Chapter 2 — The Billionaire's Condition

“Your name was the only thing written on the file.”

Elena stared at Adrian.

“What file?”

Adrian's expression remained unreadable, but the hand holding his phone had tightened.

“The file containing everything about your father's case.”

Her stomach dropped.

“My father's case?”

“Yes.”

“Who has it?”

“We don't know.”

“Then how can you say my name was on it?”

“Because my security team found the envelope.”

He opened the car door.

“Get in.”

Elena didn't move.

“You expect me to get into a car with a man who just told me someone is stealing documents about my dead father?”

“Yes.”

“That's not reassuring.”

“It wasn't meant to be.”

She glared at him.

“You really don't know how to talk to people.”

Adrian looked at her calmly.

“You married me less than an hour ago. We're already having communication problems.”

Elena almost laughed.

Almost.

Then she remembered the file.

“Where are we going?”

“My house.”

“I told you I don't want to live there.”

“You don't have another option tonight.”

“I can find a hotel.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because whoever took that file knows about you.”

Elena's anger faded.

“What are you saying?”

Adrian lowered his voice.

“I'm saying that until I know who took it, you stay where I can protect you.”

The words should have made her feel safer.

Instead, they made her more nervous.

She looked toward the ballroom.

Daniel was still standing near the entrance.

His face was pale.

He was watching Adrian.

Not Elena.

Adrian followed her gaze.

“Do you trust him?”

Elena's lips parted.

“No.”

“Good.”

He stepped aside.

“Get in.”

This time, Elena did.

---

The drive to the Blackwood estate was silent.

Elena sat beside Adrian in the back seat, staring through the tinted window.

The city passed in streaks of light.

Only a few hours ago, she had been a bride.

Now she was legally married to a stranger.

She looked down at her left hand.

The wedding ring Daniel had given her was gone.

In its place was the simple gold band Adrian had slipped onto her finger after they signed the contract.

It felt heavier than it looked.

“You're staring at it.”

Elena looked up.

Adrian was watching her.

“I'm trying to understand how I ended up married to you.”

“So am I.”

“You don't sound very concerned.”

“I rarely show concern.”

“That isn't something to be proud of.”

“I didn't say it was.”

She turned back to the window.

After a moment, she asked, “Why did you really choose me?”

Adrian didn't answer.

“Was it because of my father's company?”

Silence.

“Elena.”

She turned toward him.

“You're asking questions you aren't ready to hear the answers to.”

“Try me.”

His eyes met hers.

For one brief second, something passed through his expression.

Pain.

Then it disappeared.

“Your father knew my father.”

Elena frowned.

“I know.”

“No. You don't.”

Adrian looked away.

“They knew each other far better than you were told.”

A cold feeling settled in her chest.

“What does that mean?”

“It means your father's downfall wasn't as simple as everyone believes.”

Elena's heart began pounding.

“My father was accused of fraud.”

“I know.”

“He died with that accusation over his head.”

“I know.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“Not tonight.”

“Why not?”

“Because tonight you are exhausted, angry, and vulnerable.”

“And tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, you'll still be angry.”

Despite herself, Elena almost smiled.

“You're impossible.”

“I've been told.”

The car turned through enormous iron gates.

Elena stared.

The Blackwood estate rose ahead of them, massive and elegant, with tall windows glowing against the night.

She had seen pictures of it in magazines.

She had never imagined she would enter it as Adrian Blackwood's wife.

The gates closed behind them.

Elena suddenly felt trapped.

---

“You cannot be serious.”

Elena stood in the middle of Adrian's bedroom, staring at the enormous bed.

Adrian loosened his cufflinks.

“What?”

“You said I would have my own room.”

“You do.”

“Then why am I standing in yours?”

“Because you walked into the wrong room.”

Elena turned around.

There was another door across the hall.

She opened it.

A beautiful bedroom waited inside.

Private bathroom.

Walk-in closet.

Balcony.

Everything looked untouched.

She turned back.

“You could have told me.”

“You didn't ask.”

“You enjoy irritating me, don't you?”

“A little.”

She stared at him.

That was the first time she had seen something almost playful in his expression.

Then the moment vanished.

“There's something else,” Adrian said.

“What?”

He walked toward her and held out another document.

“The complete contract.”

Elena took it.

“I already signed.”

“You signed the first agreement.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean?”

“There are conditions you haven't seen.”

She opened the document.

The first pages were similar to the copy she had read.

One year.

Public marriage.

Shared residence.

No interference with personal affairs.

Then she reached the final page.

Her eyes stopped.

“What is this?”

Adrian said nothing.

She read the clause again.

Then again.

“You want me to appear at every Blackwood family event?”

“Yes.”

“Attend business dinners?”

“Yes.”

“Stay beside you whenever you're required to make a public appearance?”

“Yes.”

Elena looked up.

“Why?”

“Because the marriage has to look real.”

“I understand that.”

“No, you don't.”

He stepped closer.

“If people believe our marriage is fake, your family will lose the protection of my name.”

Elena's fingers tightened around the paper.

