than you think.

I frowned.

Me: Stop giving me mysterious answers. If you know something, tell me.

This time, the sender took longer to respond.

Then a photograph appeared.

I opened it.

My heart nearly stopped.

It showed Vanessa standing outside the same medical facility.

But she wasn't alone.

A woman stood beside her.

I recognized her immediately.

Eleanor Whitmore.

I stared at the photograph in disbelief.

Vanessa and Eleanor knew each other?

Why hadn't Alexander told me?

I quickly typed another message.

Me: When was this taken?

The reply appeared almost immediately.

The night before your sister disappeared.

I swallowed.

My hands were trembling as I enlarged the photograph.

Vanessa looked frightened.

Eleanor was holding her arm, seemingly trying to convince her of something.

Then I noticed another person standing near the entrance.

A man wearing a dark suit.

I zoomed in.

My stomach dropped.

I knew that face.

I had seen it almost every day of my life.

It was my father.

Before I could process what I was seeing, another message appeared.

Your father knows where Vanessa is.

I stared at the screen.

No.

That couldn't be true.

Dad had been devastated when Vanessa disappeared.

He had called her repeatedly and even asked several people to help locate her.

Why would he pretend to be worried if he already knew where she was?

I immediately called him.

The phone rang several times before he answered.

"Arielle?"

"Dad, where are you?"

"I'm at home. Why?"

I took a deep breath.

"Do you know a woman named Eleanor Whitmore?"

The other end of the line suddenly became quiet.

"Dad?"

"Where did you hear that name?"

His voice sounded different.

Nervous.

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Just answer me."

"Arielle, listen carefully. Whatever Alexander told you about that woman, don't believe him."

I froze.

"What?"

My father took a deep breath.

"There's something you need to know about your husband."

My heart began beating faster.

"What is it?"

He remained silent for several seconds.

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

"Alexander Blackwood was never supposed to marry Vanessa. You were always the one his family wanted."