The next morning felt… different.
I didn't know why.
Maybe it was the way he said my name last night.
Emma.
Not "you." Not "her."
Emma.
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away as I stood in front of the mirror.
"Don't be stupid," I whispered to myself.
This was a contract.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
When I walked downstairs, the mansion was quieter than usual.
Too quiet.
"Good morning, Madam," Clara greeted me with her usual gentle smile.
"Good morning," I replied. "Where's Ethan?"
"He left early."
Of course he did.
I nodded and sat at the dining table.
The chair across from me felt… empty.
Why did that bother me?
"You should eat," Clara said softly.
"I'm not that hungry."
She hesitated, then placed a cup of coffee in front of me.
"You'll need your energy."
"For what?"
Her eyes met mine.
"For today."
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
"What's happening today?"
But before she could answer—
The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
Fast. Urgent.
A man in a suit rushed inside.
"Where is Mr. Blackwood?"
Clara straightened immediately. "He's not here."
The man cursed under his breath.
"This is bad."
My heart started beating faster.
"What's going on?" I asked.
He looked at me for a second, as if debating whether to speak.
Then—
"Miss Carter… there's a problem."
Thirty minutes later, I found myself in a car again.
But this time…
Ethan wasn't with me.
The man sitting in front introduced himself as Daniel.
"Mr. Blackwood's assistant," he said.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To the hospital."
My stomach dropped.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
Then finally said—
"Your father… collapsed."
Everything went silent.
"No…" I whispered.
That couldn't be happening.
Not now.
Not after everything I did.
"Is he okay?" I asked quickly.
"We don't know yet."
The moment we arrived, I ran inside without waiting.
"Excuse me—my father—where is he?"
The nurse checked something on her computer.
"Room 312."
I didn't wait another second.
When I entered the room…
I froze.
He looked… weaker than I remembered.
Machines surrounded him.
Beeping.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"Dad…" my voice broke as I stepped closer.
His eyes slowly opened.
"Emma…"
I grabbed his hand.
"I'm here."
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"No, don't say that."
"I ruined your life…"
Tears filled my eyes.
"You didn't ruin anything."
"I forced you… into this marriage…"
My heart tightened.
So he knew.
Of course he knew.
"I chose this," I said firmly. "For you."
He shook his head weakly.
"That man… he's dangerous…"
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
But before he could answer—
The door opened.
Ethan walked in.
Just like that.
Calm. Controlled.
As if nothing in the world could shake him.
My father's grip on my hand tightened.
"It's him…" he whispered.
Fear flashed in his eyes.
Real fear.
And that scared me more than anything.
Ethan's gaze moved from me… to my father.
Cold.
Unreadable.
"Leave us," he said to Daniel.
The room fell silent again.
Tension filled the air.
"You shouldn't be here," my father said weakly.
Ethan didn't respond.
He walked closer instead.
Step by step.
Like a predator approaching its target.
"Mr. Carter," he said calmly. "You should focus on your health."
"Stay away from my daughter," my father snapped.
I blinked.
This wasn't normal.
My father was never like this.
Never this angry.
Never this afraid.
Ethan's eyes darkened slightly.
"I believe," he said slowly, "she is my wife now."
"She's not yours," my father said. "This marriage—"
"Is perfectly legal."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating silence.
I looked between them.
"What's going on?" I asked.
No one answered.
"Someone explain to me!"
Ethan turned to me.
His expression softened… just a little.
"You should rest," he said.
"I'm not leaving."
"Emma."
"No," I said firmly. "Not until someone tells me the truth."
For a moment…
I thought he would refuse.
But then—
He sighed quietly.
And that alone shocked me.
"Your father owed money," he said.
"I know that."
"But not just to anyone."
A bad feeling settled in my chest.
"What are you saying?"
He looked straight into my eyes.
"To me."
Everything stopped.
"You're lying."
"I don't lie."
"No… this doesn't make sense…"
I turned to my father.
"Tell me he's lying."
But he couldn't meet my eyes.
And that was enough.
"You…" my voice trembled as I looked back at Ethan. "You did this?"
"I offered a solution."
"You trapped us!"
"I saved him."
"By forcing me to marry you?!"
"Yes."
Tears streamed down my face.
"You had no right."
"I had every right."
"Why me?" I shouted. "Out of all the women—why me?!"
Silence.
For the first time…
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
And that's when I knew.
There was more.
Much more.
"What aren't you telling me?" I whispered.
His jaw tightened.
"Ethan."
Nothing.
"Tell me!"
Finally—
He spoke.
But his voice was colder than ever.
"Because you were the only one I needed."
The words hit differently.
Not like before.
This time…
they carried weight.
Meaning.
Something deeper.
Something dangerous.
I took a step back.
"I don't understand…"
"You don't need to."
"Yes, I do!"
"Emma."
His voice was sharp now.
"Stop asking questions you're not ready to hear."
My heart pounded.
Too fast.
Too loud.
"What does that mean?"
But before he could answer—
The machine beside my father suddenly started beeping faster.
"Dad?!"
Doctors rushed in.
"Please step outside!"
"No—I—"
"Now!"
I stumbled out of the room, my mind spinning.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Nothing.
Minutes passed.
Or maybe hours.
I didn't know.
All I knew was—
Everything had changed.
"You should sit."
Ethan's voice came from behind me.
I didn't turn around.
"Was it all a plan?" I asked quietly.
No answer.
"From the beginning?"
Silence.
I laughed bitterly.
"I thought I had no choice."
"You didn't."
I turned to him sharply.
"And now?"
He met my eyes.
"You still don't."
Something inside me broke.
Not completely.
But enough.
Because in that moment…
I finally understood.
This wasn't just a contract marriage.
It was a trap.
And I was already too deep to escape.