Chapter 2: The rules

CHAPTER TWO: The rules

By six o’clock, the Sterling mansion was already in chaos.

Not the kind of chaos ordinary families knew.

Servants moved silently through the halls, carrying crystal glasses and silver trays. Two maids rearranged flowers beneath the chandelier while the head butler inspected every detail of the dining room.

Outside, security guards stood beside the gates.

Three black cars waited in the driveway.

Tonight, the Blackwoods were coming.

And apparently, my job was to make sure they left impressed.

A maid appeared at my bedroom door.

“Miss Sterling, your father wants you in his study.”

Of course he did.

I followed her downstairs.

When I entered the study, my father was standing beside his desk.

Victoria sat behind him.

Neither smiled.

“Close the door.”

I did.

“Sit.”

I remained standing.

“What do you want?”

His eyes hardened.

“Tonight, you will listen carefully.”

I crossed my arms.

“The marriage is happening whether you like it or not.”

“I know.”

“You’ll marry Alexander Blackwood in three weeks.”

“I know.”

“And once you’re his wife, you will become part of their family.”

I frowned.

“What exactly are you getting at?”

He pushed a black folder across the desk.

“Your responsibility.”

I opened it.

Inside were pages of information about Blackwood Enterprises.

I looked up.

“You want me to spy on them?”

“I want you to learn.”

“That’s spying.”

“Call it whatever you want.”

Victoria finally spoke.

“You’ll have access to information we’ve spent years trying to obtain.”

I stared at her.

“And I’m supposed to hand it to you?”

“Yes.”

Her answer was cold.

No hesitation.

My father leaned forward.

“You learn their investments. Their expansion plans. Their major clients. Their weaknesses.”

“And then?”

“We destroy their advantage.”

My fingers tightened around the folder.

“You want me to ruin my husband’s family?”

“We want to win.”

The words came from Victoria.

Not protect our family.

Not secure our future.

Win.

That was all that mattered to them.

I closed the folder.

“What if I refuse?”

My father looked at me.

“You won’t.”

His voice was so cold that I almost forgot he was my father.

“You will do what you’re told.”

I swallowed.

“What happens if Alexander finds out?”

“Then make sure he doesn’t.”

For a moment I couldn’t speak.

They were sending me into a family they considered an enemy.

And they weren’t even pretending to care whether I survived the war they were starting.

Victoria stood.

“Tonight, you’ll smile.”

I looked at her.

“Smile?”

“You’ll be charming. You’ll make Alexander comfortable around you.”

“Why?”

“So he’ll trust you.”

I laughed bitterly.

“You’re asking me to manipulate my own husband before I’m even married.”

“You’re finally understanding.”

My stomach twisted.

I looked at my father.

“Do you even care what happened to me?”

He didn’t answer.

He simply looked at his watch.

“The Blackwood will arrive in two hours.”

That was my answer.

I picked up the folder.

“Fine.”

My father looked satisfied.

“I knew you’d understand.”

I walked toward the door.

“Arabella.”

I stopped.

“Don’t embarrass this family.”

I turned around.

“I never do.”

Then I left.

At eight sharp, Blackwood arrived.

The front doors opened.

The head butler announced them.

“Mr. William Blackwood. Mrs. Eleanor Blackwood. Mr. Alexander Blackwood."

I stood beside my father.

William Blackwood entered first.

His handshake with my father was first.

Too firm.

Their smiles were polite.

Their eyes weren't.

Eleanor followed, elegant and composed.

Then Alexander walked in.

And for a second, the room seemed quieter.

He was tall, dressed in a black suit, his expression unreadable.

His eyes found mine almost immediately.

Cold.

Assessing.

Not interested.

Good.

I wasn't interested either.

"Alexander," William said.Arabella."

Alexander walked toward me.

"Arabella Sterling."

He offered his hand.

I took it.

His grip was firm.

Brief.

Then he released me.

"Nice to meet you."

"You too."

A lie from both sides.

We sat down for dinner.

The staff moved around us silently, replacing plates and filling glasses without interrupting the conversation.

My father and William spoke about business.

Victoria and Eleanor discussed the wedding.

I listened.

Until my father suddenly said,

"Alexander, I hope you're prepared for the responsibilities that come with this marriage."

"I am."

My father smiled.

"Good."

Then he looked at me.

"Arabella understands hers."

I met his eyes.

Yes.

I understood perfectly.

I was supposed to enter the Blackwood family and tear it apart from within.

Alexander looked at me.

"Are you prepared?"

I smiled.

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

His expression changed slightly.

"No."

He looked away.

For the first time, I wondered if he was trapped too.

Then his phone vibrated.

He glanced at the screen.

Something changed in his face.

Not fear.

Not anger.

Something softer.

I noticed.

He immediately turned the phone face down.

I didn't ask.

Dinner ended shortly after nine.

The adults moved into the sitting room for coffee.

I stepped outside onto the terrace for some air.

A few seconds later, Alexander followed.

"You knew about the marriage before tonight."

It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"So said I."

I looked at him.

"Then we have something in common."

He leaned against the railing.

"I don't want this."

"Neither do I."

"I love someone else."

I looked at him.

"A girlfriend?"

"Yes."

He didn't hesitate.

"How long?"

"Three years."

That surprised me.

Three years wasn't a casual relationship.

"You're serious about her."

"Very."

I nodded.

"Then why are you marrying me?"

"Because my family expected that."

I looked away.

"So do mine."

"This marriage will never become a real marriage."

"We'll fulfill our obligations. That's it."

"Fine."

"No interference."

"Agreed."

"No expectation."

He looked at me.

"And no pretending we're in love."

"That won't be difficult."

His eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"Because I don't love you."

For the first time, the corner of his mouth moved.

Not quite a smile.

"Good."

Then he walked back inside.

I stayed on the terrace.

I should have been relieved.

Instead, I felt strangely unsettled.

Maybe because I had just agreed to marry a man whose heart already belonged to someone else.

Or maybe because I had the terrible feeling that this marriage was going to become much more complicated than either of us expected.

The Blackwoods left twenty minutes later.

I watched their cars disappear through the gates.

Then I turned around.

My father was standing behind me.

"You handled yourself well."

I said nothing.

He came closer.

"Remember what we discussed."

I haven't forgotten."

"Good."

He looked towards the gates.

"Soon, you'll have access to everything we need."

I stared at him.

"And if I don't give you what you want."

His eyes turned cold.

"You will."

I walked past him.

But this time my steps were slower.

Because I finally understood something.

My father didn't want me to marry Alexander.

He wanted me to use him.

And somewhere between the Blackwood family and the secrets surrounding my mother's death, I had a feeling I was being pushed into a game where I didn't know all the rules.

Three weeks from now, I would become Alexander Blackwood's wife.

But I wouldn't be entering his family as a bride.

I'd be entering as a weapon.

And I had no idea that the weapon they were sending to destroy Blackwoods would one day become the woman Alexander would risk everything to protect.