บททั้งหมดของ The CEO's Unexpected Wife: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

“Are you sure about this, Emma?”Lily’s voice was filled with concern as she stared at me across the small café table.I looked down at the papers between us.A marriage contract.My name was written at the bottom of the last page, waiting for my signature.Six months.That was all.Six months of being married to a man I barely knew.Six months in exchange for enough money to save my family’s home.I swallowed hard.“I don’t have a choice.”Lily shook her head. “You always have a choice.”“Not this time.”She reached across the table and held my hand.“Emma, this is Alexander Blackwood we’re talking about.”I knew exactly who he was.Everyone did.Alexander Blackwood was the thirty-two-year-old CEO of Blackwood International, one of the largest companies in the country. He was known for his intelligence, his wealth, and his cold personality.He was the kind of man people respected from a distance.The newspapers called him ruthless.Businessmen called him brilliant.Women called him h

Dinner began in complete silence.I sat beside Alexander at the long dining table while Richard Blackwood sat at the head.The table was large enough for at least twenty people, yet only three of us were there.It made me even more nervous.I carefully held my fork, trying not to show how uncomfortable I was.Richard watched me.Not casually.He was studying every movement I made.Finally, he spoke.“So, Emma.”I looked up.“Yes, sir?”“How did you meet my grandson?”My mind went blank.I glanced at Alexander.He gave me a subtle nod.“We met through a mutual acquaintance,” I answered.Richard raised an eyebrow.“Who?”I froze.Alexander immediately answered.“Daniel.”Richard looked at him.“Daniel Miller?”“Yes.”Richard nodded slowly.“I see.”He returned his attention to me.“And what did you like about Alexander?”I almost dropped my fork.I hadn't expected that question.I looked at Alexander again.He was watching me with an expression I couldn't understand.I needed an answer

I stared at the message on my phone.If you want to know the truth about your father, come alone.Below it was an address.My heart pounded.I should have shown it to Alexander.I knew that.After everything he had told me, after learning that my father had visited his office before disappearing, I should have trusted him.But there was something inside me that refused to wait.I needed answers.My father had been gone for three months.Every night, I wondered where he was.Was he alive?Was he hiding?Had something happened to him?And now someone claimed to know the truth.I quickly put my phone away before Alexander could see it.I didn't know whether I was making the right decision.But I knew I had to go.---I waited until Alexander was busy inside his office.Then I quietly left the building.I ordered a car and gave the driver the address from the message.The location was on the outskirts of the city.As we drove farther away from the busy streets, the buildings became fewer.

The drive back to the Blackwood mansion was silent.I sat beside Alexander, still holding the letter my father had written.Do not trust Richard Blackwood.Those words wouldn't leave my mind.Richard had been the man who helped Alexander build his company. He had welcomed me into the family. He had even encouraged our marriage.How could he possibly be connected to my father's disappearance?I looked at Alexander.“Do you believe the letter?”He kept his eyes on the road.“I don't know.”“But your grandfather was in the photographs with my father and my mother.”“I know.”“And now my father specifically told me not to trust him.”Alexander tightened his grip on the steering wheel.“There are things about my grandfather I don't know.”I frowned.“You grew up with him.”“That doesn't mean I knew everything.”He paused.“Richard was a powerful man. He controlled almost everything in our family.”“Even your father?”“Yes.”“And your mother?”Alexander nodded.“Everyone.”I looked down at

The clock on the dashboard showed 3:17 a.m.The road to Northbridge was almost completely empty.I sat beside Alexander, staring at the photograph my mother had left behind.The house in the picture looked old, but somehow familiar.I had seen it before.Not in person.In my dreams.A long hallway.A wooden staircase.A woman standing beside a window.My mother.I shook my head.Maybe it was only my imagination.“Are you okay?” Alexander asked.“I don't know.”He glanced at me.“You've been staring at that photograph for twenty minutes.”“I feel like I've seen this house before.”“Maybe you have.”“No. My father never took me there.”Alexander was silent.Then he said, “Your mother might have.”I looked at him.“What do you mean?”“Your mother could have visited Northbridge before you were born.”I looked back at the photograph.“Then why didn't my father ever tell me?”“Maybe he had a reason.”I sighed.“Everyone seems to have a reason for keeping secrets from me.”Alexander reached