Chapter five.

The following morning, I woke up to three missed calls and two messages.

All of them were from an unfamiliar number.

I stared at my phone, wondering whether the person who had been sending me threatening messages had finally decided to reveal their identity.

I opened the first message.

Unknown: I warned you to stay away from Damian Rourke.

My fingers tightened around the phone.

The second message arrived almost immediately.

Unknown: You have no idea what happened to the last woman who tried to become part of that family.

I swallowed.

What did that mean?

I quickly typed a response.

Chloe: Who are you, and what do you want from me?

The message was delivered, but there was no reply.

I tried calling the number.

Unavailable.

Again.

Unavailable.

I dropped the phone onto the bed.

Whoever this person was, they clearly knew something about Damian's family. But why were they contacting me?

Was it a warning?

Or a threat?

I had barely begun investigating my own enemies, and now someone else seemed determined to make me their target.

I needed answers.

---

At eleven o'clock, my lawyer, Victoria Hale, arrived at the Summers estate.

Victoria had been one of the few lawyers I trusted in my previous life. She was intelligent, straightforward, and extremely protective of her clients.

Unfortunately, I had lost contact with her after my marriage to James.

This time, I intended to keep her close.

“Chloe!” she exclaimed when she entered my bedroom.

I smiled.

“Victoria.”

She hugged me before stepping back.

“It's been a while. What's this urgent matter you wanted to discuss?”

I gestured toward the sofa.

“Please sit.”

She opened her briefcase and brought out her notebook.

“I'm listening.”

I took a breath.

“I want you to represent me in a personal agreement.”

“What kind of agreement?”

“A marriage contract.”

Victoria stopped writing.

“A marriage contract?”

“Yes.”

“With whom?”

“Damian Rourke.”

Her eyes widened.

“Damian Rourke? The chairman of Rourke Global Holdings?”

I nodded.

She stared at me for several seconds.

“Chloe, are you serious?”

“Completely.”

“Does your family know?”

“No.”

She leaned back.

“I'm not judging you, but this is a major decision. Why are you doing this?”

“Because I want independence, and I believe this arrangement will benefit both parties.”

Victoria studied my face.

“Is someone pressuring you?”

“No.”

“Are you in love with him?”

I laughed softly.

“I barely know the man.”

“Then I assume there's a business reason.”

“Exactly.”

I handed her the preliminary document Damian had provided.

“I want you to review every clause. I don't want any hidden conditions or loopholes.”

Victoria began reading.

After several minutes, she looked up.

“The terms are reasonable so far, but I would like to add a few protections.”

“Such as?”

“Your personal property must remain yours. Your artistic work, future earnings, investments, and intellectual property must be protected. You should also have the right to terminate the arrangement under clearly defined circumstances.”

I nodded immediately.

“That's exactly what I want.”

Victoria smiled.

“Good. At least you know what you're doing.”

She returned to the document.

“Chloe, one more thing. Why are you so determined to keep your family out of this?”

I looked toward the window.

“Because I don't trust them.”

Victoria's expression softened.

“Did something happen?”

“Not yet.”

She frowned.

“Not yet?”

I shook my head.

“It's complicated. I'll explain when I'm ready.”

She closed the folder.

“All right. I'll contact Damian's legal team.”

“Thank you, Victoria.”

She squeezed my hand.

“Whatever happens, don't allow anyone to take advantage of you.”

I smiled.

“Never again.”

---

Later that afternoon, I received a call from Damian.

“Miss Summers.”

“Mr. Rourke.”

“My legal team has received your lawyer's comments.”

“That's good.”

“They've suggested a few amendments.”

“I'm willing to review them.”

“Excellent. Can you come to my office tomorrow morning?”

“Certainly.”

There was a brief silence.

“Chloe?”

“Yes?”

“Have you received any unusual messages recently?”

My heartbeat quickened.

“Why are you asking?”

“Ethan mentioned that someone contacted you after our meeting.”

I frowned.

“Ethan knows?”

“He noticed something was bothering you when you left the building.”

I hesitated.

Then I decided to tell him.

“Someone has been sending me anonymous messages.”

“What kind of messages?”

“Warnings about you. They told me to stay away from Damian Rourke.”

The silence that followed was longer than I expected.

“Did they identify themselves?”

“No. The number becomes unavailable whenever I try to call.”

“Send the messages to me.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know who's threatening someone who may become my wife.”

My heart skipped at his words.

May become my wife.

“Are you concerned?”

“I don't appreciate strangers interfering with my personal affairs.”

I smiled faintly.

“Of course.”

“Chloe, I'm serious. Don't respond to those messages again. Forward them to Ethan.”

“All right.”

“And don't go anywhere alone until we understand what's happening.”

I frowned.

“Mr. Rourke, I appreciate your concern, but I can protect myself.”

“I didn't say you couldn't.”

“Then please don't treat me like someone who needs to be guarded every second.”

He sighed.

“You're stubborn.”

“And you're controlling.”

A quiet laugh came through the phone.

“Perhaps we're going to have an interesting marriage.”

I smiled.

“Perhaps.”

---

The next morning, I arrived at Rourke Global Holdings shortly before ten.

Ethan greeted me at reception.

“Good morning, Miss Summers.”

“Good morning, Ethan.”

“Mr. Rourke is expecting you.”

He escorted me to the executive office.

Damian was seated behind his desk, reviewing several documents.

