Writers 
THE BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET BRIDE
CHAPTER FOUR — THE FIRST CLUE
Daniel stood frozen in the middle of the bedroom, the small piece of paper still clutched tightly in his hand.
“YOUR WIFE WAS NEVER YOURS.”
The words kept replaying in his mind.
What did they mean?
His wife had disappeared without a trace. Her phone was switched off. Her clothes were still in the wardrobe. Her jewelry was untouched. Even her favorite perfume sat on the dressing table.
It was as if she had simply vanished.
But now there was a note.
And whoever had left it wanted him to know something.
Daniel slowly turned toward the bedroom door.
“Who are you?” he whispered.
There was no answer.
He walked toward the hallway and looked around carefully. The mansion was unusually quiet. His security guards were stationed outside, and yet someone had entered his private bedroom without being noticed.
That was impossible.
Unless…
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
Unless the person had help from inside.
He immediately pulled out his phone and called his head of security.
“Come upstairs. Now.”
Less than a minute later, a tall man in a black suit appeared at the door.
“Sir?”
Daniel held up the piece of paper.
“Who entered this house tonight?”
The man looked confused.
“No one, sir. The security system shows no unauthorized entry.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Then explain this.”
The security chief took the paper and read the message.
His expression changed.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“I don’t know how this got here.”
Daniel snatched the paper back.
“Check every camera. Every single one.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man quickly left.
Daniel remained standing there.
For the first time since his wife disappeared, he felt something stronger than anger.
Fear.
Not because he believed she was dead.
But because he suddenly realized he might never have known who she really was.
A soft sound came from behind him.
Daniel turned sharply.
The bedroom door was slightly open.
He was certain he had closed it.
He slowly approached it and pulled it open.
Nothing.
Then he noticed something on the floor.
Another object.
A small silver key.
Daniel picked it up.
There was a tiny number engraved on it.
17.
His heart began beating faster.
“What is this?”
He searched his memory.
There was only one place he knew that used numbered keys.
The old hotel his father had owned before his death.
Hotel Room 17.
Daniel’s face changed.
That hotel had been abandoned for almost ten years.
And there was one person who knew about Room 17.
His wife.
He immediately grabbed his jacket.
Before leaving, his phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
Daniel stared at the screen for several seconds before answering.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Who is this?”
A woman’s shaky breathing came through the phone.
Then a whisper.
“Daniel… don’t trust anyone.”
His eyes widened.
“Who is this?”
The woman didn’t answer.
“Where are you?” Daniel demanded.
A few seconds passed.
Then she whispered,
“They know you’re looking for me.”
The call suddenly ended.
Daniel stared at his phone.
He knew that voice.
His heart stopped.
It was his wife’s voice.
“She’s alive,” he whispered.
For the first time that night, hope replaced the fear in his chest.
But before he could move, his phone received a message.
DON’T GO TO ROOM 17.
Daniel stared at the message.
Then another message appeared.
IF YOU WANT YOUR WIFE ALIVE, COME ALONE.
His grip tightened around the phone.
Someone was watching him.
Someone knew exactly what he was doing.
And whoever it was had his wife.
Daniel looked toward the window.
A dark figure suddenly moved outside.
He rushed toward it and pulled the curtains open.
Nothing.
Only the empty driveway.
Then he noticed something else.
A black car was parked across the street.
Its headlights were off.
Daniel stared at it.
After a few seconds, the car slowly drove away.
He immediately grabbed his keys.
He didn’t care about the warning anymore.
He was going to Room 17.
Because if his wife was alive, he would find her.
Even if it meant walking straight into a trap.
What Daniel didn’t know was that someone was already waiting for him at the abandoned hotel.
And that person knew the biggest secret of his marriage.
A secret that would change everything.