Chapter 2

Elena could only stare at her father.

For several seconds, she wondered if she had heard him correctly, “Ethan Black?”

Richard Carter remained completely composed. “Yes.”

A hollow laugh escaped Elena's lips, “You want me to marry Ethan Black?” “That's what I said.” “A man I've never met?” “You were willing to marry Daniel.”

Elena's smile disappeared and Richard continued before she could respond. “You trusted Daniel enough to put on a wedding dress for him, yet you're suddenly questioning the idea of marrying Ethan?”

The mention of Daniel reopened the wound she was desperately trying to close, she looked down, the images from upstairs returned without permission; Daniel's arms around Victoria, her smug expression, the engagement ring she had slipped from her finger, her entire future collapsing in a matter of minutes.

“I don't care about Daniel anymore,” she said quietly. “Then this should be easier.”

Elena's head snapped up. “Easier?” “Yes.”

“You're talking about marriage as if you're arranging a business meeting!”Richard's face hardened.

“In this family, marriage has always been more than love.” “I don't care what this family does.” “You should.”

“No!”

Her voice cracked through the room.

She had never spoken to her father like that so she couldn't stop herself.

“I've spent my entire life doing what you wanted, studying where you wanted, attending events I hated, dated the man you approved of; where did that get me?” Richard said nothing.

“A broken engagement and a husband I don't even know?” “Not a husband yet.” “Then what exactly is Ethan Black?” Richard's eyes narrowed. “Your opportunity to fix what Daniel destroyed.”

Elena shook her head. “You're unbelievable.” She reached for her handbag, “I'm leaving.” Richard didn't stop her, instead, his voice followed her toward the door. “Ethan will be here at nine tomorrow morning.”

Elena stopped, she slowly turned around. “You've already arranged this?” “Yes.” “And what if I refuse?”

Richard's expression became strangely serious. “Then you'll have to deal with the consequences alone.” She stared at him, “What consequences?” He didn't answer and walked away.

That frightened her more than a threat would have, Elena didn't return to the mansion, instead she drove aimlessly through the city until she found a small café that was still open.

It was almost midnight, so she chose a table in the corner and sat alone. Her phone kept lighting up; messages from relatives, missed calls from friends, even a message from Daniel.

She deleted it without opening, she didn't want explanations, apologies, and certainly didn't want to hear him say that he had made a mistake. Daniel had chosen Victoria, that was enough.

Elena rested her forehead against her palm, tomorrow was supposed to be her wedding day, instead, she was expected to marry a complete stranger.

She almost laughed at the absurdity of it. “Some situations are.”

Elena looked up sharply, a man stood beside her table, she hadn't heard him approach.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a plain black shirt and dark trousers.

Nothing about his clothes suggested wealth, yet there was something striking about him; his posture, his eyes, the effortless confidence in the way he carried himself.

He looked like someone accustomed to being obeyed. “Can I help you?” Elena asked. He glanced at the empty chair opposite her. “Would you mind if I sat?” She hesitated, then shrugged, “If you want.” He pulled out the chair.

“Thank you.”

Elena returned her attention to her coffee, she wasn't in the mood for company.

After a few moments, the stranger spoke again. “You look unhappy.” She gave him a dry smile. “That's an understatement.” “Bad day?” “Terrible.”

He studied her quietly. “Want to talk about it?” “No.” “Probably not.” That almost made her smile.

Instead, she sighed; “My fiancé cheated on me.”

The stranger's expression changed. “I'm sorry.” “With my stepsister.” This time, he said nothing.

Elena took a sip of her cold coffee. “They're probably celebrating right now.” “That says more about them than it does about you.”

She looked at him. “You're surprisingly philosophical for a stranger.” “Maybe I'm just observant.” She looked away again.

“My father wants me to marry another man tomorrow. ”The stranger's eyebrows rose. “Tomorrow?” “Yes.” “And you agreed?” “No.” “Good.” Elena frowned. “Why?” “Because marrying someone you've never met sounds foolish.”

She gave a humorless laugh. “That's exactly what I thought.” The stranger leaned back. “Then don't do it.” “If only life were that simple.” “It can be.” “You don't know my father.” “You don't know my family.” “You don't know what happens when I disappoint them.”

He watched her carefully. “Perhaps you should disappoint them.” Elena stared at him, for some reason, those words affected her, nobody had ever told her that before, everyone always told her to obey; to compromise, to protect the family name.

This stranger was telling her to choose herself, she looked at him more closely. “What's your name?” “Ethan.”

“Just Ethan?” “For tonight.” A tiny smile touched her lips. “You're strange.” “I've heard that before.”

She glanced at the time. “I should go.”

But something stopped her; maybe anger, desperation or the part of her that wanted to regain control of her life after everything had been taken from her.