He looked up when I entered.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

He gestured toward the chair.

“Your lawyer sent the revised agreement.”

“Yes. Victoria wanted to ensure that my personal assets and professional work remain protected.”

“She's thorough.”

“She has to be.”

Damian nodded.

“My legal team approved most of the changes.”

He handed me a copy.

I began reading.

The agreement covered our responsibilities, financial arrangements, public appearances, privacy, and personal boundaries.

One clause caught my attention.

Neither party shall use the marriage to interfere with the other's independent business interests or professional development.

I looked up.

“I like this clause.”

“I assumed you would.”

I continued reading.

Another section protected any artwork I created during the marriage.

That was important.

I wasn't going to allow anyone to steal my paintings again.

When I finished, I placed the document on the desk.

“Everything looks reasonable.”

“Are you ready to sign?”

I looked at him.

“Are you?”

He held my gaze.

“Yes.”

My heart beat faster.

Damian picked up his pen.

“Chloe Summers, if we do this, I expect honesty, loyalty, and respect. I won't promise you a romantic marriage, but I will never deliberately humiliate you or undermine your independence.”

I nodded.

“And I expect the same from you.”

“Agreed.”

He signed first.

Then he pushed the document toward me.

I picked up the pen.

For a brief moment, I stared at the empty signature line.

In my first life, I had signed documents without understanding how much they would cost me.

This time, I had read every word.

I knew exactly what I was agreeing to.

I signed.

Chloe Summers.

Damian closed the folder.

“Then it's official.”

I looked at him.

“Does that mean we're getting married?”

He leaned back.

“Unless you've changed your mind.”

I smiled.

“I haven't.”

“Good.”

He stood and extended his hand.

“Welcome to the Rourke family, Chloe.”

I accepted his hand.

“Thank you, Damian.”

For the first time, I had called him by his first name.

He seemed to notice.

But he said nothing.

---

“There's one more thing,” Damian said.

I raised an eyebrow.

“What now?”

“Our marriage announcement.”

I blinked.

“Already?”

“My grandmother wants us to have a small engagement dinner before the wedding.”

“Does she know we've signed the agreement?”

“She does.”

I sighed.

“Your grandmother is very efficient.”

“You have no idea.”

He picked up his phone.

“Ethan will arrange everything. I want the announcement made within the next few days.”

I hesitated.

“What about my family?”

His eyes settled on mine.

“Do you want them informed?”

I thought about my father, my mother, and Pearl.

They would not take the news well.

But hiding it forever was impossible.

“Yes. They'll find out eventually.”

“Then tell them yourself before the announcement.”

I nodded.

“That sounds reasonable.”

---

When I returned home, I found my father waiting in the sitting room.

He was holding a newspaper, but his attention shifted immediately when I entered.

“Chloe, sit down.”

I placed my handbag on the nearby table.

“What is it?”

“James has called again.”

I sighed.

“Father, I don't want to discuss James.”

“This is not about James alone. You have been behaving irresponsibly.”

I folded my arms.

“I'm listening.”

He stood.

“I've heard rumours that you've been meeting Damian Rourke.”

My expression remained calm.

“Who told you?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, actually.”

His face hardened.

“Is it true?”

I looked directly at him.

“Yes.”

My mother, who had been sitting nearby, nearly dropped her cup.

“What?”

Pearl appeared at the entrance.

“What's happening?”

My father ignored her.

“Why are you meeting Damian Rourke?”

“Because I want to.”

“Do you understand who that man is?”

“Very well.”

“He is not someone you can approach casually!”

I smiled.

“Then it's fortunate that I wasn't approaching him casually.”

My father's eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?”

I took a breath.

“I'm marrying him.”

Silence.

My mother's cup slipped from her fingers and shattered against the floor.

Pearl stared at me.

My father looked as though he hadn't understood the words.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Damian Rourke and I are getting married.”

“Have you lost your mind?” my father shouted.

“No.”

“James proposed to you yesterday, and now you're telling me you're marrying another man?”

“James's proposal is irrelevant.”

Pearl finally found her voice.

“But Chloe, you barely know Mr. Rourke!”

I turned toward her.

“And I knew James well enough to reject him.”

Her face tightened.

My father stepped closer.

“You will not marry that man without my approval!”

I smiled coldly.

“Then I suppose you'll have to get used to being disappointed.”

I picked up my handbag and walked toward the stairs.

Behind me, my mother called my name.

But I didn't stop.

For the first time, I had made a decision that belonged entirely to me.

And I had no intention of apologising.

---

That night, I received a message from Damian.

Damian: The wedding preparations will begin tomorrow. My grandmother wants you to visit the residence this weekend.

I smiled.

Chloe: I'll be there.

Another message followed.

Damian: And Chloe?

Chloe: Yes?

Damian: Welcome to the family. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into.

I laughed softly.

If only he knew.

I placed my phone on the bedside table and looked at the signed copy of our marriage agreement.

My second life was moving faster than I had planned.

But I wasn't afraid.

I had secured my independence, protected my paintings, and found an ally powerful enough to stand beside me.

Still, as I closed my eyes, one thought remained.

Whoever was sending those anonymous messages knew something about the Rourke family.

And I intended to find out what.

Because I wasn't just marrying Damian Rourke to escape my past.

I was about to become part of a family with secrets of its own.

And some secrets were far more dangerous than betrayal.