Chapter 4: The Contract Hidden From Me
The room felt colder after my father finished reading the document.
I stared at the pages on his desk, unable to move.
My name was printed clearly.
My signature was there.
But I had never seen that contract before.
I picked it up with trembling hands.
“This isn’t possible.””
My father watched me carefully.
“Read it.””
I forced myself to look down.
The first few lines were filled with legal language I barely understood.
Then I saw the words that made my heartbeat stop.
*Marriage agreement.*
I looked at the date.
Three months before my wedding.
Three months before Ethan proposed.
Three months before I believed our relationship was becoming something deeper.
“No,” I whispered.
My father’s voice softened.
“Emma.””
“I never signed this.””
The words came out louder.
“I never agreed to this.””
My father took the document from me and studied the signature.
“I believe you.””
His answer was immediate.
That almost made me cry.
Because after everything Ethan had done, I needed someone to believe me.
My father turned to his assistant.
“Find out where this came from.””
She nodded and left.
I sat down slowly.
My entire relationship with Ethan began replaying in my mind.
Every dinner.
Every promise.
Every time he told me I was the only person who understood him.
Had any of it been real?
My phone buzzed.
I looked at the screen.
Another message from Ethan.
*You should talk to me before your father makes things worse.*
I stared at it.
Then another message appeared.
*I know you saw the contract.*
My fingers went cold.
He knew.
I showed my father.
“He’s watching what we do.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Call him.””
I looked surprised.
“Why?””
“Because I want to hear what kind of explanation he gives when he can’t hide behind a public statement.””
I hesitated.
Then pressed call.
Ethan answered after one ring.
“Finally.””
His voice carried the same confidence he had in his house.
Like he still believed he was in control.
“Did you enjoy humiliating me?”” I asked.
A pause.
Then a sigh.
“Emma, you’re emotional.””
I almost laughed.
“Emotional?””
“Yes. You’re letting your father influence you.””
“My father?””
I looked at the contract.
“You created a fake marriage agreement.””
“It’s not fake.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“It was supposed to protect both of us.””
“Protect you.””
“No.””
His voice became sharper.
“You don’t understand how things work.””
There it was.
The same tone.
The same arrogance.
Like I was a child who needed to be corrected.
“Explain it.””
He was silent for a moment.
Then he said:
“My family has responsibilities.””
I waited.
“And your family has resources.””
My heart sank.
“You married me because of my father?””
“No.””
He answered too quickly.
“I married you because I loved you.””
“Then why was there a contract?””
Another silence.
That silence told me more than his words ever could.
“Ethan.””
“What?””
“Did your mother know?””
He didn’t answer.
I closed my eyes.
“She knew.””
“Emma—”
“She knew everything.””
His voice changed.
“Don’t talk about my mother.””
I felt something inside me finally settle.
The confusion.
The denial.
The excuses.
They disappeared.
“Goodbye, Ethan.””
“Wait.””
I was about to hang up.
Then his voice stopped me.
“You think your father can erase everything?””
I didn’t respond.
“Emma, you don’t know what you signed up for.””
The call ended.
I looked at my father.
“What did he mean?””
Before he could answer, his assistant returned.
She looked shaken.
“Mr. Carter.””
My father stood.
“What did you find?””
She placed a folder on the desk.
“The contract was created by a private law firm.””
My father opened it.
“Who requested it?””
She hesitated.
Then answered.
“Patricia Whitmore.””
The name hit me harder than expected.
His mother.
Not Ethan.
Her.
My father turned another page.
“She planned this before the engagement.””
I looked up.
“What?””
The assistant nodded.
“There’s more.””
She placed another file down.
“Patricia had been researching your family for almost a year.””
The room went silent.
I stared at the folder.
My marriage suddenly felt like a carefully designed trap.
And then my father found one final page.
His face changed.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Emma…”
I stood.
“What is it?””
He slowly turned the paper toward me.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
One sentence.
May you like
Written by Patricia.
*“Once Ethan becomes her husband, the Carter fortune will finally belong to us.””*
