The cold marble of the mansion felt like ice under my feet, a sharp contrast to the heat of the argument still ringing in my ears. Living with a billionaire wasn't just about the luxury or the high-end cars; it was a game of chess where I didn't even know all the rules yet.
"You're hiding something," Alexander's voice cut through the silence. He was leaning against the doorframe of the library, his expensive silk shirt unbuttoned at the collar. His eyes, usually as hard as flint, were narrowed in suspicion.
I tightened my grip on the medical journal I was carrying. "We have a contract, Alexander. My private thoughts aren't part of the deal."
He took a step closer, the scent of expensive sandalwood and power surrounding him. "The contract says you act as my spouse. It doesn't say you get to sneak into my father's old study at midnight. What were you looking for?"
I felt my pulse quicken. I couldn't tell him the truth—that I had found a letter linking his family's wealth to the clinic where I used to work. If he knew I was investigating the 'Ancient Pulse' mystery, the contract would be the least of my worries.
"I couldn't sleep," I lied, my voice steady despite the hammer in my chest. "The house is too quiet. It feels like a golden cage."
For a moment, his expression softened. He reached out, his thumb grazing my jawline. The touch was electric, a reminder that despite the lies, the tension between us was very real. "In this world, the cage is the only thing that keeps you safe," he whispered.
Just as the silence between us began to shift into something more dangerous, his phone vibrated on the mahogany table. He glanced at the screen, and his face turned pale.
"What is it?" I asked.
Alexander didn't answer immediately. He looked at me, then back at the phone. "My Aunt is coming. And she's not coming alone. She's bringing the lawyer who drafted the original agreement."
The room felt smaller. If the lawyer was coming, it meant the secret about our 'marriage' was under threat. I realized then that my mission to find the truth about the medical empire was now on a collision course with the Billionaire's darkest family secrets.
"Get ready," Alexander said, his voice cold again. "The game just got a lot more complicated."
I watched him walk away, knowing that Chapter 52 was only the beginning of a much deeper mystery. I had to protect my heart, but I also had to find the truth—no matter the cost.