Chapter 2 The Secret He Never Told

BRIELLE'S POV

After days of deliberation and agonizing silence, I finally called Rowan.

"How do you marry a man you don't love? Worse still, a man you barely know?"

I thought

But love had nothing to do with this decision. It was about Sterling.

About keeping my brother alive. So I agreed. I called Rowan Blackwood and said yes.

His response was immediate. Calm, yet unmistakably satisfied.

The next day, Sterling's bill was paid in full. The surgery was done. I watched through tear-blurred eyes as his chest rose steadily under the hospital sheets. He was healing rapidly. That was all that mattered.

Rowan pulled me out of the guesthouse job. No more cleaning.

Just like that, I was living in a mansion - his mansion. It felt unreal at first. High ceilings, polished marble floors, and more rooms than I could count. Maids handled everything. I didn't have to lift a finger. I felt... displaced, like I'd wandered into someone else's dream. Maybe my dream.

Money, I realized, was a different kind of magic.

One that made pain quieter, burdens lighter and everything smooth.

Still, even amidst the luxury, I carried a weight inside me. I tried to ignore it, to tell myself I'd get used to Rowan. Maybe even grow to love him.

He was kind, polite and handsome in a cold, sculpted way. But he was also distant. A man of business, not emotion. And though he took me on dates, bought me dresses, and treated me well, it always felt like a deal.

But I played my part. I mean not like I had an option.

I still visited Sterling and Giselle at the hospital. Whenever I visited, I brought food and fruits to cheer him up. He loved food so much.

Giselle smiled more now too. She looked healthier. For the first time since our parents died, our lives felt stable.

Then came the proposal.

Rowan planned everything without saying a word to me. The location was an upscale garden restaurant, private and floral. The air, heavy with roses and anticipation.

He went on one knee before having our dessert, slipped a ring on my finger without waiting for a clear yes. My mouth moved, my voice whispered "okay," and the cameras clicked.

It was done. I was engaged.

We set the wedding date immediately after. It was to be a grand affair. His family's reputation demanded nothing less.

Shopping became my new job. Bridal stores, designer fittings, consultations with stylists and event planners. It was overwhelming, but I buried myself in it - until the day everything cracked open.

I had gone out alone for once, needing a few accessories and scented candles for my room. I wandered through the home section of a high-end mall, reaching for a lavender diffuser at the top of a shelf when another hand touched it at the same time.

We both turned.

"Look who we have here!" I said with a grin, recognizing the face instantly.

Catherine. An old classmate from high school.

"Hey..." she blinked, clearly trying to place me.

"Brielle," I said, offering a reminder.

"Right! Brielle Jaxon," she laughed, pulling me into a hug.

"Girl, you're glowing!" she said, stepping back to admire me.

"And you!" I pointed to the little boy clinging to her leg. "He's adorable."

"That's Xander. My son," she replied softly, brushing her fingers through his hair.

"Wait, your son?" My eyes widened. "So you're married now?"

The smile faltered on her face. "No... not exactly."

"Oh?" I said gently, sensing the change in her tone.

"My ex abandoned me. Long story, Brielle. Let's not get into it here."

"Of course," I nodded. "Only if you want to talk later."

We chatted more - lightly, easily, like old friends catching up. Then came the inevitable question.

"So what about you?" she asked. "Still single?"

I laughed, lifting my hand and showing her the engagement ring.

"Wow! You're getting married?" she squealed. " That man must really be a lucky guy?"

"You're invited," I said playfully. "The wedding's in a week."

"A week?" Her eyes sparkled. "Girl, I need to see pictures. I'll invite a few of our old classmates, maybe even throw a mini reunion at the wedding."

I chuckled and unlocked my phone. "Here, take a look."

She leaned in, scrolling through the pre-wedding photos.

Then she froze.

"Rowan?" she breathed, her fingers still on the screen.

My heart stuttered.

"You know him?"

She turned, her face paling. "Is his name Rowan Blackwood?"

"Yes..."

Her voice trembled. "That's the man who left me. He's Xander's father."

My breath hitched.

I stared at her. She wasn't blinking. Her lips quivered. She pointed at the screen.

"This is him. He left without a word. No calls. No explanations. Just vanished." Her voice broke. "He never even met his son."

I stood still, trying to absorb the words. Rowan? A father?

I knew I hadn't asked him about past relationships, but he'd never mentioned a child. Never even hinted at someone like Catherine.

"I - I had no idea," I managed, placing a hand on her back. "He never told me."

Catherine wiped her tears with trembling fingers. "I didn't mean to ruin your day. I'm sorry. But you needed to know."

"No, thank you. For telling me."

My hands shook as I grabbed the items we'd collected. "Come with me," I said.

We left the store. I paid quickly and drove us to a nearby eatery.

There, over drinks and quiet sobs, she told me everything. How she and Rowan met, how their relationship spiraled, how he vanished shortly after she got pregnant. I listened, heart pounding.

Part of me still wanted to doubt her. But Xander's eyes... They looked like Rowan's.

That night, I didn't return to the mansion.

I went to the hospital instead. I explained everything to Giselle, handed her a note for Rowan, and packed only a small bag.

"I need answers," I told her. "But I can't find them from inside his house."

Then I disappeared.

Not even I knew where I was going. Only that I couldn't stay.