The car sped through the dark streets like a shadow.
Amara sat in the back seat, her hands still shaking. Pieces of glass were still tangled in her hair from the shattered window.
Everything had happened too fast.
One moment she had signed a contract.
The next moment, someone was trying to kill them.
Beside her, Alexander Knight looked completely calm, staring out the window as if gunfire was a normal part of his day.
Amara finally spoke.
"Does this happen to you often?"
Alexander glanced at her.
"More often than I'd like."
Her eyes widened.
"And you didn't think that was important to mention before I signed the contract?"
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"You still signed."
Amara opened her mouth to argue, but she couldn't deny it.
She had signed.
For her father.
The car suddenly turned through a massive iron gate.
Amara looked outside.
Her breath caught.
Before them stood an enormous mansion surrounded by tall walls and heavy security lights.
Guards stood at every corner.
"This is your house?" she whispered.
Alexander stepped out of the car.
"For the next year, it's our house."
Amara followed him nervously.
The front doors opened before they even reached them.
A tall elderly man in a perfect suit stood waiting.
His eyes moved slowly over Amara.
Cold.
Judging.
"Welcome back, sir," the man said politely to Alexander.
Then he looked at her again.
"And this must be the new wife."
Amara shifted uncomfortably.
Alexander nodded.
"Amara, this is Mr. Lawson. He manages the household."
Mr. Lawson gave a stiff nod.
"We weren't informed that the wedding would happen so suddenly."
Alexander's voice became firm.
"That's because it wasn't planned."
The man said nothing more, but Amara could feel his suspicion.
They walked inside.
The mansion was breathtaking.
Huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling. A grand staircase curved upward like something from a royal palace.
But despite its beauty…
Something about the place felt cold.
Watching.
Alexander suddenly stopped.
"There's something you should know."
Amara looked at him.
"My family lives here."
Her stomach tightened.
"Family?"
Before he could explain further—
A sharp female voice echoed across the hall.
"Alexander!"
A beautiful woman stormed down the staircase.
Her high heels clicked angrily against the marble floor.
She stopped the moment she saw Amara.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Who is this?"
Alexander answered calmly.
"My wife."
The woman's face went pale.
Then it twisted with rage.
"Wife?!"
Her voice rose sharply.
"You promised you would marry me!"
Amara blinked in shock.
Alexander sighed slightly.
"Claire, we talked about this."
But the woman wasn't listening anymore.
Her furious eyes were now fixed on Amara.
"Do you have any idea who you just married?" she snapped.
Amara hesitated.
"No…"
Claire let out a bitter laugh.
"Then let me welcome you properly."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Every woman who has loved Alexander Knight ends up ruined."
A cold shiver ran down Amara's spine.
Claire smiled cruelly.
"And some of them…"
Her eyes darkened.
"...don't survive."