Chapter 6: The Deal Behind the Marriage
The ballroom had become a place where every secret Claire buried came back to life.
First the hidden invitation.
Then the messages.
Then the letter.
Now this.
A contract.
A payment.
A plan.
I looked at Michael.
“Explain.””
He took a deep breath.
“I met Claire at a charity event five years ago.””
Claire looked away.
“She told me she loved me.””
Michael smiled sadly.
“She told me exactly what I wanted to hear.””
The words hit harder because they sounded familiar.
I remembered every perfect sentence Claire had ever said.
The future she painted.
The dreams she described.
Maybe they weren’t dreams.
Maybe they were strategies.
Michael continued.
“Six months into our relationship, she introduced me to her father.””
My father frowned.
“Why?””
“Because that was when the real conversation started.””
I looked at the contract.
“What conversation?””
Michael pointed at the paper.
“The agreement.””
I read the title.
“Marriage Arrangement Proposal.””
My stomach turned.
“This is fake.””
Michael shook his head.
“I wish it was.””
Claire suddenly stepped forward.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Michael looked at her.
“I know exactly what happened.””
She stared at him.
“You disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“Without telling me.””
“Yes.””
Her voice cracked.
“Then why are you here?””
Michael looked at me.
“Because I made the mistake of staying silent.””
The silence was unbearable.
My father took the contract.
He read it carefully.
Then his expression changed.
“What?””
I looked at him.
“What is it?””
He pointed to a section.
“Daniel, read this.””
I did.
The paragraph described a marriage.
Not based on love.
Not based on partnership.
A marriage designed to gain access to financial resources after a certain period of time.
I looked at Claire.
“You planned this?””
She started crying.
“I was desperate.””
“That’s your excuse?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“I was scared.””
I stared at her.
“Scared enough to destroy people?””
Her tears fell.
“My father controlled everything.””
Everyone looked at her.
“What?””
She wiped her face.
“You think I wanted to become this person?””
Michael laughed quietly.
“You became exactly the person your father wanted.””
Claire looked at him.
“Don’t pretend you’re innocent.””
His expression changed.
“I never said I was.””
That surprised me.
Michael looked at me.
“I made mistakes too.””
He lowered his voice.
“I knew Claire was using me. I stayed because I thought I could save her.””
I understood that feeling.
Because I had done the same thing.
I had seen warning signs.
But I explained them away.
Because admitting the truth meant admitting I was wrong.
My mother walked toward me.
“Daniel.””
I looked at her.
“Your heart is a good thing.””
She touched my arm.
“But don’t let someone use it against you.””
I nodded.
Then Claire spoke.
“I did love you.””
Everyone looked at her.
“I know what I did was wrong.””
She looked at me.
“But my feelings for you were real.””
I wanted to believe that.
Part of me still did.
But love without honesty was just another kind of betrayal.
My father looked at the contract again.
“There’s something missing.””
Michael frowned.
“What?””
“The final signature.””
He turned the page.
The bottom section was empty.
I looked at Claire.
“Why isn’t it signed?””
She went silent.
Then Michael answered.
“Because the final step was supposed to happen after the wedding.””
A chill moved through me.
“What final step?””
Nobody answered.
Then my father’s phone buzzed.
He checked the message.
His face turned pale.
“Daniel.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He slowly handed me the phone.
The message was from a number I didn’t recognize.
One sentence.
One warning.
“Your wedding was never about Claire getting your money.””
I looked up.
My father’s hands were shaking.
The next message arrived.
“She was trying to get access to something much more valuable.””
I stared at the screen.
Then another line appeared.
“Your grandfather’s hidden account.””
My blood ran cold.
Because I suddenly understood.
Claire hadn’t spent two years trying to marry me.
May you like
She had spent two years trying to unlock something my family had kept secret for decades.
And whoever sent that message knew exactly what she was planning. :::
