warning before the wedding

Amelia knew something was wrong the moment she stepped into the Ashford mansion.

The house was unusually quiet.

No music.

No laughter.

Not even the sound of servants moving around.

She handed her coat to a maid and glanced around.

“Where is everyone?”

“The dining room, ma'am.”

Amelia nodded.

She adjusted the sleeves of her dress and walked toward the dining room.

Dominic was already seated at the head of the table.

His black suit was perfectly tailored, his expression unreadable as usual.

Beside him sat Catherine.

And opposite them was Vanessa.

Amelia stopped.

For a second, nobody spoke.

Then Vanessa smiled.

“So you're Amelia.”

Amelia returned the smile.

“And you're Vanessa.”

Dominic's eyes narrowed.

“Why is she here?”

Catherine lifted her glass.

“I invited her.”

“I told you she wasn't welcome.”

“And I told you this is my house too.”

Dominic's jaw tightened.

Amelia took the empty seat beside him.

“It's fine.”

He looked at her.

“You don't have to tolerate this.”

“I know.”

Her calm response seemed to surprise him.

Vanessa leaned forward.

“I've heard a lot about you.”

“I hope it was interesting.”

“Oh, it was.”

Vanessa smiled.

“Although I couldn't find much.”

Amelia's fingers paused around her glass.

There it was.

The question hidden beneath the statement.

Dominic noticed.

“Vanessa.”

She shrugged.

“I'm only curious.”

Catherine looked at Amelia.

“Your family seems very private.”

“They are.”

“Your parents aren't attending the wedding?”

Amelia's expression remained calm.

“They won't be.”

“Why?”

“It's complicated.”

Catherine studied her.

“And what exactly does your family do?”

Amelia smiled politely.

“Different things.”

Vanessa laughed softly.

“That's a very vague answer.”

Dominic's eyes moved toward her.

“You're being rude.”

“I'm asking normal questions.”

“No,” Dominic said coldly. “You're investigating my future wife.”

The table went silent.

Amelia looked at him.

Future wife.

The words sounded strangely intimate coming from him.

Even though she knew the marriage was nothing more than a contract.

Catherine placed her glass down.

“Dominic, you're defending her already.”

“I'm not defending anyone.”

“You are.”

Dominic ignored her.

Dinner continued, but the atmosphere remained tense.

When it finally ended, Amelia stepped onto the terrace for some fresh air.

A few seconds later, Dominic followed.

“You okay?”

She turned around.

“I survived.”

His lips almost curved.

“That's dramatic.”

“So is your family.”

He actually smiled.

It was brief.

Barely noticeable.

“There,” she said.

“What?”

“You smiled.”

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“I don't smile.”

“That was definitely a smile.”

Dominic looked away.

“You talk too much.”

“And you smile too little.”

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

Something unfamiliar passed between them.

Dominic broke the silence.

“Vanessa will probably try to provoke you.”

“I noticed.”

“Don't let her.”

Amelia folded her arms.

“Do you still have feelings for her?”

His expression changed immediately.

“No.”

The answer came too quickly.

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

“Okay.”

“You don't believe me.”

“I didn't say that.”

“You didn't have to.”

She smiled.

“Don't worry. Your past isn't my business.”

Dominic looked at her carefully.

“Neither is yours.”

Amelia's smile faded slightly.

“Exactly.”

She turned to leave.

“Amelia.”

She stopped.

“Thank you for coming tonight.”

She glanced over her shoulder.

“You're welcome.”

Then she walked away.

Dominic remained on the terrace, watching her disappear.

He didn't understand why he felt relieved when she smiled.

And he understood even less why her silence bothered him.

Across the city, Vanessa sat in her apartment with her laptop open.

She had spent hours searching.

Finally, something appeared on the screen.

A company registration document.

SINCLAIR GLOBAL HOLDINGS.

Her eyes narrowed.

She searched the names connected to the company.

Then she saw one name repeatedly appearing among confidential corporate records.

Richard Sinclair.

Vanessa's heart began beating faster.

She searched for photographs.

One appeared.

Richard Sinclair standing beside a young woman.

Vanessa stared at the picture.

The woman looked familiar.

Very familiar.

She zoomed in.

Her eyes widened.

“Amelia…”

She immediately called her assistant.

“Send me everything you can find about Richard Sinclair.”

“Tonight?”

“Now.”

Vanessa ended the call.

She stared at the photograph again.

There was no proof yet.

But if Amelia was connected to Sinclair Global, then she wasn't the ordinary woman Dominic believed her to be.

And Vanessa knew exactly what she would do with that information.

The next morning, Amelia woke to a message from her grandfather.

Come home immediately. We need to talk.

She frowned.

Richard never sent messages like that unless something serious had happened.

She dressed quickly and left the house.

When she arrived at the Sinclair estate, she found her grandfather waiting in his study.

He looked unusually serious.

“Grandfather, what's wrong?”

Richard stood and walked toward her.

“Someone is asking questions about you.”

Amelia froze.

“Who?”

“Vanessa Harrington.”

Her heart sank.

Richard handed her a file.

“She's been investigating the Sinclair family.”

Arabella opened it.

Photographs.

Names.

Records.

Her secret was no longer completely safe.

“Grandfather…”

Richard placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You wanted to know whether Dominic could love you without knowing your wealth.”

Amelia looked up.

“Yes.”

“Then be careful.”

“Why?”

Richard's expression hardened.

“Because if your identity is exposed before you are ready, you may never know whether Dominic chose you…”

He paused.

“…or chose the Sinclair fortune.”

Amelia slowly closed the file.

For the first time since signing the contract, she felt genuinely afraid.

Not of Dominic.

Not of Vanessa.