Chapter 9

Rihanna POV

I read the final sentence again, hoping the words would somehow change. They didn't. My marriage had been arranged, and both families had signed something behind my back. Suddenly, five years of my life looked different. The arguments, the pressure, Arthur's strange interest in our marriage, even Alistair's sudden rescue all felt connected. I hated that feeling. I hated not knowing which memories belonged to me and which ones had been carefully planned.

“Tell me everything you know,” I said to Sylas. He stood across from my desk, studying the contract. “I don't know everything.” “Then tell me what you know.” He hesitated before pulling out a chair. “Your grandfather started monitoring the Sterling family years before your marriage.” I frowned. “Why?” “Business interests.” “That's too vague.” “Because I don't know the full reason.” I leaned forward. “You're beginning to sound like everyone else.”

Sylas gave me a tired look. “You asked me to protect you, not investigate your family.” “Then do both.” He sighed. “Fine.” He opened his tablet and brought up several company records. “Taylor Global and Sterling Group were competitors for years. Then, suddenly, they began working together through private subsidiaries.” I studied the figures. “How long?” “Almost twelve years.” My eyes narrowed. “That was before I met Edrian.” “Exactly.” I leaned back slowly. “So they knew each other long before us.”

“Did Edrian know about the arrangement?” I asked. Sylas shook his head. “I don't think so.” “You don't think so?” “Edrian wasn't involved in the private negotiations.” I looked at him. “How do you know?” “Because his name isn't anywhere.” I laughed without humor. “That doesn't mean anything.” “It means someone wanted him away from the deal.” I stood and walked toward the window. “Then who was the deal really about?” Sylas didn't answer. I already knew what he would say. Me.

I spent the next hour going through old Taylor records. Most of the documents were boring financial agreements. Some involved property. Others concerned international banking operations. Nothing explained why I had been married to Edrian. Then I found something strange. A company called Northvale Holdings had received millions from both families. It had no public office, no website, and almost no employees. Yet its accounts had moved enormous amounts of money.

“Who owns Northvale?” I asked. Sylas checked the records. “Nobody officially.” “That's impossible.” “Not legally.” He opened another file. “Its directors are listed through trustees.” “Names?” He stared at the screen. “One is Arthur Sterling.” My jaw tightened. “The other?” He looked up. “Your mother.”

The room went silent.

“My mother?”

“Yes.”

I walked back to the desk. “You're sure?” Sylas nodded. “Her name appears under a different surname.” I stared at the records. My mother had always been presented as a quiet woman who stayed away from business. She rarely attended Taylor meetings. She never discussed money with me. Yet now I was discovering she had secretly controlled part of a company with Arthur Sterling.

“Where is she?” I asked.

Sylas hesitated. I looked at him. “Where is my mother?” “She left New York yesterday.”

“Where did she go?” “London.” I grabbed my coat. Sylas stood. “Rihanna, wait.”

“No.”

“You don't know what you're walking into.”

“I've spent two years fighting people who lied to me. I'm done waiting for answers.”

The flight to London was arranged within an hour. I didn't tell anyone at Taylor Global. Not even my board. The fewer people who knew, the better. During the flight, I kept thinking about my mother. She had always protected me. At least, that was what I believed. Now I couldn't tell whether her silence had been protection or part of the plan.

When I arrived in London, rain covered the streets. My driver took me directly to the address Sylas had found. It was an old private townhouse near Mayfair. I stepped out and stared at the building. No guards stood outside. No cameras were obvious. That didn't mean there weren't any.

I knocked once and the door opened. My mother stood there.

She looked older than I remembered, but her eyes were the same. For several seconds, neither of us spoke. Then she whispered my name.

“Rihanna.” I stepped inside. “You knew.” Her face changed. “Knew what?” “Don't.”

I placed the Northvale documents on the table.

Her eyes dropped to them. She closed the door slowly “Where did you get those?” “From my own company.” She sat down.

I remained standing.

“Why did you and Arthur Sterling create Northvale?”

My mother looked toward the window. “It wasn't supposed to happen this way.” I laughed bitterly.

“That's what everyone says when they get caught.” “Your grandfather wanted control.” “Of what?” “You.” I froze. She looked at me.

“Not your money. Not your company. You.”

My throat tightened.

“Why?”

“Because you were the only person who could connect both families.”

I shook my head.

“That doesn't explain my marriage.”

“It does.” I stared at her. She took a slow breath.

“Your grandfather and Arthur had been fighting over control of several international assets. Neither man trusted the other. Your marriage created a legal bridge between their families.”

“So I was a business deal.” “No.” Her voice cracked.

“You were supposed to be the peace between them.” I stepped closer. “And Edrian?”

“He was chosen because he was the heir. “Chosen?” “Yes.” I laughed again. “Did anyone bother asking me?”

“You were young.”

“I was an adult.”

“You trusted your family.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

My mother looked down.

“Your grandfather believed you would eventually understand.”

“Understand what?”

“That the marriage would protect you.”

“From what?”

She didn't answer.

I grabbed the back of the chair.

“From what?”

My mother finally looked at me.

“From your father.”

The room seemed to shrink. “My father again.” She nodded. “Your father was involved with people who wanted Taylor Global destroyed.” “Then why was he allowed near us?” “He wasn't.” I stared at her and asked, What does that mean?

“He disappeared before you were old enough to remember.”

“You told me he died.”

“I lied.” My chest tightened. “Why?” “Because he was alive.” I swallowed. “Where is he?” My mother stood. “I don't know.” I almost laughed.

“You're telling me everyone knows something about my father except me.”

“He left years ago.”

“Then why is Alistair afraid of him?”

She looked at me sharply.

“You spoke to Alistair?”

“Yes.”

Her face became pale. “What did he tell you?” “That my father is alive.” She looked away. “He shouldn't have told you that.”

“Why?” “Because if your father knows you're looking for him, he'll come back.” I stared at her.

“Maybe that's what I want.”

My mother shook her head.

“No, Rihanna. You don't understand who he is.”

“Then make me understand.”

She stepped closer.

“Your father isn't afraid of Alistair.”

I waited.

“Alistair is afraid of him.”

The words settled heavily between us.

Before I could respond, a loud knock came from the front door. My mother froze, and another knock followed. Three sharp hits. She grabbed my wrist.

“Go upstairs.” “What?” Now. “Who is it?” She looked toward the door.

Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold.

“They found you.” I pulled my hand away.

“Who?” My mother didn't answer. The front door suddenly shook beneath another heavy blow.

I looked toward the entrance. My mother grabbed my arm again. “Rihanna, if they see you here, they will know the truth.”

I stared at her. “What truth?” She looked terrified. “The reason you were married to Edrian was never about business.” The door shook again. My mother lowered her voice.

“You were placed in that family because your father was searching for you.” I couldn't breathe. Another blow hit the door. Then a man's voice came from outside.

“Rihanna Taylor, we know you're inside.”

I looked at my mother. She closed her eyes and suddenly, I understood one terrifying thing. Someone had been waiting years for me to come back.