The Secret

I stood outside the conference room, barely breathing.

Daniel's voice came through the slightly open door.

"Sophia doesn't know anything."

My heart pounded.

What didn't I know?

I pressed myself against the wall as Alexander's voice followed.

"That's exactly why she's useful."

My stomach dropped.

Useful?

I wanted to push the door open, but something stopped me.

Fear.

For the first time since meeting Alexander, I was genuinely afraid of what I might hear.

Daniel spoke again.

"You promised she wouldn't get involved."

"I promised nothing."

"Then what do you want from her?"

Silence.

Then Alexander answered.

"Her."

My breath caught.

I stepped backward.

My heel struck the floor.

The voices inside stopped.

The conference room door opened.

Alexander stood there.

His expression was unreadable.

Behind him, Daniel looked terrified.

Emma was sitting beside him, her face pale.

Alexander's eyes met mine.

"How much did you hear?"

I stared at him.

"Enough."

He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

"Go home."

I laughed bitterly.

"That's your response?"

"Sophia—"

"No."

I shook my head.

"You don't get to tell me what to do anymore."

His jaw tightened.

"You heard a conversation that wasn't meant for you."

"I heard my name."

"You were never supposed to hear it."

"Then maybe you should have chosen someone else to marry."

He stared at me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me.

"Why me?"

Alexander's expression changed.

Not much.

But enough.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes."

He looked away.

"Your father owes me."

I frowned.

"What?"

"Your father's company borrowed money from one of my subsidiaries."

My heart sank.

"How much?"

"Thirty million dollars."

I stared at him.

"That's impossible."

"Is it?"

"My father never told me."

"Because he didn't want you to know."

I felt dizzy.

"Then why are you offering me ten million?"

Alexander looked directly at me.

"Because I don't want your father's money."

"Then what do you want?"

His answer came quietly.

"You."

I swallowed.

"Why?"

He stepped closer.

"Because marrying you gives me access to something your family has been hiding for years."

I stared at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't tell you."

"Then why should I trust you?"

"You shouldn't."

His honesty shocked me.

"I don't expect you to trust me."

He pulled a pen from his pocket and placed it on the contract.

"I expect you to make a decision."

I looked at the document.

Then at him.

"Can I speak to my father?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

"Of course."

I took the contract.

As I walked away, I heard Alexander behind me.

"Sophia."

I stopped.

"One more thing."

I turned.

His expression was serious.

"Don't trust Daniel."

My heart tightened.

"I already don't."

"And don't trust your sister."

I froze.

"What?"

But Alexander had already turned away.

---

That afternoon, I went home.

My parents were sitting in the living room.

My mother looked exhausted.

My father looked like a completely different man.

The proud businessman I had known all my life was gone.

He looked defeated.

"Dad."

He slowly looked up.

"Sophia."

I sat beside him.

"Why didn't you tell me about the debt?"

He looked away.

"I wanted to protect you."

"By letting me believe everything was fine?"

He sighed.

"I made mistakes."

"Thirty million dollars isn't a mistake."

His face fell.

I held the contract tightly.

"Alexander Kane says you owe him."

My father suddenly went still.

"Alexander?"

"Yes."

He stood.

"Stay away from that man."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"Because he's dangerous."

I stared at him.

"You know him."

My father's silence answered for him.

"How?"

He rubbed his forehead.

"Years ago, I worked with his father."

I felt a chill.

"What happened?"

Before he could answer, someone knocked on the door.

My mother opened it.

Daniel stood outside.

My blood boiled.

"What are you doing here?"

He looked at me.

"I need to talk to you."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"Sophia, please."

I turned away.

Then Daniel said something that made me stop.

"Your sister lied to you."

I slowly turned back.

"About what?"

Daniel looked toward my father.

Then back at me.

"About why I ended our relationship."

My heart began pounding.

"What are you talking about?"

He stepped closer.

"I didn't leave you because I fell in love with Emma."

I stared at him.

"Then why?"

His eyes filled with regret.

"Because Alexander Kane threatened me."

The room went silent.

My father's face turned pale.

I couldn't breathe.

"What?"

Daniel swallowed.

"He told me that if I didn't leave you..."

He looked at my father.

"...your family would lose everything."

I stared at him in disbelief.

Then I remembered Alexander's words.

You were never supposed to hear it.

My hands began to tremble.

If Daniel was telling the truth, then my broken engagement wasn't a coincidence.

Alexander had planned it.

But why?

Why would a billionaire destroy my relationship just to marry me?

I looked down at the contract in my hands.

For the first time, I wondered if signing it would save my family...

Or put me directly into the hands of the man who had destroyed it.