Chapter 4 — The Rules of Our Marriage

The ride back to Alexander's mansion was painfully quiet.

I sat beside him, staring out the window while my fingers nervously played with the diamond ring on my finger.

Richard's words continued to repeat in my mind.

Someone was trying to prove our marriage was fraudulent.

Someone wanted Alexander to lose his company.

And somehow, my family was connected to it.

I glanced at Alexander.

He was staring straight ahead, his expression unreadable.

“You're angry,” I said quietly.

“No.”

“You are.”

He looked at me.

“I'm trying to understand.”

“Understand what?”

“Why you won't tell me what my grandfather gave you.”

I looked away.

“I promised him.”

“You trust him more than you trust me?”

“That isn't what I said.”

“It doesn't have to be.”

His voice was colder now.

I sighed.

“I don't want to lie to you.”

“Then don't.”

“I can't tell you everything yet.”

“Why?”

“Because I don't know if I can.”

He stared at me for several seconds.

Then he looked away.

“Fine.”

That single word somehow hurt more than an argument would have.

When we arrived at the mansion, I immediately walked upstairs.

I wanted to be alone.

But before I could enter my room, Alexander called my name.

“Emma.”

I turned.

He was standing at the bottom of the stairs.

“What?”

“We need to talk.”

I hesitated.

“About what?”

“Our marriage.”

My heart skipped.

I slowly walked back downstairs.

Alexander led me into his study.

The room was filled with books, documents, and photographs.

He closed the door.

Then he walked toward his desk.

“There are rules.”

I crossed my arms.

“Rules?”

“Yes.”

He picked up a document.

“Our marriage needs to appear real.”

“I know.”

“That means we'll attend events together.”

“Okay.”

“You'll live here.”

“I already figured that out.”

“You'll accompany me to business dinners when necessary.”

I nodded.

“And?”

He looked at me.

“No dating other people.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I wasn't planning to.”

“I know.”

“Then why mention it?”

“Because the press will look for anything they can use against us.”

I nodded.

“Fine.”

He placed the document down.

“One more thing.”

“What?”

“If anyone asks about our relationship, you tell them we're happy.”

I almost laughed.

“Are we?”

His eyes met mine.

“We need to look like we are.”

I looked away.

“Right.”

He walked around the desk.

“There's something else.”

“What?”

“You need to learn how to deal with the press.”

“I don't know how.”

“I'll teach you.”

I stared at him.

“You?”

“Yes.”

“You're not exactly friendly with reporters.”

“I don't need to be friendly.”

“Then what will you teach me?”

“How to control the conversation.”

I smiled.

“That sounds very CEO-like.”

He almost smiled.

“Probably.”

For a moment, the tension between us disappeared.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

“Yes?”

His expression immediately changed.

“Where?”

He listened.

“Don't let them leave.”

He ended the call.

“What happened?”

“Someone broke into one of my company offices.”

My heart sank.

“Was anything stolen?”

“We don't know yet.”

“Could it be connected to what Richard told me?”

Alexander stared at me.

“You still haven't told me what he said.”

I remained silent.

He sighed.

“Never mind.”

He picked up his jacket.

“I have to go.”

“I'll come with you.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because it's dangerous.”

“I don't care.”

“Emma.”

“I need to know what's happening too.”

He stared at me.

“You don't understand what you're getting involved in.”

“Neither do you.”

His eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?”

“I mean that someone is targeting both of us.”

He looked at me for a long moment.

Finally, he nodded.

“Fine.”

---

When we arrived at Blackwood International, the atmosphere was completely different from earlier.

Employees were whispering.

Security guards were everywhere.

The moment Alexander stepped out of the car, people moved aside.

I followed closely behind him.

Inside the building, several executives were waiting.

One of them approached.

“Mr. Blackwood.”

“What happened?”

“Someone accessed the executive floor last night.”

“Security footage?”

“We're reviewing it.”

Alexander's expression hardened.

“Who had access?”

“Only senior executives.”

He looked at the group.

“Then one of you is responsible.”

Everyone became silent.

I looked around.

One man standing near the back caught my attention.

He was watching Alexander.

Not nervously.

Almost confidently.

When he noticed me looking, he immediately looked away.

I leaned toward Alexander.

“Who is that?”

He followed my gaze.

“Daniel Hayes.”

“What's his position?”

“Chief Financial Officer.”

“Do you trust him?”

Alexander's expression became unreadable.

“I used to.”

I looked at him.

“What changed?”

“He recently started making decisions without informing me.”

“Could he be involved?”

“Possibly.”

Before Alexander could say more, an employee rushed into the room.

“Sir, we've found something.”

Alexander followed him.

I stayed behind for a moment.

Then I heard a voice behind me.

“You shouldn't be here.”

I turned.

Daniel Hayes stood there.

He smiled.

“You're Emma Carter, right?”

“Emma Blackwood.”

His smile widened.

“Of course.”

Something about him made me uncomfortable.

“What do you want?”

“Just a warning.”

“About what?”

He stepped closer.

“You should be careful who you trust.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Because not everyone who calls you wife actually cares about you.”

My heart tightened.

“What are you talking about?”

Daniel leaned closer.

“Ask Alexander about the night your father disappeared.”

I froze.

Before I could respond, Alexander appeared.

“Daniel.”

Daniel immediately stepped back.

“Sir.”

“What were you discussing with my wife?”

“Nothing important.”

Alexander's expression became cold.

“Leave.”

Daniel nodded and walked away.

I looked at Alexander.

“He mentioned my father.”

Alexander's jaw tightened.

“What exactly did he say?”

“He told me to ask you about the night my father disappeared.”

Alexander stared at Daniel's retreating figure.

Then he turned toward me.

“Don't listen to him.”

“Why?”

“Because he wants you to doubt me.”

“Do you have something to hide?”

His expression hardened.

“No.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

He was silent.

“Alexander.”

Finally, he looked at me.

“Your father came to my office the night before he disappeared.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

“He asked me for help.”

“What kind of help?”

“I don't know.”

“You don't know?”

“He left before he could explain.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because I didn't think it was relevant.”

I stared at him.

“My father disappeared, Alexander.”

“I know.”

“And you knew he had come to you?”

“Yes.”

I stepped back.

“You've been keeping secrets from me since the day we met.”

He looked hurt.

“I was trying to protect you.”

“That's not your decision to make.”

I turned toward the exit.

“Emma.”

I stopped.

“I promise I'll tell you everything.”

I looked back.

“When?”

“Soon.”

“That's what everyone keeps saying.”

I walked away.

But as I reached the elevator, my phone vibrated.

Another unknown number.

I opened the message.

If you want to know the truth about your father, come alone.

Below it was an address.

My heart began pounding.

I looked back toward Alexander's office.

I knew I should tell him.

But something inside me told me not to.

Maybe this was the chance to finally discover the truth.

I slipped my phone into my purse.

And made a decision that would change everything.

I was going alone.