The crack

Amelia couldn't stop thinking about her grandfather's warning.

Someone was investigating her.

And that someone was Vanessa Harrington.

She sat in the back of Gabriel's car, staring through the window as the city passed by.

“Are you alright, Miss Amelia?” Gabriel asked.

“Yes.”

He glanced at her through the mirror.

“You don't look alright.”

Amelia sighed.

“Vanessa is asking questions about my family.”

Gabriel's expression changed.

“How much does she know?”

“I don't know yet.”

“That could become a problem.”

“I know.”

Gabriel tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

“Should I inform your grandfather?”

“He already knows.”

Amelia looked down at the file resting on her lap.

For years, she had been careful.

She never used the Sinclair family name publicly. She avoided luxury events whenever possible. Even her personal accounts were deliberately modest.

But she had never considered that someone might become suspicious simply because she was too difficult to find.

She closed the file.

“I don't want anyone interfering.”

Her driver nodded.

“As you wish.”

The car stopped outside Amelia's apartment.

Before she got out, Gabriel spoke again.

“Miss Amelia.”

She turned.

“Your grandfather loves you. Don't let this marriage make you forget who you are.”

Amelia smiled faintly.

“I won't.”

But she wasn't completely sure anymore.

At Ashford Enterprises, Dominic was having a terrible morning.

Three meetings.

Two arguments.

And somehow, his mind kept returning to Amelia.

He picked up his phone.

No message.

He put it down.

Five minutes later, he picked it up again.

Still nothing.

“What am I doing?” he muttered.

The door opened.

Adrian entered.

“Dominic.”

“What?”

“There's something you need to see.”

Adrian placed a folder on the desk.

Dominic opened it.

Inside were documents about Amelia.

Her education.

Her employment history.

Her financial records.

Everything looked ordinary.

Almost too ordinary.

“That's it?”

Adrian nodded.

“That's all we could verify.”

Dominic frowned.

“No family business?”

“Nothing.”

“Investments?”

“Nothing significant.”

“Properties?”

“None registered under her name.”

Dominic leaned back.

“So she's exactly who she says she is.”

Adrian hesitated.

“Perhaps.”

Dominic looked up.

“You don't sound convinced.”

“Because there are gaps.”

“What kind?”

“Her life before she moved here is difficult to trace.”

Dominic stared at the documents.

For some reason, that bothered him.

Not because he suspected her of being dangerous.

But because he realized how little he knew about the woman who would soon carry his name.

“Keep looking,” he said.

Adrian nodded.

Then he stopped at the door.

“There's another issue.”

“What?”

“Vanessa has been asking questions about Amelia too.”

Dominic's expression hardened.

“Tell Vanessa to stay away from my wife.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“Your wife?”

Dominic paused.

He hadn't even noticed the word.

“Contract wife,” he corrected.

Adrian smiled slightly.

“Of course.”

When he left, Dominic stared at the closed door.

That afternoon, Amelia received an unexpected visitor.

She opened her apartment door and found Catherine Ashford standing outside.

“Mrs Ashford?”

Catherine smiled politely.

“I hope I'm not disturbing you.”

“You're not.”

“May I come in?”

Amelia stepped aside.

Catherine entered and looked around.

The apartment was simple.

Tasteful, but modest.

Exactly what Amelia wanted people to believe.

Catherine sat down.

“I came because I wanted to speak with you privately.”

Amelia sat opposite her.

“About the wedding?”

“Partly.”

Catherine folded her hands.

“My son is not an easy man.”

“I've noticed.”

“He doesn't trust people easily.”

“Neither do I.”

Catherine studied her.

“That is why I find you interesting.”

Amelia said nothing.

“I've spent the past few days trying to understand you,” Catherine continued. “And I can't.”

Amelia smiled.

“I'm not sure whether that's a compliment.”

“It isn't.”

The smile disappeared from Catherine's face.

“Dominic has always been surrounded by women who wanted his money, his status, or his name. Vanessa was one of them.”

Amelia listened quietly.

“I don't want another woman destroying my son's life.”

“I'm not trying to destroy anything.”

“Then what do you want?”

Amelia hesitated.

The truth was complicated.

She wanted to know what it felt like to be loved without the Sinclair name.

But she couldn't say that.

“I want peace.”

Catherine stared at her.

“For a woman marrying my son, you ask for something impossible.”

Amelia almost laughed.

“Then perhaps I'll learn to survive without it.”

For the first time, Catherine looked slightly impressed.

Before she could respond, Amelia's phone rang.

She glanced at the screen.

Grandfather.

She declined the call.

Catherine noticed.

“Family?”

“Yes.”

“Your grandfather?”

Amelia's eyes sharpened.

“How did you know?”

Catherine smiled.

“You mentioned him during dinner.”

Amelia relaxed.

“Oh.”

Catherine stood.

“I'll see you at the wedding.”

After she left, Amelia immediately called Richard.

He answered on the first ring.

“What happened?”

“Catherine visited me.”

“And?”

“She suspects something.”

Richard was silent.

“Amelia, perhaps you should reconsider this marriage.”

“No.”

“You're already being investigated.”

“I know.”

“Then why continue?”

Amelia looked toward the window.

“Because I need to know.”

“Know what?”

“Whether Dominic can love Amelia”

She swallowed.

“…without loving the Sinclair heiress.”

Richard sighed.

“I hope you understand the risk you're taking.”

“I do.”

That evening, Dominic arrived at Amelia's apartment unexpectedly.

She opened the door and stared at him.

“What are you doing here?”

“We need to talk.”

“About?”

“Tomorrow.”

She frowned.

“The wedding?”

“Yes.”

He stepped inside.

“My grandfather's lawyer wants us to sign the final documents before the ceremony.”

she nodded.

“Fine.”

Dominic looked around the apartment.

Something about the place felt strange.

It was too simple.

Yet Amelia carried herself like someone who had never worried about money.

He turned back to her.

“Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Why did you agree to marry me?”

Amelia's heart skipped.

She hadn't expected the question.

“Because you offered.”

“That isn't the real answer.”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“Maybe I wanted to know what it feels like to belong somewhere.”

Dominic's expression softened for a fraction of a second.

“You don't belong anywhere?”

“Not the way you think.”

Silence filled the room.

Then Dominic stepped closer.

“You know this marriage will only last twelve months.”

“I know.”

“And nothing is supposed to change between us.”

Amelia held his gaze.

“I know.”

Neither moved.

Yet something between them had already begun to change.

And neither of them was ready to admit it