The moment the car doors closed behind them, the silence became unbearable.
Amara stared out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur of lights.
Her hands were still shaking.
Someone had just tried to kill them.
Not threaten them.
Not warn them.
Actually kill them.
And their driver had taken the bullet.
The thought made her stomach twist.
The car eventually pulled into a long driveway of Ethan's estate.
Security gates opened automatically.
Guards stood at the entrance.
Amara barely noticed.
The car stopped in front of the mansion.
The driver opened the door for them.
Ethan stepped out first.
Amara followed slowly.
The cool night air hit her face, but it didn't calm the storm building inside her.
They walked into the house.
The moment the doors closed behind them, Amara turned around sharply.
"What the hell was that?"
Her voice cut through the quiet living room.
Ethan paused.
"That," he said calmly, "was an attack."
"Oh, really?" She snapped. "I hadn't noticed."
He studied her expression carefully.
"You're upset."
"Upset?" She repeated incredulously. "Ethan, someone just opened fire on our car."
Her voice rose slightly.
"And our driver got shot!"
"I'm aware of that."
The calmness in his tone made something inside her snap.
"You're aware?" She repeated.
"Yes."
"That man could have died!"
"And I've already arranged for the best medical care possible."
"That's not the point!"
Ethan frowned slightly.
"Then what is?"
Amara threw her hands up.
"This point is that this…" she gestured angrily between them "…is not what I signed up for!"
Her words echoed through the room.
The anger she had been holding in since the attack finally spilled out.
"When you proposed this fake marriage, you didn't mention anything about gunshots."
Ethan remained silent.
"You didn't say anything about being hunted by criminals," she continued.
"You didn't mention corporate conspiracies."
She took a breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"And you definitely didn't say innocent people would get caught in the middle."
The image of the bleeding driver flashed through her mind again.
Her voice lowered slightly.
"That man got shot because of us."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
Amara shook her head slowly.
"I agreed to help you with a business arrangement," she said.
"I didn't agree to become a target."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ethan stepped closer.
His voice was quieter now.
"I didn't expect this either."
She folded her arms.
"That's not very comforting."
"I'm serious."
His gaze held hers.
"I knew Daniel was dangerous. I didn't expect him to escalate things this quickly."
"Or maybe," Amara said sharply, "Daniel isn't the one behind this."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're starting to sound just like me."
"Well maybe I've learnt something from tonight."
She walked toward the large window overlooking the garden.
The estate looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"How bad is this really?" She asked quietly.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
"Ethan."
He sighed slightly.
"Bad."
She turned slowly.
"How bad?"
His voice was calm.
"Someone just attempted an assassination in the middle of the city.
Amara's stomach dropped.
"That's what you call it?"
"Yes."
"An assassination attempt?"
"Yes."
Her laugh was humorless.
"Fantastic."
She rubbed her forehead.
"I should've stayed at home tonight."
Ethan studied her carefully.
"You're scared."
"Of course I'm scared."
She turned toward him again.
"I'm not used to living in a world where people try to kill you over dinner plans."
His expression softened slightly.
"You're safe here."
"Are you sure about that?" She asked.
"Yes."
She gave him a skeptical look.
"Because someone clearly knew exactly where we were tonight."
That thought seemed to bother him.
"Which means," she continued slowly, "someone is watching you."
Ethan didn't respond.
Amara's heart sang slightly.
"You already knew that, didn't you?"
Silence.
"That's why you asked me to stay close to you," she realized.
"Not just for the fake marriage."
Ethan's gaze darkened.
"There are multiple reasons."
Amara shook her head slowly.
"I can't believe this."
She started pacing the room.
"Fake husband. Corporate spies. Assassination attempts."
She looked at him.
"My life was normal before you proposed this contract."
Ethan didn't argue.
"Now someone is shooting at me in the middle of the street."
"You weren't the target."
"Oh, that's comforting," she said dryly.
Ethan suddenly stepped closer.
"Amara."
"What?"
"If you want to leave this arrangement…"
"No," she interrupted him immediately.
He looked slightly surprised.
"I'm not quitting."
Her voice was firm now.
"But things are going to change."
"How?"
She looked him directly in his eyes.
"You stop hiding things from me."
Ethan didn't answer.
"If someone is trying to kill you," she continued, "then I deserve to know why."
Silence filled the room.
Finally, Ethan spoke.
"You want the truth?"
"Yes."
He held her gaze for a long moment.
"The truth," he said quietly,
"Is that project Helix is more dangerous than you think."
Amara's stomach tightened.
"How dangerous?"
Ethan's voice lowered.
"Dangerous enough that people are willing to kill for it."
The words sent a chill down her spine.
Before she could respond, Ethan's phone suddenly vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression darkened immediately.
"What?" Amara asked.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly showed her the message.
Amara read the text.
And her blood ran cold.
The message only said three words.
Next time, we won't miss.