THE WRONG HEIR'S BRIDE

lieve you harmed Ethan Cole." She looked back at him. "Then what do you believe?" "I believe you are hiding something." Amelia felt her heartbeat quicken. Her father's investigation. The flash drive. The recording. Secrets. Far too many secrets. "So are you," she replied. For the first time, Adrian almost smiled. "You're learning." A strange silence settled between them. Neither seemed eager to end it. Finally, Adrian spoke. "Come with me tomorrow." "Where?" "Blackwood Estate." Amelia stared. "You said your father owns it." "He does." "Then why would we go there?" "Because someone broke into the property yesterday." A chill traveled down her spine. "What?" "My security team discovered signs of forced entry." Amelia immediately thought of her father's recording. The evidence isn't inside the Kingston company. It's hidden beneath Blackwood. Someone else knew. Someone else was searching. "When do we leave?" she asked. "Seven in the morning." He opened the car door. Then paused. "Amelia." "Yes?" "Don't tell anyone where we're going." Before she could ask why, he entered the car and drove away. Amelia barely slept. By six thirty the following morning, she stood near the front entrance dressed simply in dark jeans and a cream sweater. Victoria appeared from the kitchen. "You're leaving early." Amelia hesitated. "I'm meeting Adrian." Victoria smiled faintly. "I never imagined saying this, but I think that's becoming a good thing." Amelia almost laughed. "You barely know him." "Neither do you." Victoria approached. "But when he was here yesterday, he watched everyone except you." Amelia frowned. "What does that mean?" "It means he trusts you more than he realizes." Before Amelia could respond, headlights illuminated the driveway. Adrian had arrived. The journey to Blackwood took almost two hours. Most of it passed in silence. Amelia watched the countryside unfold beyond the window. Eventually, she spoke. "Why did your father keep Blackwood?" Adrian kept his eyes on the road. "My mother loved the estate." "Did he love her?" The question escaped before Amelia could stop herself. Adrian was quiet for several seconds. "I don't know." "That's a sad answer." "Most truths are." Amelia glanced at him. "You really don't talk about your family, do you?" "No." "Why?" "Because discussing the past doesn't change it." The finality in his voice ended the conversation. Shortly afterward, the estate appeared. Blackwood was magnificent. A sprawling stone manor surrounded by ancient trees and rolling hills. Despite its