Chapter six

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the marriage agreement lying on my bedside table.

For a moment, I simply stared at it.

I was officially engaged to Damian Rourke.

Well, not officially engaged in the eyes of the public, but the agreement had been signed, and preparations for our wedding were about to begin.

In my previous life, I had believed marriage was supposed to be built on love. I had given James everything, only to discover that he had never valued me.

This time, I wasn't going to make the same mistake.

My phone vibrated.

Damian: Good morning, future Mrs. Rourke.

I stared at the message before smiling.

Chloe: Good morning, Mr. Rourke. I hope you haven't started regretting your decision.

His reply came almost immediately.

Damian: Not yet. Should I?

Chloe: It's never too late to change your mind.

Damian: Unfortunately, my grandmother has already started planning.

I laughed.

Before I could respond, another message arrived.

Damian: Ethan will pick you up at eleven. We need to discuss the wedding arrangements and the announcement.

I frowned.

Chloe: Is there something wrong with your legs?

Damian: Excuse me?

Chloe: You have a perfectly functioning car. Why can't you pick me up yourself?

A few seconds passed.

Damian: You're becoming comfortable insulting me.

Chloe: I'm only being honest.

Damian: Eleven o'clock, Chloe.

I shook my head, smiling.

Perhaps this marriage would be more interesting than I expected.

***

At breakfast, I found my parents and Pearl already seated at the dining table.

Nobody spoke when I entered.

I took my usual seat and began serving myself.

My father eventually broke the silence.

“Have you reconsidered what you said yesterday?”

I didn't look up.

“Which part?”

“Your ridiculous announcement about marrying Damian Rourke.”

I placed my spoon down.

“It's not ridiculous, Father. It's happening.”

My mother sighed.

“Chloe, we are only concerned about you. You cannot marry a man simply because you want to prove something to this family.”

I looked at her.

“Who said I'm proving anything?”

Pearl lowered her eyes, pretending to be interested in her breakfast.

My father leaned forward.

“James called this morning. He wants to meet you.”

“Then he should find someone else to meet.”

“Chloe!”

I stood.

“I have somewhere to be.”

My father slammed his palm against the table.

“You are still a member of this family. You cannot keep making decisions without considering how they affect us.”

I turned toward him.

“That's interesting. I don't remember anyone considering how their decisions affected me.”

His expression darkened.

I picked up my handbag.

“Enjoy your breakfast.”

As I walked away, I heard Pearl whisper something to my mother.

I didn't bother listening.

They could talk all they wanted.

My life was no longer theirs to control.

***

At exactly eleven, Ethan arrived.

He greeted me politely before opening the car door.

“Good morning, Miss Summers.”

“Good morning, Ethan. How is your employer?”

He smiled slightly.

“Mr. Rourke is in an unusually good mood.”

“Should I be worried?”

“I wouldn't say that.”

I laughed as I entered the car.

During the drive, I noticed Ethan checking his phone repeatedly.

“Is everything all right?”

He hesitated.

“There's been an incident at the company.”

“What kind of incident?”

“A confidential document was leaked to the press.”

I frowned.

“Does it concern Damian?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“What document?”

Ethan looked at me through the rear-view mirror.

“Information concerning his father's death.”

My smile disappeared.

His father's death?

I remembered the mysterious messages warning me about the Rourke family.

“What exactly was leaked?”

“Details of the investigation that were never made public.”

My stomach tightened.

“Who released it?”

“We don't know yet.”

I looked out of the window.

Someone was deliberately trying to expose the Rourke family's secrets.

And I had a feeling my anonymous messenger was connected to it.

***

Damian was standing beside his desk when I entered his office.

He looked more serious than usual.

“Good morning,” I greeted.

“Good morning. Come in.”

I sat down.

“Ethan told me about the leaked document.”

Damian glanced at his assistant.

“Of course he did.”

Ethan gave a small apologetic smile.

“I thought she should know.”

Damian dismissed him with a nod.

Once the door closed, Damian returned his attention to me.

