Chapter Nine: The Woman Named Isabella (Part one)

The Billionaire's Contract Bride

The drive to the wedding boutique was unusually quiet.

Martin sat beside Claire in the back of the Rolls-Royce, reviewing documents on his tablet.

Claire, however, wasn't paying attention to the passing city or the luxurious car.

Her thoughts were fixed on one thing.

Isabella.

She slipped her hand into her handbag and touched the silver locket.

Should she ask him?

Or should she investigate on her own?

Martin suddenly looked up from the tablet.

"You've been unusually quiet."

Claire forced a smile.

"I'm just tired."

Martin studied her face for a moment.

He had negotiated billion-dollar deals by reading people's expressions.

Claire was hiding something.

But instead of pressing her, he simply nodded.

"If something is bothering you..."

"You can tell me."

The sincerity in his voice surprised her.

For a second...

She almost asked.

Almost.

Instead, she looked out the window.

"I'll be fine."

Martin didn't reply.

But he knew one thing.

Whatever was troubling Claire had nothing to do with the wedding.

Thirty minutes later...

The car stopped in front of Étoile Bridal House, the most exclusive bridal boutique in Los Angeles.

The owner herself hurried outside to welcome them.

"Mr. Blackwood."

"It's an honor."

Martin nodded politely.

"My fiancée."

The woman smiled warmly at Claire.

"We've been waiting for you."

Inside the boutique, rows of breathtaking wedding gowns sparkled beneath soft golden lights.

Claire had never seen anything so beautiful.

One gown immediately caught her attention.

Simple.

Elegant.

Timeless.

She reached out to touch the fabric.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

Martin glanced at the price tag.

Without hesitation, he turned to the manager.

"We'll take it."

Claire blinked.

"You haven't even asked if I want to try it on."

Martin looked at her calmly.

"I saw the way you looked at it."

"You'd already chosen."

Claire couldn't help laughing.

"You notice more than people think."

Martin answered quietly,

"I notice everything that matters."

For a brief moment...

Their eyes met.

Neither of them looked away.

An hour later...

Claire stepped out of the fitting room wearing the wedding gown.

The entire boutique fell silent.

The delicate lace shimmered softly around her shoulders.

The flowing skirt moved like waves as she walked.

Even the employees stopped working.

Martin stood motionless.

He had attended countless high-profile events.

He had met royalty, celebrities, and supermodels.

Yet...

None of them looked like the woman standing before him.

For reasons he couldn't explain...

His heartbeat skipped once.

Claire smiled nervously.

"Is it too much?"

Martin took a slow breath.

"No."

He spoke almost absentmindedly.

"It's perfect."

Claire felt her cheeks warm.

Why did those two simple words mean so much?

Outside the boutique...

Across the street...

A man lowered a pair of binoculars.

"They're inside."

He spoke quietly into a phone.

A cold female voice answered.

"Is she wearing the dress?"

"Yes."

The woman on the line smiled.

"Good."

"Then tonight..."

"...we replace it."

The call ended.

The man slipped away unnoticed.

That evening...

Back at Blackwood Estate...

Claire sat alone in her room.

The mysterious silver locket rested on the table before her.

She finally opened it again.

This time...

She noticed something she had missed earlier.

Behind the old photograph...

There was another hidden compartment.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Carefully...

She pressed the tiny latch.

Click.

The compartment opened.

Inside was an old memory card.

Claire stared at it in disbelief.

"What is this?"

Just then...

Someone knocked urgently on her bedroom door.

"Claire!"

It was Ethan.

His voice carried an urgency she had never heard before.

She quickly hid the locket beneath a book.

"Come in."

Ethan entered, slightly out of breath.

"Mr. Blackwood needs you downstairs."

"What happened?"

He hesitated.

"Someone broke into Mr. Blackwood's private office."

Claire's eyes widened.

"Was anything stolen?"

Ethan looked directly at her.

"No."

"They weren't looking for money."

"They were searching for a file."

"What file?"

Ethan's expression became grave.

"The file on your family's bankruptcy."

Claire felt the room spin.

This wasn't random.

Someone was trying to erase the truth.

And whoever it was...

They were always one step ahead.