Chapter 6 - THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Christian summoned Henry to his private office.
The photograph lay on the desk.
Henry stopped smiling when he saw it.
“Where did you get that?”
Christian leaned back.
“Tell me about the night I woke up.”
Henry looked toward the door.
“Christian—”
“Tell me everything.”
Henry swallowed.
“Your mother wanted the marriage contract completed. The doctors believed you might never wake up.”
“And?”
“Scarlett wanted to marry you instead.”
Christian's expression darkened.
“She was never an option.”
“I know.”
“Then why was she in my room?”
Henry hesitated.
“Because she offered to help.”
Christian stood.
“With what?”
Henry lowered his head.
“Convincing you that Amelia was after your money.”
The room went silent.
Christian stared at him.
“You let me believe my wife was a gold digger.”
“I didn't think—”
“You didn't think?”
Christian slammed his hand against the desk.
“She was twenty-one. Her mother was dying. She was alone.”
Henry said nothing.
Christian picked up the photograph.
“And you stood there while I threw her away.”
Henry's voice broke.
“I'm sorry.”
Christian looked at him with disgust.
“Get out.”
Meanwhile, Amelia was visiting her mother's grave.
She carried white roses.
Her graduation certificate rested inside her bag.
“I did it, Mom.”
She smiled through tears.
“I graduated.”
The wind moved through the cemetery.
Amelia knelt carefully.
“I wish you could have seen it.”
She touched the headstone.
“And I'm having twins.”
Her voice cracked.
“A boy and a girl.”
She closed her eyes.
“I wish you were here.”
Behind her, footsteps approached.
Lucian stopped a few feet away.
“I thought I'd find you here.”
Amelia wiped her cheeks.
“You always do.”
He handed her a small envelope.
“There's something you need to see.”
Inside was an old music competition invitation.
Amelia froze.
“No.”
Lucian nodded.
“Yes.”
Six years earlier, Amelia had composed a piano piece under the name Mia.
It had been her masterpiece.
Her father had sold the rights without permission.
Her stepmother had taken the money.
And the composition had made another woman famous.
Erica Laurent.
Christian Ryder's former girlfriend.
Amelia stared at the invitation.
“Why are you showing me this now?”
“Because Erica is coming back to Chicago.”
Amelia felt her stomach drop.
Lucian continued.
“And she's telling everyone Christian still belongs to her.”
That evening, Erica arrived at the Ryder estate.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Internationally famous.
She embraced Christian before he could stop her.
“I missed you.”
Christian stepped backward.
“Erica.”
She smiled.
“I heard you got married.”
“I did.”
“Your mother arranged it?”
“Yes.”
Erica touched his arm.
“Then it isn't real.”
Christian removed her hand.
“My marriage is real.”
Erica laughed.
“Christian, don't be ridiculous.”
He looked directly at her.
“My wife is the mother of my children.”
Erica's smile disappeared.
“Children?”
“Twins.”
For the first time, she looked genuinely shaken.
Then she recovered.
“Well.”
She adjusted her coat.
“I suppose congratulations are in order.”
But when Christian left the room, Erica made a phone call.
“Find out everything about Amelia Jones.”
A pause.
Then:
“And make sure Christian never discovers who actually wrote Dark Night, Starlight.”
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Because Erica Laurent had built her entire career on a stolen song.
And the woman she had stolen it from was now Christian Ryder's wife.