“The document contains information about the investigation into my father's murder.”

I watched his expression carefully.

“Why would anyone leak something like that?”

“Because someone wants to remind me that the case was never solved.”

“Do you have enemies?”

He gave a humourless laugh.

“Everyone who has ever built an empire has enemies.”

“Do you suspect anyone?”

“Not yet.”

I hesitated.

“Damian, I received another message.”

His expression changed immediately.

“Show me.”

I handed him my phone.

He read the two messages carefully.

His jaw tightened.

“Why didn't you tell me about this one?”

“Because I received it after our last conversation.”

He looked at me.

“Did the sender mention my father?”

“No. They said I had no idea what happened to the last woman who tried to become part of your family.”

Damian went still.

For several seconds, he didn't speak.

Then he asked quietly, “Did they give you a name?”

“No.”

He returned my phone.

“Ethan will investigate the number.”

I nodded.

“Do you think the messages are connected to your father's murder?”

“I don't know.”

His voice was controlled, but I could see the anger beneath it.

“My father died on my nineteenth birthday. The police investigated for months, but they never found the person responsible.”

“I'm sorry.”

He looked away.

“It's been years.”

“Doesn't mean it stops hurting.”

His eyes returned to mine.

Something changed in his expression.

“You understand more than you let people see.”

I gave him a small smile.

“Perhaps.”

***

We spent the next hour discussing the wedding.

Damian's grandmother had already selected several possible dates, and the wedding planner was waiting for confirmation.

“I don't want an extravagant ceremony,” I said.

Damian raised an eyebrow.

“Why not?”

“Because I don't want the entire world discussing my wedding before I've even had time to enjoy it.”

“My grandmother will disagree.”

“Then I suppose we'll have to negotiate with her.”

He smiled.

“You're welcome to try.”

I looked through the proposed arrangements.

There were photographs of elaborate decorations, expensive venues, and designer dresses.

One particular venue caught my attention.

“The Rourke Gardens,” I said.

“That's my grandmother's favourite.”

“Then let's use it.”

Damian nodded.

“Consider it settled.”

He reached for another document.

“There's also the matter of your public announcement.”

I looked up.

“When?”

“Friday evening. My grandmother wants to host a private engagement dinner.”

“Private?”

“Family, close friends, and a few business associates.”

I nodded slowly.

“That sounds manageable.”

He studied me.

“Are you worried about facing your family?”

“Not particularly.”

“Your father didn't seem pleased yesterday.”

I laughed softly.

“My father has never been pleased when I make decisions he cannot control.”

Damian's expression hardened.

“Does he treat you badly?”

I looked at him.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because every time you mention your family, your expression changes.”

I lowered my eyes.

There were things I couldn't explain.

Not yet.

“Let's just say that being their daughter hasn't always been easy.”

He didn't press me.

Instead, he said, “You don't have to discuss anything you're uncomfortable with.”

I looked at him.

“Thank you.”

---

When I returned to the Summers estate that afternoon, Pearl was waiting in the hallway.

“Chloe.”

I stopped.

“Pearl.”

She approached with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

“I heard you visited Damian again.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Are you keeping track of my movements?”

“I'm only curious.”

“Then ask a proper question.”

Her smile faltered.

“Are you really going to marry him?”

“Yes.”

She looked down at her hands.

“That's wonderful. I'm happy for you.”

I almost laughed.

In my previous life, Pearl had been the first person to congratulate me whenever I achieved something.

She had also been the first person to steal it.

“Thank you.”

She stepped closer.

“Do you think you could introduce me to him sometime?”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

“I'd like to meet him. He's an important businessman, and perhaps there might be an opportunity for us to work together.”

There it was.

The familiar hunger in her eyes.

Pearl didn't want to meet Damian because she was interested in his business.

She wanted access to his world.

“I'm sure he has enough people to work with.”

Her expression changed.

“Chloe, there's no need to be rude.”

“I'm not being rude. I'm simply answering you.”

She crossed her arms.

“You've changed.”

I smiled.

“I'm beginning to think that's a good thing.”

