Chapter 4 Shadows from the Past

Lena's heart raced as the figure in the doorway stepped fully into the penthouse light. Her mind struggled to process what she was seeing.

It was Vanessa Moreland, her childhood friend and the last person she expected to see after all the chaos of the gala. But Vanessa wasn't smiling, and there was no warmth in her eyes. Instead, there was an unmistakable tension, an edge that Lena couldn't place.

"Lena," Vanessa said softly, almost cautiously, yet her tone carried something unsaid, danger, perhaps, or warning.

"Vanessa? What are you doing here?" Lena asked, her voice shaking. She backed toward the sofa instinctively, keeping a hand over her heart. "How did you"

"I heard about the marriage," Vanessa interrupted, cutting her off. "About the contract." She paused, studying Lena like she was a puzzle. "And I came because... I think you need to know what you're really stepping into."

Lena's stomach churned. "I don't understand, what do you mean?"

Vanessa's gaze hardened. "Ethan Blackwood isn't just a cold CEO with power. He has enemies, Lena. People who will use this marriage as a weapon. And you..." She paused, letting the words sink in. "You are now at the center of it."

Lena felt the room tilt slightly. She had thought the gala and Derek's threat were the worst of it. But now, Vanessa's words made the shadows of the penthouse feel heavier, more oppressive.

"You mean... it's not just the contract? There are others who will"

"Yes," Vanessa said grimly. "There are people who want to see you fail, to see Ethan's empire shaken, and you've just become a pawn. They'll try to manipulate you, twist your mistakes, and if you aren't careful, they'll destroy the one reason you agreed to this marriage in the first place, your mother."

Lena felt her stomach drop. Her mother. Her family. The fragile thread that had held her life together was suddenly taut and ready to snap.

"Why are you telling me this?" Lena asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.

"Because you're the only one who can navigate this without losing yourself," Vanessa said. "And because... I owe you. We used to be friends. And friends don't let each other walk blind into danger."

The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Lena realized that Vanessa wasn't just a messenger, she was a warning bell, a human alert system for threats Lena hadn't even considered yet.

Before Lena could ask more, Vanessa stepped closer and lowered her voice. "You need to learn one thing immediately. The gala, the contract, Ethan himself it's all part of a game. And in this game, you can't trust appearances. People smile, but smiles lie. And some smiles are meant to kill."

Lena's chest tightened. She felt the weight of the contract all over again, not just as a legal document, but as a living chain, binding her to a world she barely understood.

Vanessa reached into her purse and pulled out a small envelope. She handed it to Lena without another word. "Open it when you're alone. It will tell you what you need to know tonight."

And just as suddenly as she appeared, Vanessa turned and left, her heels echoing down the hallway, leaving Lena alone with her racing thoughts and the envelope in her trembling hands.

Lena sat down on the edge of the sofa and tore open the envelope. Inside was a single piece of paper, neatly typed:

"Tonight, someone you trust will betray you. Be vigilant. Trust no one. Not even those closest to you."

Her hands shook as she read it. The words felt like a poison, creeping into her veins and twisting her chest.

A sudden noise from the kitchen made her jump, then she realized it was just the wind rattling the window. But her mind refused to calm.

She didn't notice the shadow that lingered by the hallway, watching her with intent. A soft smirk ghosted across the figure's face before it disappeared into the darkness.

Lena's phone buzzed again. A message appeared, chilling in its simplicity:

"The game has begun, Lena. Make your move wisely or lose everything."