Chapter 8 - THE SECRET BEHIND THE CONTRACT MARRIAGE
Christian had believed his mother arranged his marriage to protect the Ryder family.
But the truth was far more complicated.
Eight months earlier, Freya had discovered that someone inside the organization was trying to take control while Christian remained unconscious.
Henry had access to the family's financial accounts.
Scarlett had connections to a rival crime syndicate.
And Erica had secretly been negotiating with both.
The contract marriage was supposed to prevent anyone from claiming Christian's estate through a fraudulent engagement.
Amelia had been chosen because she had no connection to the underworld.
But Henry had manipulated the arrangement.
He wanted Christian to hate his wife.
He wanted Amelia gone.
And he wanted Scarlett beside Christian when he recovered.
Because Scarlett was prepared to sign away control of several Ryder businesses.
Christian confronted Henry again.
This time, the evidence was undeniable.
Bank records.
Messages.
Security footage.
Henry stood in the office, pale and trembling.
“Christian, I never wanted you dead.”
Christian stared at him.
“You wanted me helpless.”
Henry lowered his head.
“I wanted a place in the family.”
“You had one.”
“Not enough.”
Christian approached him.
“You could have asked me for anything.”
Henry laughed bitterly.
“You never understood. Everything was always yours.”
Christian's expression hardened.
“You sold my wife's safety for power.”
Henry looked away.
“And now you're going to prison for it.”
At the same time, Amelia received a call from her father.
Damian Jones.
The man who had stolen her inheritance.
“Come home.”
Amelia's voice turned cold.
“No.”
“I have your mother's wedding ring.”
She froze.
“What?”
“The one your grandfather gave her.”
Amelia closed her eyes.
She had searched for that ring for years.
“Give it back.”
“Come get it.”
“I'm not coming alone.”
Damian laughed.
“Then I'll throw it into the lake.”
The call ended.
Amelia stared at her phone.
Then at the small photograph of her mother on the bedside table.
She knew it was a trap.
But the ring was the last piece of her mother she had left.
When Amelia arrived at the Jones mansion, Luna was waiting.
“You actually came.”
Amelia stepped inside.
“Where's the ring?”
Her stepmother Isolda appeared beside the staircase.
“Always so demanding.”
Amelia looked around.
“I'm leaving if you don't give it to me.”
Damian entered.
Behind him stood Richard Hawks.
A wealthy real estate developer.
A man old enough to be Amelia's grandfather.
Richard smiled.
“There she is.”
Amelia stepped backward.
“What is he doing here?”
Damian folded his arms.
“You're going to marry him.”
Amelia stared.
“I'm already married.”
“Then get divorced.”
“No.”
Richard approached.
“Your father owes me seven million dollars.”
Amelia's blood turned cold.
“And?”
“He offered you as part of the settlement.”
Amelia looked at her father.
“You sold me?”
Damian said nothing.
She stepped toward the door.
Richard's guards blocked her path.
“Move.”
Nobody moved.
Amelia reached for her phone.
Luna snatched it away.
“Not this time.”
Across the city, Christian received a message.
Your wife has gone back to the Jones mansion.
He immediately called Amelia.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Then a photograph arrived.
Amelia standing inside her father's house.
Richard Hawks beside her.
Christian's expression changed.
He reached for his jacket.
“Get the cars.”
His security chief stood.
“How many men?”
Christian looked at the photograph.
May you like
“Enough to bring my wife home.”
But by the time the Ryder convoy reached the mansion, Amelia had already gone into premature labor.
