CHAPTER 7: THE TRUTH BEHIND HIS LIES

Arabella Rose Montgomery had barely slept that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, the image of Alexander and Vanessa together returned to her mind. She remembered the promises, the romantic dinners, and the engagement ring she had once treasured.

Three years.

Three years of believing she was the only woman in his life.

Now, everything felt like a carefully constructed lie.

The following morning, Arabella stood in front of her bedroom mirror, trying to compose herself. She had decided that she would no longer allow Alexander's betrayal to control her life.

Her phone suddenly vibrated on the bedside table.

It was an unfamiliar number.

She hesitated before answering.

"Hello?"

"Arabella, it's Alexander."

Her expression immediately hardened.

"What do you want?"

"Please, Bella. We need to talk."

"There's nothing left to discuss."

"Just give me fifteen minutes. I owe you an explanation."

Arabella closed her eyes.

She wanted to refuse, but there were questions that had been haunting her since the previous evening.

"Fine. Fifteen minutes. That's all."

An hour later, Arabella arrived at a quiet café downtown.

Alexander was already waiting at a corner table. His expensive suit was slightly wrinkled, and dark circles were visible beneath his eyes.

He immediately stood when he saw her.

"Thank you for coming."

Arabella remained standing.

"Say what you need to say."

Alexander swallowed before pulling out a chair.

"Please, sit down."

She reluctantly took the seat opposite him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Finally, Alexander broke the silence.

"I know I made a mistake."

Arabella let out a humorless laugh.

"A mistake? Is that what you call having another woman while promising to marry me?"

"I never intended to hurt you."

"But you did."

He lowered his gaze.

"I still love you, Bella."

Her fingers tightened around her handbag.

"Don't say that."

"Why? Because you don't believe me anymore?"

"Because your actions proved that your words meant nothing."

Alexander leaned forward.

"Vanessa and I started seeing each other because things between us became complicated. I was confused."

Arabella stared at him.

"How long have you been seeing her?"

He hesitated.

"Almost a year."

Her heart dropped.

Almost a year.

That meant their relationship had continued while he was planning their future together.

"Did you ever intend to marry me?" she asked quietly.

"Of course I did."

"Then why did you keep lying?"

Alexander rubbed his forehead.

"I thought I could end things with Vanessa before the wedding."

Arabella felt something inside her finally break.

"So you were planning to marry me while secretly keeping her in your life?"

"I was going to fix everything."

"Without telling me?"

He reached for her hand, but she immediately pulled away.

"Don't touch me."

Alexander froze.

Arabella stood, fighting the tears gathering in her eyes.

"You didn't lose me because of Vanessa. You lost me because you made me believe I was building a future with someone who never respected me enough to tell me the truth."

She turned toward the exit.

"Bella, wait!"

But she didn't look back.

Meanwhile, inside the Blackwood Corporation, Dominic Alexander Blackwood was reviewing a confidential financial report.

His secretary, Mr. Collins, entered carrying a thick folder.

"Sir, these are the documents you requested."

Dominic accepted them.

"What did you discover?"

Mr. Collins lowered his voice.

"Several transactions were made through an inactive company account. The amounts were transferred over the past eighteen months."

Dominic's expression changed.

"Who authorized them?"

"That's what we're trying to establish. However, some of the documents contain your late wife's signature."

Dominic slowly opened the folder.

His late wife, Eleanor, had been gone for several years. She had never been involved in suspicious business transactions.

"Are you certain these signatures are authentic?"

"We cannot confirm that yet, sir."

Dominic studied the documents carefully.

"Keep this investigation confidential. I don't want anyone knowing we're looking into it."

"Understood, Mr. Blackwood."

After the secretary left, Dominic stared at Eleanor's signature.

Something was terribly wrong.

And he had a feeling that the truth was much closer to his family than he wanted to believe.

That afternoon, Vanessa Claire sat inside her luxurious apartment, scrolling through messages on her phone.

She had expected Alexander to come running back to her after his conversation with his father.

Instead, he had barely responded.

Her expression darkened.

"You're making this difficult, Alex."

She opened her laptop and accessed a folder containing several confidential documents.

One particular file caught her attention.

It contained financial records connected to Blackwood Corporation and Eleanor's name.

Vanessa smiled.

She hadn't discovered the documents by accident. Someone had deliberately given her access, and she intended to use that opportunity.

Her phone suddenly rang.

"Have you found what I asked you to find?" a mysterious voice questioned.

"Yes," Vanessa replied. "I have the records."

"Then don't make any mistakes. Dominic must never discover who was involved."

Vanessa glanced at the documents.

"Don't worry. I know exactly what I'm doing."

The call ended.

She leaned back against her chair, a satisfied smile appearing on her lips.

Arabella thought her problems ended when she returned Alexander's engagement ring.

She was wrong.

That evening, Dominic received a message from Arabella thanking him for his kindness the previous night.

He read it twice before replying.

Dominic: You don't have to thank me. Take care of yourself, Arabella.

He placed his phone on the desk.

For a moment, he considered calling her, but decided against it.

She needed time to heal, and he had no intention of rushing her.

However, before he could return to his documents, his office door suddenly opened.

Alexander entered without knocking.

"Father, we need to talk."

Dominic looked up.

"About what?"

Alexander's expression was tense.

"Arabella."

Dominic slowly closed the folder in front of him.

"What about her?"

Alexander stared at his father.

"I know you're hiding something from me."

Dominic remained silent.

Alexander stepped closer.

"You're interested in her, aren't you?"

Before Dominic could answer, his phone vibrated.

An anonymous message appeared on the screen.

I know what happened to Eleanor Blackwood. And if you want to protect your family, you should start investigating your own son.

Dominic's eyes narrowed.

He slowly raised his gaze toward Alexander.

For the first time, he wondered whether his son's betrayal of Arabella was only the beginning of something far more dangerous.

And the truth about the Blackwood family was about to destroy everything.