Chapter Two

The Secret Behind the Wedding

Amelia stood completely still.

For several seconds, she could hear nothing except the pounding of her own heart.

You were never supposed to be my bride in the first place.

The words echoed through her mind.

"What does that mean?"

Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

Alexander didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he glanced toward the guests.

His parents.

Her father.

Victoria.

Everyone was watching.

Everyone seemed to know something she didn't.

That realization frightened her more than the rejection itself.

Amelia looked at her father.

"Dad?"

He avoided her eyes.

Her stomach dropped.

"Dad, what is he talking about?"

"Amelia, this isn't the place—"

"No."

She shook her head.

"Don't tell me that."

Her voice cracked.

"I've just been humiliated in front of everyone I know. I deserve to know why."

Her father opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Alexander stepped forward.

"Your father and my grandfather made an agreement years ago."

Amelia stared at him.

"What agreement?"

"Before I was old enough to make decisions for myself, my grandfather arranged for me to marry someone from your family."

Her brows knitted together.

"Someone from my family?"

Alexander nodded.

"Your older sister."

The words hit her like a physical blow.

Amelia's lips parted.

"My sister?"

"Yes."

A wave of confusion swept through her.

Her older sister, Elena, had died when Amelia was seventeen.

She had been the daughter everyone adored.

Beautiful.

Confident.

The perfect child.

Amelia had always lived in her shadow.

"But Elena is dead."

"I know."

Alexander's expression hardened.

"That's why everything changed."

Amelia looked at her father again.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Her father lowered his head.

"Because the agreement was complicated."

"Complicated?"

She almost laughed.

"You let me believe I was marrying Alexander because he wanted me."

Her father's face tightened.

"You were the only person left."

Silence.

Amelia stared at him.

"The only person left for what?"

Neither man answered.

A terrible feeling settled in her chest.

Alexander reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a folded document.

He held it toward her.

"Read it."

Amelia hesitated.

Then she took it.

The paper was old.

Yellowed around the edges.

She unfolded it with trembling fingers.

Her eyes moved across the first paragraph.

Then the second.

Her breathing became shallow.

It was an agreement between the Sterling family and the Carter family.

But the marriage wasn't simply about love.

It was about ownership.

Inheritance.

Control of a company.

And there, near the bottom of the page, was a condition that made Amelia's hands shake.

The marriage must take place before Alexander Sterling turns thirty-three, or control of Sterling Holdings will be transferred to the Carter family.

Amelia looked up.

"You married me because of this?"

Alexander's jaw tightened.

"I agreed to the engagement because I needed time."

"Time for what?"

"To find a way out."

Amelia stared at him.

"So all those dinners..."

"Business."

"Those flowers?"

"An obligation."

"The birthday gift?"

"Courtesy."

She felt something inside her collapse.

"And the times you told me I was important to you?"

Alexander looked away.

"I was trying to keep you cooperative."

Amelia closed her eyes.

For three years, she had collected every small moment of kindness from him like precious treasure.

She had convinced herself that the man who barely smiled at her was simply afraid of love.

She had waited.

She had hoped.

She had defended him whenever people said he didn't love her.

And all along, she had been nothing more than a solution to a legal problem.

She handed the document back.

"Why today?"

Alexander frowned.

"What?"

"Why reject me today?"

She looked toward Victoria.

"Why wait until I was standing at the altar?"

His expression changed.

"Because I found another way."

Victoria stepped closer to him.

Amelia's eyes narrowed.

"What way?"

Alexander didn't answer.

Victoria did.

"Me."

Amelia looked at her.

Victoria smiled faintly.

"The agreement has been challenged. Alexander no longer needs this marriage."

"Challenged by whom?"

Victoria's smile disappeared.

"That doesn't concern you."

Amelia laughed bitterly.

"Apparently, nothing concerns me."

She turned toward the exit.

Her father grabbed her wrist.

"Amelia, wait."

She pulled away.

"Don't touch me."

"Listen to me."

"No."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"You lied to me."

"I was trying to protect you."

"From what?"

Her father went silent.

Amelia stared at him.

"From what, Dad?"

He looked terrified.

Not ashamed.

Terrified.

Before he could answer, the ballroom doors suddenly opened.

A man in a dark suit rushed inside.

He whispered something into Alexander's ear.

Alexander's face immediately changed.

"What?"

The man glanced at Amelia.

"I said the police are here."

Everyone froze.

Alexander stepped toward him.

"Why?"

The man swallowed.

"They're asking for Amelia Carter."

Amelia's heart stopped.

"Me?"

The man nodded.

"They have a warrant."

A murmur swept through the ballroom.

Amelia looked from the stranger to her father.

"What warrant?"

Nobody answered.

Then two uniformed officers appeared at the entrance.

The first officer approached.

"Miss Amelia Carter?"

Amelia nodded slowly.

"Yes."

The officer reached into his jacket.

"You're under investigation for financial fraud and the unauthorized transfer of Sterling Holdings assets."

Amelia stared at him in horror.

"What?"

Her father suddenly shouted,

"That's impossible!"

The officer continued.

"We need you to come with us."

Amelia's entire body went numb.

She looked at Alexander.

He was staring at her.

But there was something different in his expression now.

Not anger.

Not disappointment.

Suspicion.

"You knew about this?" Amelia whispered.

Alexander didn't answer.

She took a step toward him.

"Alexander, tell them this is a mistake."

He remained silent.

"Please."

Still nothing.

Then the second officer stepped forward.

"Miss Carter, you need to come with us now."

Amelia's eyes filled with tears.

As the officer reached for her arm, Alexander finally spoke.

His voice was cold.

"Don't touch her."

Everyone turned toward him.

Alexander looked at Amelia.

And what he said next terrified her more than the arrest.

"Before you take her anywhere, I want to know how she got access to my private accounts."