Chapter 2

ADALYN

Adalyn and Theo turned toward the highway. One of the wedding convoy cars had just gone up in flames.

Smoke filled the air as the vehicle burned. Guests screamed and ran in every direction. Some rushed for the exit while others hid behind nearby cars for cover.

Adalyn stood there, unable to move. Her mouth fell open as her eyes remained on the road.

The burning car

It was the one meant to take her home after the ceremony!

“Adalyn!”

Theo grabbed her hands and pulled her backward just as a piece of burning metal flew across the road.

“Are you okay?”

She didn’t answer. She blinked rapidly, trying to process what had happened. If she had gotten into that car…she would be dead now. The thought of it made her stomach feel heavy.

Theo was saying something, but she couldn’t hear him. His lips moved, yet his voice seemed far away.

“Adalyn.”

He tapped her shoulder gently.

She blinked and finally looked at him.

“I’m fine,” she whispered.

But she wasn’t even close to being fine. The sight had left her shaken.

Within minutes, police cars arrived at the hotel. Officers pushed through the crowd, asking questions as firefighters worked to control the flames.

One of the officers approached them.

“Mr. Cross. Ms. Hart.”

He nodded politely.

“I’m Detective Sanders, from the NYPD.” He said, flashing his badge. “Can I please take your statements?”

He gestured toward Theo.

“Mr. Cross, please come with me.”

Theo looked at Adalyn, concern filled his grey eyes.

A few days ago, she would have thought he actually cared. But now, she knew better.

“Stay here, don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back shortly,” he told her.

Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

His face became serious.

“If someone wants you dead, you’re not safe.”

She looked away.

“What makes you think I’m safe with you?”

Her question struck him as he went completely still. He looked like he had something to say.

 “Wait for me.” He said, instead.

Then he walked away with the officer.

Adalyn watched his retreating back. She remembered how confused he looked when she confronted him.

No.

She knew what she heard.

A cold air brushed against her wet skin. She turned away and walked toward the hotel.

THREE DAYS LATER…

Adalyn sat on her bedroom floor, curtains drawn against the window, making the room dim. She hadn’t left the room since Sophie, her best friend, found her wandering the hotel grounds and drove her home without asking a single question.

Since then, Adalyn had shut herself away. Her phone had remained switched off. She wanted nothing to do with the outside world. 

Especially Theo.

She barely ate or slept. The housekeeper, Mrs Betty, the only person allowed access to her room, always brought food to her. Food that mostly went cold and untouched. Her mind kept going over the events of the past three days.

She’d heard on the news that an explosive was planted under her car, timed to the second she should have been inside it.

Someone wanted her dead.

The thought alone was enough to send a fresh wave of cold through her. She searched her memory for a reason why, but she found nothing.

The television played quietly in the corner, every channel carried the same story.

BRIDE RUNS AWAY BEFORE WEDDING.

Some claimed she had gotten cold feet. Others said Theo had called off the wedding.

Each had their version of what happened with none being right.

Eight months ago, when her father had practically sold her to Cross Global to save their family from bankruptcy, she had been furious. 

But then she met Theo. 

He was easily the most attractive man she'd ever seen. Tall, sharp jawed, grey eyes and dark hair that never fell out of place.

This arrangement wasn’t going to be bad at all, she had thought to herself. She’d fallen for him slowly, month by month, in spite of every wall he kept between them. He’d been cold.

Until that night after the charity dinner. She thought he was finally getting to see her.

How wrong was she!

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

Adalyn ignored it.

Another knock followed.

“I’ll call you when I need you, Mrs Betty,” she said weakly.

“Adalyn, open the door. It’s me.”

It was her father.They hadn’t spoken a word to each other since the wedding. He’d locked himself in his study only coming down occasionally for food he barely touched.

She opened the door. 

Dark circles surrounded his eyes. He looked like he’d grown older in three days.

“You’ve been ignoring me.”

“I needed some time alone.”

Adalyn crossed her arms.

He stared at her for several seconds.

“You need to get dressed.”

She frowned.

“For what?”

“We’re going to the Cross estate.”

Her heart skipped.

“No.”

His jaw tightened.

“Adalyn—”

“No.” Her voice became firmer. “I told you I’m not marrying Theo.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

A bitter laugh escaped her.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

Adalyn stared at him.

“Dad, someone tried to kill me.”

“I know.”

“And all you’re concerned about is me getting married?”

His expression remained coldly calm.

“But you’re still alive, Adalyn.”

Her hands dropped loosely on her sides. Her mouth opened and closed without saying anything. She’d always known the company came first with him—had watched him choose it over birthdays, over her mother’s illness. She had never imagined he’d choose it over her life itself.

“You’re unbelievable, dad.” She managed to say.

“What do you want me to do?” he snapped. “I’ve taken care of you since you were born. I ask you for this one thing and you can’t do it.”

Hate felt like too strong a word for what settled in her chest…so she called it something smaller. 

Resentment. 

It didn’t make the pain less. Somewhere underneath the hurt, a decision began quietly forming,

“You think your life has suddenly become a fairy tale where you can walk away from everything because your feelings were hurt?”

“My life was almost taken from me for fuck sake!” She yelled.

“And your father’s company is still drowning in debt!” He retorted.

Silence settled between them.

“If you walk away from Theo, you walk away from this family.”

Her eyes widened. If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought the man standing before her wasn’t her father.

“You don’t mean that, do you?” Her voice cracked.

He didn’t reply, instead he reached into his jacket and placed a document on her dresser.

Adalyn stared at it.

“What is that?”

“The agreement.”

Her heart slammed. “And if I say no?”

“Then you lose everything. The house. Your inheritance. Your shares in Hart Shipping. Every account with your name on it. Everything your mother left you—gone.”

Adalyn went completely still. Staring at him with a flat gaze and her mouth open.

Richard turned toward the door and paused, his hand on the frame.

For one fragile second she let herself hope he’d tell her it was just a joke. 

He didn’t.

He opened the door.

“Forty-eight hours, Adalyn or… you lose me as your father.” He walked out without looking back.

The door slammed shut.