Chapter 7: The Envelope

It had been three days since the dinner with Edward Wolfe.

Ava had braced herself for the fallout. She expected Grayson to explode behind closed doors. Maybe for Edward to call her bluff outright. Or Vanessa to show up, claws out.

But none of that happened.

Grayson… didn’t even mention it.

He was calm. Polite. Occasionally even charming in that subtle, unnerving way that made her question whether he was truly fine or just too used to hiding behind a mask.

And honestly, that scared her more than any argument.

Because silence? Silence always meant something was coming.

So when Ava came downstairs Thursday morning and saw a single black envelope sitting neatly on the hallway console, she froze.

There was no name on it. No fancy wax seal. Just her initials A.M. written in soft silver ink.

Her breath caught.

She glanced around. No one. No sound of staff walking by. Just the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner.

Grayson had left early for a board meeting. She was alone.

With slow fingers, she picked it up. The envelope felt heavy, expensive.

Like it was meant to be taken seriously.

She opened it.

Inside was a single sheet of paper. Plain. Typewritten.

“You and I both know this marriage is a lie.

Tell the world or I will.

You have 7 days.”

That was it.

No signature. No explanation. No empty threats.

Just a deadline.

Ava didn’t move. For a long time, she just stood there, staring at the letter. Her hands started to tremble, and she forced herself to breathe.

Who? How?

This wasn’t just a guess. Someone knew. Someone was watching.

And that someone was close enough to slip a black envelope inside one of the most heavily guarded homes in the city.

Her stomach knotted.

Vanessa?

Edward?

A staff member?

Or someone else entirely?

She waited in Grayson’s study that night. Sat in his chair, legs crossed, the envelope resting on her lap like it weighed ten pounds.

The fireplace crackled softly, casting a warm, deceptive glow. Her heart hadn’t stopped pounding all day.

When the door finally opened, Grayson stepped in, looking tired but collected. His jacket was off, sleeves rolled up, tie loose around his neck.

He paused when he saw her.

“You’re in my seat.”

“We’ve got a problem,” she said, lifting the envelope without moving.

He took it, opened it, and read the letter in complete silence.

The firelight flickered against his face, sharpening the hard lines of his jaw. His eyes didn’t widen. His lips didn’t part in surprise.

He just stared at it like he’d been expecting something like this.

“How long has this been in the house?” he asked finally.

“I found it this morning. Foyer. It was just sitting there. Like someone wanted me to find it.”

“No stamp. No delivery. Hand-placed.”

“Exactly.”

He folded the letter once and looked up at her. “Only a few people know the truth. Me. You. My lawyer. My father.”

“And Vanessa.”

He nodded once. “So… either someone close to us is leaking information, or someone figured it out on their own.”

Ava leaned back in the chair, arms crossed. “This wasn’t a guess, Grayson. This person knows. The contract. The deal. The timeline. They’re not bluffing.”

“No,” he agreed, turning toward the liquor cabinet. “They’re trying to provoke us.”

He poured himself a drink. Didn’t offer her one. She noticed.

“What happens if they go public before the seven days?”

“They won’t. This kind of move is about control. Psychological leverage.”

“Well, it’s working,” she muttered. “I’ve been looking over my shoulder all day.”

He turned around and leaned against the desk, sipping his whiskey. “Then stop looking.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

“They want you scared, Ava. They want you to panic. That’s how blackmail works.”

“You think I don’t know that?” she snapped. “I’m the one whose face will be plastered all over the tabloids. ‘Social climber marries billionaire in secret deal.’ People will tear me apart.”

“And what do you think will happen to me?” he asked, suddenly quiet. “My board. My reputation. My father. You think I came into this blind?”

That shut her up.

Grayson looked down at the letter again, then set it on the desk and exhaled.

“We’ll figure out who it is,” he said. “But until then… we keep pretending. No reaction. No fear. We play the game.”

Ava stood. Walked slowly toward the fireplace. She didn’t say anything for a while.

When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter.

“This started as a contract. A lie. But it’s becoming something else.”

Grayson’s gaze followed her.

“Yeah,” he said. “It is.”

She looked at him. “What if it becomes too real?”

He didn’t answer.

Because he wasn’t sure either.

But deep down, they both knew

This wasn’t just about faking a marriage anymore.

Someone wanted to blow it all up.

And they’d just lit the first match