I walked past her.

Behind me, she muttered, “Don't think you're better than everyone just because you're marrying a billionaire.”

I stopped briefly.

Then I turned.

“Pearl, I never needed a billionaire to know my worth.”

Her face flushed.

I continued upstairs.

---

That evening, I received a call from Victoria.

“Chloe, I need to tell you something.”

I sat on the edge of my bed.

“What happened?”

“Someone contacted my office asking questions about your marriage agreement.”

My heart skipped.

“Who?”

“They didn't give a name. They wanted to know whether the agreement had been signed and whether you had received any financial benefits.”

I frowned.

“Did you tell them anything?”

“Of course not. I'm your lawyer. Your information is confidential.”

“Thank you, Victoria.”

“Chloe, I think you should be careful. Someone seems unusually interested in your relationship with Damian.”

I looked toward the door.

“I'm beginning to notice that.”

After ending the call, I forwarded the information to Damian.

His response came several minutes later.

Damian: Don't worry. I'll handle it.

I stared at the message.

I didn't want him handling everything for me.

I wanted to know who was behind it.

I typed a reply.

Chloe: I want to be involved. Whoever is doing this has made me a target too.

He didn't respond immediately.

Then my phone rang.

“Chloe.”

“Damian.”

“I understand that you want answers, but I won't put you in unnecessary danger.”

“And I understand that you want to protect me, but I won't sit quietly while someone threatens me.”

There was a pause.

Finally, he sighed.

“Fine. We'll investigate together. But you will tell me immediately if anything happens.”

“Agreed.”

“Goodnight, Chloe.”

“Goodnight.”

---

At midnight, I was still awake.

The room was quiet, and the only light came from my phone.

I opened the unknown messages again.

The words seemed more threatening now that I knew someone was digging into Damian's father's murder.

I wondered whether the person behind the messages had also been responsible for the leaked document.

Then another message appeared.

My blood turned cold.

Unknown: You should have listened. The Rourkes destroy everyone who gets too close.

I sat upright.

Before I could respond, another message arrived.

Unknown: Ask Damian what happened to his father's fiancée.

I stopped breathing for a moment.

His father's fiancée?

I quickly typed.

Chloe: What was her name?

The message showed as delivered.

No reply came.

I tried calling.

Unavailable.

I stared at the screen, my mind racing.

Damian had never mentioned his father having a fiancée.

Who was this woman?

And why had the sender suggested that something terrible happened to her?

I opened Damian's contact and hesitated.

It was after midnight.

But this was important.

I called.

He answered after the second ring.

“Chloe?”

“I'm sorry for calling this late.”

“What happened?”

I swallowed.

“Someone just sent me another message.”

His voice immediately became alert.

“What did it say?”

I read the message aloud.

For several seconds, there was complete silence.

Then Damian spoke.

“Send me a screenshot.”

“Damian, who was your father's fiancée?”

I heard him take a slow breath.

“My father was engaged before he died.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“What happened to her?”

“I don't know.”

“You don't know?”

“She disappeared shortly before his death. The police questioned several people, but nobody could establish what happened to her.”

I closed my eyes.

The mystery was becoming darker.

“Damian, I think someone knows what happened.”

“So do I.”

His voice had become dangerously cold.

“Chloe, listen to me. Don't delete anything. Don't respond to that number. I'll have Ethan look into it first thing tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“And lock your doors.”

I glanced toward my bedroom door.

“I will.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Damian.”

The call ended.

I slowly lowered my phone.

My marriage agreement had brought me closer to a powerful family, but it had also opened a door to something dangerous.

Someone knew the truth about Damian's father's fiancée.

Someone knew about the murder.

And someone was determined to stop me from getting close enough to discover it.

I looked at the marriage agreement on my bedside table.

I had entered this arrangement to rewrite my own future.

I never expected to uncover another family's tragedy.

But I wasn't going to turn back.

Because if someone believed threatening me would make me run, they had chosen the wrong woman.

I had already died once.

I wasn't afraid of discovering the truth.