Chapter 3 - The Night Roman Told Me Why He Married MeSadie discovered the first lie in Roman's world three weeks later.
It came from his mother.
Valentina Vale had been silent about their marriage since the ceremony.
Then she invited Sadie to lunch.
“I need to ask you something.”
Sadie sat across from her in a private dining room.
“What?”
“Do you know why Roman married you?”
Sadie hesitated.
“He needed a wife.”
Valentina smiled sadly.
“That is the answer he gave you.”
“And?”
“He needed protection.”
Sadie frowned.
“From what?”
“His own family.”
Valentina explained.
Roman's father had built an empire through legitimate shipping and illegal operations.
When he died, Roman inherited everything.
But three members of the old organization wanted control.
Roman needed a public marriage to satisfy a clause in his father's estate agreement.
If Roman remained unmarried for one year, control of certain assets would transfer to a trust controlled by his father's partners.
Sadie had been the only person Roman trusted.
Because she knew nothing about his world.
“She was supposed to be temporary,” Valentina said.
Sadie smiled.
“She wasn't.”
“No.”
Valentina studied her.
“He loves you.”
Sadie's heart stopped.
“He never said.”
Valentina laughed softly.
“Roman has spent his entire life believing love is a liability.”
That sounded familiar.
Sadie returned home.
Roman was in the library.
She stood in the doorway.
“Your mother told me.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Told you what?”
“Why you married me.”
He looked away.
“She wasn't supposed to.”
“Did you marry me only because of the contract?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
He stood.
“Because you needed help.”
“That isn't enough.”
“You were struggling.”
“I know.”
“I could help.”
“You did.”
He stepped closer.
“And then I fell in love with you.”
She froze.
“When?”
“I don't know.”
“Then guess.”
Roman smiled.
“The first time you yelled at me.”
She laughed.
“That early?”
“You threw a measuring tape.”
“You deserved it.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Roman Vale admitting fear was more shocking than any threat.
“Of what?”
“That you'd leave.”
Her eyes filled.
“I wouldn't.”
“You say that now.”
“I mean it.”
He touched her cheek.
“Then stay.”
She kissed him.
For a moment, everything was simple.
Then Marco called.
Roman answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
A pause.
“Show me.”
He opened a tablet.
A photograph showed Trevor Harlan entering a warehouse.
Beside him stood one of Roman's former enemies.
Grant Mercer.
Roman's face became cold.
“He's working with them.”
Sadie shook her head.
“Trevor?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
“No.”
She stared at the photograph.
“He hates losing.”
Roman nodded.
“That may be worse.”
They investigated.
Trevor had been funneling information.
Court documents.
Business records.
Personal schedules.
He had been paid to create distractions around Roman.
But he didn't know the true goal.
The enemy wasn't simply trying to steal Roman's money.
They wanted Sadie.
Because Sadie's grandfather had left behind something valuable.
A coded ledger.
A ledger Roman's father had once tried to obtain.
Sadie had no idea it existed.
Until her mother called.
“Sadie, you need to come home.”
“What happened?”
“I found your grandfather's box.”
Sadie drove home with Roman.
Inside the box was a key.
And a photograph.
Her grandfather stood beside Roman's father.
On the back:
If Roman ever protects my granddaughter, trust him.
Sadie stared.
“Your father knew my family.”
Roman looked at the photograph.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
They found the answer beneath the floorboards.
A safe.
Inside were documents proving that Sadie's grandfather had helped Roman's father expose a money laundering network.
The network included Grant Mercer.
Trevor had no idea what he was helping.
Sadie looked at Roman.
“He isn't the mastermind.”
“No.”
“Then who is?”
Roman opened the final document.
The name was underlined.
Victor Hale.
A man believed dead for seven years.
Roman's face went pale.
“He's alive.”
Sadie stared.
“Who?”
“My father's oldest enemy.”
Then the lights went out.
The house became completely dark.
A window shattered.
Roman pushed Sadie to the floor.
Gunshots erupted.
When the lights returned, the safe was open.
The documents were gone.
And on the mirror was written one sentence in red.
She belongs to me now.
Roman looked at Sadie.
For the first time, there was fear in his eyes.
May you like
Not for himself.
For her.
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