Chapter 5 THE HIDDEN TRUTH

Isabella looked at her phone, her pulse held. The message was unsettling. Who could know about her arrangement with Ethan? And why did they think she needed warning?

It was almost 10 AM, and Isabella with indecision. If this was a trap, it could mean problem for her proposal with Ethan. But if there was truth in the message, could she accept to ignore it?

By 9:45, she made up her mind. Throwing on a simple dress and coat, she slipped out of Ethan's penthouse without a word. The driver at the entrance offered her a questioning look, but she waved him off, hailing a cab instead. She needed to do this alone.

The café was quaint and quiet, tucked away on a cobblestone street that felt worlds apart from the luxury of Ethan's domain. Isabella scanned the room, her nerves heightened. A man sitting near the window raised a hand, signaling her over.

She approached cautiously. The man was dressed casually but with suspense. His eyes were sharp, and his attitude pronounced a confidence that put her on edge.

"You must be Isabella," he said, asking her to sit.

"Who are you?" she asked, moving to the chair opposite him.

"Connor Mason," he replied, leaning forward. "I used to work for Ethan Hawthorne. Let's just say I know things you should probably know too."

Isabella's stomach churned. "What kind of things?"

Connor hesitated, as if weighing his next words carefully. "Did Ethan tell you why he needed a fake fiancée?"

She frowned. "He said it was to appease his board and keep the press off his back. Something about buying time to focus on his priorities."

Connor chuckled darkly. "That's only half the truth. The real reason Ethan wants you by his side is because he's in a problem of an election at Hawthorne Industries. His board is divided, and there's a person that wants him removed as CEO. They see him as too ruthless, too unpredictable. The fake arrangements is a plan to soften his image, make him seem trustworthy."

Isabella's breath caught. "Why would you care about telling me this? What's in it for you?"

Connor's expression hardened. "I used to believe in Ethan. I worked with him for years, but the man is a pretender. He does not care about loyalty or trust he only cares about winning. I got burned, and I don't want to see someone else dragged down with him."

Isabella's mind raced. Ethan had been honest about the engagement being a strategic move, but he'd left out the stakes involved. If his position at the company was in danger, what would happen to her once the contract was over?

"Why should I believe you?" she asked, her voice stable despite her growing.

Connor leaned back, crossing his arms. "You don't have to. But ask yourself this: why hasn't he told you about the internal investigation? The accusations of corporate sabotage? If you dig a little deeper, you'll find the cracks in his perfect image."

Isabella's heart pounded. "What kind of accusations?"

Connor stood, moving an envelope across the table. "That is all he could say for now. If you're smart, you'll be vigilant and start asking the right questions."

She watched him step out of the café, her fingers moving as she unfolded the paper. It was a list of employees, board members, and one she recognized immediately: Victoria Langston.

Back at the house, Ethan was waiting for her, his look was down as she stepped inside. "Where were you?" he asked, his tone sharp.

"Out," Isabella replied curtly, slipping off her coat.

"Out where?" he pressed, his eyes narrowing.

She met his gaze, her frustration boiling over. "Why does it matter? You don't tell me everything, so why should I report to you?"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "You agreed to this arrangement, Isabella. If you are going to disappear without warning, it is a problem."

"Maybe the real problem is that you have not been honest with me," she replied. "Like why you really need this engagement. Or why people are saying you're being investigated by your own company."

Ethan froze, his expression darkening. "Who told you that?"

"Does it matter?" Isabella challenged. "Is it true?"

For a moment, the mask Ethan always wore slipped. There was anger, yes, but also something that looked like regret. "It's complicated," he said finally.

"Stop saying that!" Isabella snapped. "I'm risking everything for you, Ethan. I deserve the truth."

He exhales, moving a hand through his hair. "Fine. Yes, there is a problem. Some board members are accusing me of manipulating stock prices and shutting out key investors. It's all baseless, but they are using it as a means to push me out. The engagement is a way to balance things, to show the board that I am not the person they think I am

."

Isabella looked at him, she was full of anger, betrayal, and confusion. "Is Victoria part of this?"

Ethan's expression hardened. "Victoria is a wildcard. She said confused, and I would not exclude her from being involved. But I'll handle her. You just need to trust me."

"Trust you?" Isabella said bitterly. "You've been lying to me since the beginning."

Ethan stepped closer, his voice softening. "I did not tell you everything because I did not want to put you into this mess. But I need you, Isabella. More than I knew."

His words caught her unaware, and for a moment, she saw something real in his eyes. But before she could respond, her phone vibrated.

It was another message from an unknown number: "You are in danger. It is a trap."

Isabella's breath held as she read the message. When she looked up, Ethan was looking closely, his look uncertain.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"No one," she said quickly, putting the phone in her pocket.

But the warning was in her mind, and this time, she wondered if she had made a mistake.

Who sent the text warning Isabella? Is Ethan truly the manipulator Connor claims, or is he hiding something even darker? As the walls close in, Isabella must decide whether to trust Ethan or risk everything to uncover the truth.