Chapter 3 THE UNKNOWN MESSAGE

Sarah couldn't sleep that night. She lay in bed with her eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. The room felt too quiet. Her thoughts were loud.

Her family cost me more than just money... they destroyed everything I loved.

Those words kept spinning in her head. Over and over. What had he meant? What did her parents do?

She got up.

The house was dark. The city lights blinked through the tall windows. She walked to the kitchen, and poured a glass of water. Her hands shook a little.

Minutes later she heard Footsteps and she turned.

Andrew stood near the hallway, shirtless, and holding a glass of whiskey. His cold gaze met hers. Cold. It was sharp.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

She didn't answer.

He walked past her. He Set his drink down and Poured another.

"You like wandering around at night?" he added.

"I needed air," she said.

"This place has enough of it," he muttered.

She looked at him.

"Why did you say that?" she asked.

He raised an eyebrow. "Say what?"

"About my family. What they destroyed."

He took a sip and Didn't speak.

"I deserve to know," she pressed.

"No, you don't."

"Why not?"

He turned to her. "Because I said so."

Her eyes narrowed. "You married me. Dragged me into this. I deserve the truth."

"You deserve nothing," he snapped.

She flinched.

He looked away. "Go back to bed."

She didn't move.

He stepped closer. "Do not test me, Sarah."

"You think I'm scared of you?"

"You should be."

His voice was low and Dangerous.

She stared at him. "What happened between our families?"

He turned away. He folded his fist and Picked up his glass.

"The past is buried."

"And you're still bleeding from it."

He froze. Then he walked off without another word.

---

The next morning, Sarah sat across from Andrew at the dining table. Two plates were placed in front of the two. There was silence.

He scrolled through his tablet. She pushed her eggs around.

"We have a gala tonight," he said without looking at her.

"I don't want to go."

"You're not here to want anything," he replied.

She clenched her jaw.

"You'll wear the dress the stylist drops off. You'll stand beside me. You'll smile. That's it."

"No talking?" she asked.

"No thinking," he said coldly.

Later, the stylist arrived. Two women came in with clothes, shoes, and jewelry.

"This will look great on her," one said.

Sarah didn't respond. She let them dress her and Paint her face.

By evening, she stood by the elevator in a silver gown, her hair pulled back. She looked like a stranger.

Andrew walked out of his room in a black tuxedo. He stopped and Looked at her.

"Try not to look like you're being dragged," he said.

"I am."

He ignored her.

They walked towards the garage and They stepped into the car.

At the gala, photographers waited. Cameras flashed. People smiled.

Andrew placed a hand on her waist. It felt like ice.

"Smile," he whispered.

She smiled, but it was fake and tight.

Inside the ballroom, music played. Glasses clinked. Laughter floated.

Andrew moved through the crowd with ease. Sarah followed, nodding, smiling, and pretending.

People stared at her. Some people whispered.

She caught a woman's eyes across the room. The same voice she had heard that night. The ex.

The woman raised her glass, and smirked.

Sarah looked away.

"Why are they all staring?" she asked under her breath.

"Because they know," Andrew replied.

"Know what?"

"That you don't belong."

---

Back at the penthouse, she tore off the dress. Threw the heels aside. She stood barefoot in the middle of her room.

Tears burned behind her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

She sat at the desk, opened her laptop. Typed her father's name. Articles popped up.

"Businessman killed in tragic accident."

"Blake Industries faces collapse after scandal."

She kept digging. She Found a press release from Andrew's company-Luthor Holdings. Dated the same day as her parents' crash.

A deal was terminated.

"All future agreements between Blake Industries and Luthor Holdings are hereby nullified."

Her heart thumped.

It was the Same day.

She clicked on more files. The Financial reports. A leaked document showed that Luthor Holdings lost a major investment after Blake Industries pulled out of a merger.

She scrolled.

A note from an anonymous source.

"Someone inside Blake sabotaged the deal."

Her breath caught.

Was that what Andrew meant?

Did he think her father betrayed him?

And now... she was paying the price.

---

The next few days passed in silence.

Andrew barely spoke. He Only give orders.

She obeyed. She Ate in silence and Smiled in public. But every night, she returned to her laptop. Digging deeper.

One night, as she stepped out of her room, she heard Andrew on the phone.

"No. She doesn't know anything," he said.

There was A long pause.

"She's not a threat... yet."

There was another long pause.

"If she starts digging, we'll shut it down."

She walked away quietly. Her hands were cold.

---

The next morning, she faced him at breakfast.

"Why do you hate my family?" she asked.

He didn't even look up.

"I don't hate them."

"Then why did you marry me?"

"To watch you choke on your own name."

Her chest tightened.

"They betrayed you," she said.

He looked at her now.

"They ruined a deal. Lied and Stole. Then pretended it was an accident."

"You think my parents did that?"

"I know they did."

"Where's your proof?"

He stood up. Tossing his napkin on the plate.

"You want the truth?" he said. "Stay out of it."

She stood too. "No."

He leaned closer. His voice was low.

"Stop digging, Sarah. Or you'll regret it."

She stared at him. "I already do."

---

That night, she couldn't sleep again.

She sat by her desk with her Laptop open. She was Browsing old files, Looking for names, Leaks and Reports.

She searched for people who had worked with both companies. Cross-checked names. Nothing solid.

Then her email pinged.

One new message.

No subject.

She opened it.

No name. Just one line.

"Your parents didn't die by accident. And you're next if you don't stay silent."

Her fingers froze. Her eyes locked on the screen.

The cursor blinked.

She read it again. Then again.

Her body went cold.

Someone was watching. And they didn't want her to know the truth.