“Protection from whom?”

Adrian didn't answer.

She looked down again.

Then she saw another condition.

Her face changed.

“You have got to be joking.”

“No.”

“You expect me to sign this?”

“Yes.”

“You didn't mention this.”

“You didn't read the entire contract.”

“That is not my fault!”

“You were in a hurry.”

“I had just been publicly humiliated!”

“I know.”

“Then you took advantage of me.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“I offered you a way out.”

“A way out that comes with rules you hid from me.”

“I didn't hide them.”

“You gave me a contract knowing I wouldn't have time to read everything.”

“That was your decision.”

Elena stepped toward him.

“You're exactly like every other rich man I've met.”

Something cold entered Adrian's eyes.

“Be careful.”

“Why? Will you buy my silence too?”

His jaw tightened.

For a moment neither moved.

Then Adrian said quietly, “I could have bought your family's property without marrying you.”

Elena froze.

“What?”

“I could have purchased it directly.”

“Then why didn't you?”

“Because I needed something from you that money couldn't buy.”

“What?”

His gaze held hers.

“Your trust.”

She laughed bitterly.

“You're doing a terrible job.”

“I know.”

He turned away.

“Get some sleep.”

Elena stared after him.

“You still haven't told me the condition.”

Adrian stopped at the door.

“You'll understand soon enough.”

Then he left.

Elena looked down at the final page.

Her eyes widened.

There was a handwritten note at the bottom.

If Elena Hart attempts to leave the marriage before the agreed date, Adrian Blackwood will immediately release all evidence concerning her father's case to the public.

Her blood ran cold.

“What kind of marriage is this?”

---

At seven the next morning, Elena woke to shouting.

“Mrs. Blackwood!”

She sat upright.

A maid stood outside the bedroom.

“Mrs. Blackwood, please come downstairs.”

Elena quickly changed and hurried into the hallway.

“What happened?”

“The family is here.”

“What family?”

The maid hesitated.

“Mr. Blackwood's mother.”

Elena sighed.

Of course.

She followed the maid downstairs.

The moment she entered the living room, a woman's cold voice greeted her.

“So this is her.”

Elena stopped.

Victoria Blackwood sat elegantly on the sofa.

Beside her stood an older man Elena recognized immediately.

Richard Blackwood.

Adrian's grandfather.

And the patriarch of the Blackwood family.

Victoria looked Elena up and down.

“You're younger than I expected.”

Elena lifted her chin.

“And you're exactly as intimidating as I expected.”

The room went silent.

Richard's eyebrows rose.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.

“I like her.”

Victoria looked annoyed.

“She married Adrian after knowing him for less than a day.”

Richard's gaze remained on Elena.

“Did you marry him for money?”

Elena could have lied.

Instead, she answered honestly.

“Yes.”

Victoria looked triumphant.

But Elena continued.

“And he married me for something he needs too.”

Richard's smile disappeared.

Adrian walked into the room.

“What happened?”

His grandfather turned toward him.

“You didn't tell her.”

Adrian's face became expressionless.

“Tell her what?”

Richard looked at Elena.

“Why you really needed to marry her.”

Elena turned toward Adrian.

“What is he talking about?”

Adrian said nothing.

Richard slowly stood.

“Your grandfather's will isn't the only reason you are married.”

Elena's heart began to pound.

“What other reason is there?”

Adrian's eyes darkened.

“Grandfather.”

Richard ignored him.

“Your marriage to Adrian was arranged years ago.”

Elena felt the floor disappear beneath her feet.

“What?”

Victoria suddenly looked uncomfortable.

Richard continued.

“Long before your father's company collapsed.”

Elena stared at Adrian.

He wasn't surprised.

He already knew.

“You knew?”

Adrian's silence was answer enough.

Elena's voice dropped.

“You knew my family before you approached me.”

“Yes.”

“You knew my father.”

“Yes.”

“And you knew I would need your help.”

Adrian stepped toward her.

“Elena—”

She backed away.

“No.”

Her eyes filled with anger.

“You didn't save me yesterday.”

She looked at the ring on her finger.

“You planned this.”

Adrian's expression finally cracked.

“Not everything.”

“Then tell me what you planned.”

He opened his mouth.

Before he could answer, the front doors burst open.

A security officer rushed inside.

“Mr. Blackwood!”

Adrian turned.

“What happened?”

The officer's face was pale.

“We found the person who stole the file.”

Elena's heart stopped.

“Who?”

The officer looked directly at her.

Then he slowly held out a photograph.

“We found this in the thief's possession.”

Elena took it.

Her fingers went numb.

It was an old photograph.

Her father stood on one side.

A much younger Adrian stood beside him.

And between them—

was Elena.

She looked about eight years old.

But Elena had never seen the photograph before.

She stared at Adrian.

“Why am I in this picture?”

Adrian said nothing.

Then the security officer spoke again.

“There's one more thing, sir.”

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

“What?”

The officer swallowed.

“The thief wasn't working alone.”

He looked at Elena.

“And the second person…”

A pause.

“…was someone Elena knows very well.”