Chapter 2 LENA'S CHOICE

Lena Carter stared down at the letter in her hands, its crisp, ivory paper now crinkled from the tight grip of her fingers. The wax seal-still intact-shone faintly in the dim light of the diner as though mocking her disbelief. She had read the words over and over again, each time hoping they would somehow make more sense. But the truth was that they only grew more absurd with every passing second.

"You are the only living heir to the fortune of Victor Carter," the letter said. "Upon his death, a vast fortune was left to you, contingent upon the fulfillment of one condition. You must marry Alexander Blackwood, heir to the Blackwood Corporation..."

Lena's heart pounded in her chest, the words blurring as her vision swam with disbelief. Her father, a billionaire? Her mind refused to accept it. She had grown up with nothing, raised in a small town by a mother who had done her best to make ends meet. The notion of a hidden inheritance was laughable, and yet, the letter in her hands felt real, the weight of it undeniable.

She stood up abruptly, pacing around the small diner. The clinking of dishes, the faint hum of the refrigerator in the back, and the chatter of the late-night regulars-all seemed to fade away as her thoughts consumed her. How had she gone from being just Lena Carter, a waitress at a rundown diner, to someone who might hold the key to a fortune that could change her life forever?

But there was more to it. The condition. The marriage to Alexander Blackwood. The name alone sent shivers down her spine. She had heard whispers about him over the years-the kind of whispers you overhear when you're cleaning tables in a diner, eavesdropping on businessmen and women who think they're invisible. Alexander Blackwood wasn't just a name; it was a legacy. A dangerous, ruthless legacy.

And Lena was supposed to marry him?

She took a deep breath and walked toward the counter, leaning heavily against it. Her hands gripped the edge, and for a moment, she just stared at the empty seats, as though waiting for some cosmic answer to her internal turmoil.

Then, the realization hit her-this was the opportunity she had always dreamed of. Wasn't it? No more late-night shifts. No more scraping by. No more watching others live the life she had always wished for from behind the counter.

But was the price too high?

Lena's mind flashed back to her life before. The years she had spent working tirelessly at the diner, the constant battle of making rent, the missed chances, the feeling of being stuck. Her dreams of something better had always seemed so far out of reach. But this? This could be the answer. It could be her ticket out. The wealth, the power, the prestige-all of it could be hers.

Yet, in her heart, Lena knew it wasn't that simple. There was a catch. There always was. And this one was bigger than anything she had ever encountered. She had to marry a stranger-a man who, from what she'd heard, was no angel. If anything, Alexander Blackwood sounded like someone who got what he wanted by any means necessary.

But then again, maybe that was the kind of world she was about to enter. A world where nothing came easy and everything had a price.

The sound of the diner door opening interrupted her thoughts. She glanced up quickly and saw one of the regulars-Kate, her best friend-walking in. Kate was the one person who always seemed to have a clear head, the person who could make sense of the madness that constantly swirled around Lena. She would know what to do.

Kate spotted her and raised an eyebrow. "You look like you've seen a ghost. What's going on?"

Lena hesitated, then pulled the letter from her apron pocket, unfolding it and sliding it across the counter to Kate. "Read this," she said quietly.

Kate picked up the letter and read it quickly. Lena watched her face for any sign of recognition, but all she saw was a furrowed brow and a shake of the head.

"I don't know, Lena," Kate said slowly, her voice low. "This sounds... unbelievable. A secret inheritance, a marriage to some rich guy you don't know? Do you think this is legit?"

Lena nodded, feeling the weight of the letter in her hands. "I don't know what to think. I mean, my father disappeared when I was just a kid. I never even knew what happened to him. And now, all of a sudden, I'm supposed to marry some billionaire's son?"

Kate looked at her, skepticism in her eyes. "I get it. You've had a hard life, and I know how much you've wanted something more. But this doesn't seem right. You don't know anything about this guy, this Alexander Blackwood. You could be walking into something dangerous. Who even knows what he wants from you?"

Lena swallowed hard, the words cutting through her like a blade. She hadn't considered that. She had only thought about the riches, the life she could never have. She hadn't thought about what she might have to give up-or who she might become.

But something inside her stirred. Wasn't this what she had always wanted? A chance to escape this dead-end life? The offer was like a beacon in the darkness, and she couldn't deny the pull.

"I have to know more," Lena said finally, her voice filled with resolve. "I can't make a decision based on this letter alone. I need to meet him. I need to see for myself what this is all about."

Kate's eyes widened. "Lena, are you serious? You're going to meet him?"

"I have to," Lena said, standing tall. "I need answers. And I can't let this slip away without knowing what's at stake."

Kate shook her head. "I just don't want you to get hurt. Promise me you'll be careful."

Lena gave her a small smile, but deep down, she wasn't sure if she could promise that. This wasn't about being careful anymore. This was about taking control of her life. And she wasn't going to let fear stop her.

The next few days felt like a blur as Lena prepared for the meeting with Alexander Blackwood. She had no idea what to expect, but she knew one thing for certain-nothing would ever be the same again.