She turned back. “Can I ask you something ridiculous?” Ethan nodded. “Go ahead.” “If someone asked you to marry them because their entire life had fallen apart, would you say yes?”

His eyes remained on hers. “Depends who was asking.” Elena swallowed. Then she said the words before she could lose her nerve. “Would you marry me?”

The question hung between them. Elena immediately regretted it. “Forget I asked.” “Yes.” She froze. “What?” “I said yes.”

She slowly sat back down. “You're serious?” “Completely.”

“You don't know anything about me. “That is precisely why this is crazy.” “Then we're equally crazy.” Despite herself, Elena laughed.

It was the first genuine laugh she'd managed all night. Then her expression became serious again. “What's your full name?”

The stranger looked at her.

“Ethan Black.”

Her smile vanished, the room seemed to spin.

Ethan Black.

The name her father had given her; the man she was supposed to marry.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Ethan watched the realization settle across her face.

“You're Ethan Black?” “The Ethan Black my father wants me to marry?” “Yes.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “You knew who I was.” “I did.” “Why didn't you tell me?”

“You didn't ask.” “That isn't an answer.”

“It wasn't meant to be.”

Elena pushed herself back against the chair, everything suddenly felt different.

This wasn't some random stranger anymore, this was the man her father had selected, who had somehow agreed to marry her within minutes of meeting her.

“Why did you say yes?” Ethan's face became unreadable. “Because this marriage benefits me too.” “So this is a business arrangement?” “Perhaps.”

“What do you want?”

He folded his hands on the table. “First, no pretending this is a normal marriage.”

Elena nodded cautiously, “Second, we give each other space.” “Meaning?” “You live your life. I live mine.”

“And the third?”

His gaze sharpened. “You don't try to uncover things I've chosen not to tell you.”

Elena frowned. “That sounds suspicious.”

“It probably is.” “At least you're honest about that.” “I try to be.”

“You're not afraid of marrying a woman you barely know?” “No.” “Why?”

“Sometimes strangers are safer than people we've known for years.”

The words hit Elena unexpectedly, she thought of Daniel, then Victoria and her father.

Perhaps he was right. She lowered her voice. “And if this marriage becomes real?”

Ethan didn't answer immediately. “What do you mean?” “What if I actually start caring about you?” Something flickered across his face.

His voice was quieter when he finally answered. “Don't fall in love with me.”

Her heart gave an uncomfortable twist.

“Why?” “Because you don't know the man you're agreeing to marry.” “And you don't know me either.” “I know enough.” “That makes two of us.”

Ethan stood. “Tomorrow morning, nine o'clock.” Elena nodded. He turned to leave. “Ethan.” He stopped. She hesitated.

“Are you sure?” He looked back. “Yes.” Then he walked out.

Elena watched him disappear through the glass doors, she had just agreed to marry a man she had known for less than an hour.

It should have terrified her, instead, something deep inside her whispered that meeting Ethan Black tonight had not been an accident.

Across the road, a dark vehicle sat with its headlights off, inside, someone watched Ethan leave the café.

A phone was raised, photograph was taken and Elena was next.

The person on the other end answered after one ring.

“They've met and agreed to marry.” Then came a cold response. “We have a problem.”

Ethan entered the back seat of his car, the moment the door closed, the warmth disappeared from his face.

He pulled out his phone, twenty-three missed calls from Adrian, he called back.

“You've lost your mind,” Adrian said immediately.

Ethan looked through the window at Elena sitting alone inside the café. “I know.” “You can't marry Elena Carter.” “I already agreed.” “Do you understand who she is?” “Yes.” “She's Richard Carter's daughter.” “I know.” “Then you know what that means.”

Ethan's jaw tightened. “I know exactly what it means.”

There was a long silence, then Adrian spoke more quietly. “Your father's death is still unsolved.”

Ethan's eyes darkened. “I haven't forgotten.” “And the last person your father met before he died was connected to the Carter family.”

Ethan looked back toward Elena, who was unaware that her life had just become tangled in a mystery far older than their marriage.

“I know.” Adrian exhaled. “Then why her?”

Ethan didn't answer. Because the truth was one thing he couldn't tell anyone yet.

Years ago, before Elena Carter had ever heard his name, she had unknowingly crossed paths with him and had helped him when he needed it most.

And then she had disappeared from his life. His phone suddenly vibrated, it was a new message; no name, no number, just a photograph.

Ethan opened it, his entire body went still.

It was a picture of Elena leaving the café, underneath it were seven words:

“Marry her, and she dies like your father.” Ethan's eyes turned ice-cold.

A second message arrived.

“You were warned once. This time, we won't miss.”

For the first time that night, Ethan's carefully controlled expression cracked; someone knew and had been watching them.

• Whoever was behind the messages wasn't trying to stop the wedding; they were promising to turn it into a funeral…….