Chapter 4 - The Marriage They Wanted Me to End
The message changed everything.
My mother went into hiding.
My apartment was emptied.
My job gave me indefinite leave.
And Vincent turned the mansion into a fortress.
I hated it.
But I understood why.
The ledger had become a weapon.
My marriage had become leverage.
Anthony wanted Vincent isolated.
He wanted the ledger.
And he wanted me gone.
But Vincent refused to let anyone scare me into leaving.
One morning, I woke to another packet.
This one contained the original contract.
My signature.
His signature.
Then a second document.
Dated before the wedding.
A private clause I had never seen.
If June Hollis is threatened, Vincent Bellante assumes legal responsibility for her protection until the danger is resolved.
I looked at him.
“You added this.”
“Yes.”
“Without telling me.”
“Yes.”
“That violates our contract.”
“I know.”
“You promised no surprises.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because you were already in danger.”
I stared.
“Before I met you?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Six months.”
My stomach dropped.
“You knew someone was watching me.”
“Yes.”
“And you still brought me into your life.”
“I believed I could protect you.”
“You were wrong.”
“Yes.”
He didn't argue.
That somehow hurt more.
Days later, we found the person behind the surveillance.
A man named Frank D'Amico.
He worked for Anthony.
He also had been one of my father's contacts.
We followed him to a warehouse.
Inside, we found boxes.
Photographs of me.
My mother.
My father.
Vincent.
Even our wedding.
I stared at a photo of myself walking down the aisle.
Someone had circled my face in red.
Below it:
THE KEY.
I turned toward Vincent.
“What key?”
He looked confused.
“I don't know.”
A voice came from behind us.
“I do.”
Lydia stepped from the shadows.
“You're the key.”
I stared.
“To what?”
“The ledger isn't enough.”
She explained.
The ledger contained financial records.
But Daniel had created a second archive.
Encrypted.
The access code was based on a family secret.
Mine.
“What secret?”
Lydia looked at Vincent.
“Your marriage.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“Your father knew Vincent would eventually marry you.”
“That is impossible.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Daniel planned for it.”
My skin prickled.
“Why?”
“Because only a Bellante can access the archive.”
Vincent stared.
“My family?”
“Yes.”
“The archive requires two bloodlines.”
“Hollis and Bellante.”
He looked at me.
“And now we're married.”
“Yes.”
The realization hit.
The fake marriage had accidentally completed my father's plan.
Someone had arranged everything.
Maybe not Anthony.
Maybe someone even more powerful.
We went back to the mansion.
Vincent found a hidden safe beneath the floor.
Inside was a letter.
Daniel wrote:
Vincent,
If you ever marry my daughter, the archive will open.
Not because you own her.
Because you trust her.
The safe requires both of your fingerprints.
Vincent looked at me.
“I never knew.”
I touched the screen.
It opened.
Files appeared.
Names.
Money.
Photographs.
Then one file stopped me.
THE DEATH OF DANIEL HOLLIS.
Inside was a video.
My father.
Alive.
The night before his supposed death.
He was speaking to someone.
Anthony.
But there was another man in the room.
Vincent's father.
And another.
My father pointed at the third man.
“He will destroy both families.”
I couldn't see his face.
Then the camera shifted.
And I recognized him.
My own uncle.
Eleanor's brother.
The man who had supposedly died twenty years ago.
My uncle Henry.
He had been the architect.
Not Anthony.
Not Vincent's father.
Henry.
He had manipulated both families.
He had stolen the money.
Killed Daniel.
Framed Anthony.
And started the war.
I looked at Vincent.
“He's alive.”
“Yes.”
“And he's been watching us.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vincent's expression hardened.
“Because now he needs the archive.”
The house alarm sounded.
Security rushed in.
Lydia shouted:
“Where is your mother?”
I froze.
“She was supposed to be safe.”
Vincent grabbed my arm.
“We're leaving.”
Then my phone rang.
Henry.
“You finally found the truth.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Where is my mother?”
“Safe.”
“What do you want?”
“Vincent.”
He laughed.
“Your marriage is the only reason the archive opened.”
I looked at Vincent.
Henry continued:
“So now I need you to make one more choice.”
“What?”
“End the marriage.”
My heart stopped.
“And the archive closes.”
“How?”
“Your divorce will trigger the lock.”
I stared at Vincent.
Henry whispered:
“Choose the man you married.”
A pause.
“Or choose the family that raised you.”
The call ended.
Vincent looked at me.
“I'll give you an annulment.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Tonight.”
“You're serious?”
“Yes.”
“If I divorce you, my mother lives?”
“Probably.”
“Probably?”
He nodded.
“I won't let you trade your life for mine.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“And what happens to you?”
He smiled.
May you like
“I go back to being the man you were supposed to leave.”
Then he handed me divorce papers.
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