Chapter 5: The New Fiancée

Ryan looked like a man who had just lost everything.

His eyes remained fixed on the contract in his trembling hands.

“No.”

The word came out as a whisper.

Amelia had never seen him look so shaken.

Not once in the three years they had been together.

A strange feeling settled inside her.

Satisfaction.

For the first time since discovering his betrayal, she wasn’t the one hurting.

Ryan was.

“You’re lying,” he said.

His gaze darted between her and Ethan.

“This is some kind of joke.”

Ethan calmly took the contract from his hand.

“I don’t joke about marriage.”

Ryan’s jaw clenched.

“You can’t marry her.”

“Why not?” Ethan asked.

The question was simple.

Deadly.

Ryan opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Because he couldn’t exactly admit the truth.

He couldn’t say he wanted Amelia’s inheritance.

He couldn’t say he planned to use her.

He couldn’t say he wanted her under his control.

Amelia watched him struggle.

And she enjoyed every second of it.

“Because…” Ryan started.

“We were together.”

“Were,” Amelia emphasized.

The single word hit harder than she intended.

Ryan looked at her.

For a brief moment, something flashed across his face.

Regret.

Real regret.

But it was too late.

Way too late.

Before he could say anything else, another voice echoed through the room.

“Ryan!”

Everyone turned.

Sophia stood in the doorway.

Her designer heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she marched inside.

The moment she saw Amelia standing beside Ethan, her confident smile disappeared.

“What is she doing here?”

Ryan remained silent.

Sophia’s gaze landed on the contract.

Then her face turned white.

“No.”

Amelia almost laughed.

Apparently, that word was popular today.

Sophia snatched the papers from Ethan before anyone could stop her.

Her eyes widened as she read.

Then widened even more.

“You signed it?”

She stared at Amelia.

“You actually signed it?”

Amelia smiled sweetly.

“I did.”

Sophia looked horrified.

“Are you insane?”

“Maybe.”

Sophia turned toward Ethan.

“You can’t marry her.”

Unlike Ryan, she sounded panicked.

Truly panicked.

Interesting.

Ethan remained completely calm.

“And why not?”

Sophia hesitated.

For a split second, fear flashed across her face.

Fear.

Not jealousy.

Not anger.

Fear.

Amelia immediately noticed.

So did Ethan.

Something wasn’t right.

Sophia quickly recovered.

“Because she’s not right for you.”

The excuse sounded weak.

Very weak.

Ethan clearly thought so too.

“Fortunately,” he said smoothly, “that’s my decision.”

Sophia’s face reddened.

For years she had always been the prettier sister.

The favorite daughter.

The center of attention.

She wasn’t used to being ignored.

Especially not by someone as powerful as Ethan Blackwood.

“What exactly do you see in her?” Sophia snapped.

The room went silent.

Amelia expected Ethan to avoid answering.

Instead, he surprised everyone.

“She’s loyal.”

Sophia froze.

“So was I,” she argued.

Ethan looked directly at her.

“No.”

The single word sliced through the air.

Sophia’s expression cracked.

Ryan looked away.

Neither of them could deny the truth.

The room suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

Good.

They deserved it.

Ethan glanced at his watch.

“This meeting is over.”

The security guards immediately stepped forward.

Ryan’s face darkened.

“You’ll regret this.”

Amelia laughed.

“That’s funny coming from you.”

Ryan stared at her for several seconds.

Then he pointed at Ethan.

“She isn’t who you think she is.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

“And who is she?”

Ryan’s answer came instantly.

“A gold digger.”

The insult hit hard.

But before Amelia could respond, Ethan spoke.

“If she wanted money, she would have married you.”

The silence that followed was priceless.

Amelia almost choked trying not to laugh.

Even the security guards looked impressed.

Ryan’s face turned purple with rage.

Sophia grabbed his arm before he could say something stupid.

“Let’s go.”

For once, she sounded nervous.

Ryan allowed himself to be dragged away.

But not before shooting Amelia one final look.

A look that made her skin crawl.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

The moment the doors closed behind them, the room became quiet again.

Amelia released a long breath.

“Well.”

Ethan poured himself a glass of water.

“That went better than expected.”

She stared at him.

“Better?”

“They didn’t throw anything.”

Amelia laughed despite herself.

The sound surprised both of them.

For the first time all day, it felt genuine.

Ethan watched her carefully.

His gaze softened.

Just a little.

Then his phone buzzed.

He checked the screen.

Immediately, his expression changed.

The warmth vanished.

The amusement disappeared.

Something cold took its place.

Amelia noticed.

“What is it?”

Ethan didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he handed her the phone.

A news article filled the screen.

Her breath caught.

The headline read:

CEO Ethan Blackwood Announces Engagement to Former Bride Amelia Carter.

Below it were dozens of photos.

Photos of them entering the hotel.

Photos of them together.

Photos from only a few hours ago.

The news had already spread.

Social media was exploding.

Thousands of comments.

Thousands of opinions.

Thousands of strangers discussing their lives.

Amelia’s heart sank.

This was real now.

Painfully real.

Then she noticed something else.

A second article.

A much older article.

One published three years ago.

The accompanying photograph showed a young woman standing beside Ethan.

A beautiful woman.

The caption underneath made Amelia’s blood run cold.

Ethan Blackwood’s fiancée dies in mysterious accident. Investigation remains unsolved.

Slowly, Amelia looked up.

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

The silence between them became heavy.

Dangerous.

And suddenly, Amelia realized there was far more to Ethan Blackwood than a contract marriage.

Far more.

And whatever secrets he was hiding…

They were darker than she ever imagined.