What are the secrets?

*Arielle*

"About my sister?"

I stared at Alexander, who was standing outside my bedroom. I wasn't expecting him to mention Vanessa, especially after everything that happened at our wedding.

Why would he suddenly want to talk about her?

Did he know something?

I glanced at my phone on the bedside table. The mysterious messages were still there, and I couldn't stop thinking about what the unknown sender had told me.

Don't trust Alexander.

Those three words kept repeating inside my head.

"Arielle, are you going to let me in or not?"

I blinked and looked at him.

"Can't we talk tomorrow? I'm tired."

"No. This is important."

I rolled my eyes. Of course, everything had to happen according to his schedule.

"Fine. Come in."

I stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

Alexander was wearing a black shirt with the first two buttons undone. His sleeves were folded to his elbows, and his hair looked slightly messy.

I had to admit that he looked different from the man I had married earlier.

Less intimidating.

Still annoying, though.

He walked toward the couch near the balcony and sat down as though he owned the entire room.

Well, technically, he did.

But that didn't mean he could act like that.

"Make yourself comfortable," I muttered sarcastically.

He looked at me.

"Thank you."

I stared at him.

Was he serious?

I sighed and sat across from him.

"Fine. What do you want to know about Vanessa?"

Alexander leaned forward.

"When was the last time you spoke to her?"

I frowned.

"Why?"

"Just answer the question."

"Three days ago."

"What did you talk about?"

"Normal sister things."

"Be specific, Arielle."

I crossed my arms.

"Excuse me, Mr. Blackwood, but are you questioning me as my husband or as a police officer?"

His jaw tightened.

"Arielle."

"Fine!"

I leaned against the couch and tried to remember my last conversation with Vanessa.

"She called me three days ago. She sounded nervous, but when I asked her what was wrong, she told me she was just stressed about the wedding."

"Did she mention anything else?"

I thought for a moment.

Actually, there was something strange about that conversation.

"She asked me a question."

"What question?"

"She asked whether I believed people could pretend to be someone they're not."

Alexander suddenly became quiet.

I noticed how his expression changed.

It was only for a second, but I saw it.

"What did you tell her?" he asked.

"I told her that everyone hides something. Why?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he stood and walked toward the balcony.

I watched him carefully.

"Alexander?"

"Did she mention my name?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

I frowned.

"Yes. Why would she?"

He turned toward me.

"Because Vanessa and I had an argument before she disappeared."

I froze.

"What?"

"We argued."

I stood immediately.

"About what?"

"Something personal."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Something personal? My sister is missing, and that's all you're going to tell me?"

"Lower your voice."

"No!"

His eyebrows rose.

Good.

For once, I wanted this man to understand that I wasn't going to follow every order he gave me.

"You came into my room asking questions about Vanessa. Now you're telling me that you argued with her before she disappeared. Don't you think I deserve an explanation?"

Alexander remained silent.

I laughed bitterly.

"Unbelievable."

"Arielle, it's complicated."

"Then explain it!"

He rubbed his forehead before looking at me again.

"Vanessa wanted to cancel the wedding."

My mouth fell open.

"What?"

"She told me she didn't want to marry me anymore."

I slowly sat down.

That was impossible.

Vanessa had spent months preparing for the wedding. She personally selected the flowers, decorations, invitations, and even the expensive wedding souvenirs.

She was excited.

At least, that was what I believed.

"When?" I whispered.

"Two days before the wedding."

Two days?

My sister had wanted to cancel her wedding two days before she disappeared, and nobody bothered to tell me?

"Why didn't you tell my parents?"

"Because she asked me not to."

"And you agreed?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He remained quiet for a moment.

"Because I thought she would change her mind."

I stared at him.

For some reason, I didn't believe him.

"Did you love my sister?"

Alexander looked directly into my eyes.

"No."

I blinked.

I wasn't expecting that answer.

"What?"

"I didn't love Vanessa."

"Then why were you going to marry her?"

"Our marriage was arranged for business purposes."

I laughed in disbelief.

"Of course! Because apparently, rich people don't know how to sign business contracts without getting married!"

"Arielle."

