A Marriage Of Conditions

Later, Mireya stepped into the gardens.

She needed space.

The hedges were perfectly trimmed. The air too still. Even the beauty felt controlled.

"Mrs. Ashcroft?"

She turned. A man approached, well dressed, composed.

"Adrian Cole," he said. "Ronan's legal advisor."

She remembered him from the wedding.

"I wanted to welcome you," Adrian added. "The Ashcroft world can be... difficult."

There was genuine warmth in his tone.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"You didn't deserve to be placed in this."

Before she could respond...

"I don't recall authorizing private conversations with my wife."

Ronan's voice cut through the air.

Adrian straightened immediately. "My apologies."

"You're dismissed."

Adrian left without argument.

Mireya faced Ronan. "You don't control who I speak to."

"I control access to this estate."

"I'm not property."

His eyes darkened. "No," he said evenly. "You're responsibility."

The distinction didn't comfort her.

That afternoon, back in her room, her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She hesitated... then answered. "Hello?"

Silence.

Then a familiar voice. "Mireya... is it true?"

Her breath caught. "Lucas?"

Her first love. The one who saw her when no one else did.

"I heard about the wedding," he said quietly. "Tell me you're okay."

"I'm not."

"Then leave."

She closed her eyes. "It's not that simple."

"I'm coming back," he said. "You won't face this alone."

"Lucas, don't..."

The line disconnected. Her heart pounded. A slow clap echoed behind her. She froze. Ronan stood in the doorway.

"How nostalgic," he said calmly.

"You were listening?"

"I was confirming something."

"Lucas is from my past."

"And he seems very invested in your present."

"It's not what you think."

"It rarely is," he replied.

He stepped closer. "If he interferes with this marriage... I will remove the interference."

The threat was quiet and even more dangerous. His phone rang.

He answered without looking away from her. "Yes."

His expression shifted. "Where was it found?"

Mireya's pulse spiked. He ended the call slowly.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"They located a vehicle."

Her chest tightened. "Whose?"

He held her gaze. "Your sister's car."

The room tilted.

"And inside it..."

A beat of silence.

"...there was blood."

Mireya couldn't sleep at night. Arabella's abandoned car, the blood... the image replayed relentlessly, sharper each time. The weight of not knowing pressed on her chest.

By morning, anxiety clawed at her. She needed answers. Or at least... reassurance.

Ronan stood near the grand staircase, suit immaculate, expression carved from cold authority as he scrolled through his tablet.

"I want to visit my parents," Mireya said carefully.

Ronan barely looked up. "Why?"

"My sister is missing," she whispered, voice trembling despite her composure. "I need to know if they're worried. If they're doing anything."

His gaze lifted. A flicker of unreadable emotion crossed his eyes before vanishing.

"You have two hours," he said finally. "A driver will take you. Anything you learn, you report immediately."

Mireya swallowed. "Of course."

As her car left the estate, Ronan sped toward the towering glass building dominating the skyline: Ashcroft Conglomerate International.

The empire was immense, finance, real estate, technology, international investments but whispers followed the Ashcroft name: debt acquisitions, silent buyouts, shadowy networks operating in grey zones.

Ronan thrived on control. And betrayal? He never forgave it.