"No, seriously! What happened to meetings? Lawyers? Agreements? Why does everything have to involve someone's daughter?"

He looked away.

I suddenly remembered something.

"Wait. If Vanessa wanted to cancel the wedding, why did you agree to marry me instead?"

Alexander became quiet.

Too quiet.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Alexander?"

"Because the agreement between our families had already been finalized."

I shook my head.

"That's not a good enough reason."

"It's the truth."

"Then why me?"

He looked at me.

For a moment, I thought he was going to tell me something important.

Instead, he answered, "Because you agreed."

I stared at him.

Wow.

What a wonderful explanation.

I stood and walked toward the door.

"Good night, Alexander."

He frowned.

"We're not finished."

"Well, I am."

I opened the door and waited for him to leave.

He stared at me for several seconds before finally standing.

When he reached the doorway, he stopped.

"One more thing."

I sighed.

"What now?"

"If Vanessa contacts you, tell me immediately."

My heart skipped a beat.

"Why?"

"Because I need to speak with her."

"About what?"

He looked at me.

"Something she took from me."

I froze.

"What did she take?"

Alexander's expression hardened.

"A document."

Before I could ask another question, he walked away.

I stood there, staring at the empty hallway.

A document?

What kind of document?

And why did I suddenly feel that my sister's disappearance was connected to something much bigger than a canceled wedding?

I closed the door and immediately grabbed my phone.

The mysterious messages were still there.

I quickly typed a reply.

Me: Who are you? What did Vanessa discover about Alexander?

I waited.

Nothing.

Me: Please. If you know where my sister is, tell me.

Still nothing.

I sighed and dropped onto the bed.

My head was aching.

Everything was becoming more confusing.

Vanessa wanted to cancel the wedding.

Alexander didn't love her.

They argued before she disappeared.

And now, some mysterious person was warning me not to trust him.

What exactly had I gotten myself into?

I closed my eyes.

"Vanessa, where are you?"

My phone suddenly vibrated.

I immediately sat up.

A new message.

Unknown Number:

If you want answers, go to your sister's apartment tomorrow.

I frowned.

Vanessa's apartment?

Me: Why?

The reply came almost immediately.

Look inside the drawer beneath her dressing table.

I stared at the screen.

Me: What will I find there?

A few seconds passed.

Then another message appeared.

The reason she ran away.

My heart started beating faster.

I quickly typed another question.

Me: Who are you?

But this time, my message wasn't delivered.

I tried calling the number.

Unavailable.

I stared at my phone in frustration.

"Seriously?"

I wanted to throw it across the room.

Instead, I placed it on the bedside table and took a deep breath.

Tomorrow.

I would go to Vanessa's apartment tomorrow.

And I wouldn't tell Alexander.

I was about to put my phone away when another thought entered my mind.

What if Vanessa hadn't run away willingly?

What if someone had forced her to disappear?

I looked toward the bedroom door.

Alexander had asked me to inform him if Vanessa contacted me.

But why?

Was he worried about her?

Or was he afraid of what she might tell me?

I shook my head.

No.

I couldn't accuse him without evidence.

But I couldn't trust him completely either.

I reached for the lamp and turned it off.

The room became dark, but my thoughts refused to settle.

I remembered Vanessa's last phone call.

Her nervous voice.

Her strange question.

And the way she suddenly ended our conversation when someone called her name.

At the time, I thought she was simply busy preparing for the wedding.

Now, I wasn't so sure.

I pulled the blanket over myself.

"Please be safe, Vanessa," I whispered.

Just as I was beginning to close my eyes, my phone vibrated again.

I quickly reached for it.

Another message from the unknown number.

One more thing, Arielle.

I sat up.

Whatever you find tomorrow, don't let your husband see it.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

Then another message appeared.

Because Alexander Blackwood is not the man you think he is.

I stared at the screen for a long time.

I had been married for less than twenty-four hours.

And already, someone was warning me that my husband might be hiding something dangerous.

I slowly looked toward the door.

For the first time since arriving at the Blackwood mansion, the enormous bedroom no longer felt comfortable.

It felt unfamiliar.

And strangely frightening.