I didn't sleep that night.
Daniel's words kept circling through my mind.
If you don't, you might regret it.
It wasn't the first threat I had received since my father discovered Adrian.
But somehow, it felt different.
Daniel knew something.
Something he wasn't telling me.
At dawn, I got out of bed and walked to my window. The gates below were still guarded. The house was quiet.
Then I noticed something on the floor beneath my bedroom door.
A white envelope.
My heart began to race.
I picked it up.
There was no name on it.
No address.
Nothing.
I looked down the hallway.
Empty.
I quickly locked my door and opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
My hands trembled as I read it.
You are looking for the wrong person.
I frowned.
Below that was another sentence.
Adrian isn't the reason your father wants this marriage.
I read it again.
And again.
Then I turned the page over.
There was another message.
Find out what happened ten years ago. Ask about the Morgan family.
My heart pounded.
Ten years ago?
What had happened?
I immediately searched through my phone for anything about the Morgan family.
Nothing.
I knew Daniel was wealthy. I knew his family had business connections with my father.
But I knew nothing about their history.
That was the problem.
I had been so focused on Adrian that I hadn't bothered asking why my father had chosen Daniel.
I suddenly heard footsteps.
I shoved the letter under my mattress.
The door opened.
My father stood there.
"Get ready."
"For what?"
"You're meeting Daniel."
"I don't want to."
He ignored me.
"The wedding planner will be here at ten."
"I said I don't want this wedding."
His eyes hardened.
"You've said enough."
He turned to leave.
"Father."
He stopped.
"Why Daniel?"
He didn't turn around.
"Because he's the right man for you."
"That's not an answer."
"It is the only answer you're getting."
He walked out.
I waited until his footsteps disappeared.
Then I pulled the letter from beneath my mattress.
Something wasn't right.
Ten years ago.
The Morgan family.
My father's sudden determination to marry me to Daniel.
And Adrian's disappearance.
They had to be connected somehow.
Later that morning, Daniel arrived.
I watched him from the staircase as he spoke with my father.
They looked comfortable together.
Too comfortable.
Daniel glanced up and saw me.
He smiled.
"Good morning."
I forced myself downstairs.
"Morning."
My father looked between us.
"You two should spend some time together."
"I have nothing to say to him."
Daniel smiled.
"That's okay. I have plenty to say to you."
I looked at him suspiciously.
He gestured toward the garden.
"Walk with me."
I followed reluctantly.
Once we were outside, he stopped.
"You received something this morning."
My heart froze.
"How do you know?"
He looked at me calmly.
"Because I sent it."
I stared at him.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you're asking the wrong questions."
I stepped closer.
"What happened ten years ago?"
His expression changed.
For the first time, Daniel looked nervous.
"You found the letter."
"Answer me."
He looked around before lowering his voice.
"Your father and my father made a deal."
"What deal?"
"I don't know everything."
"Then tell me what you know."
He hesitated.
"Your father promised something."
"What?"
Daniel looked directly into my eyes.
"Your marriage."
My stomach dropped.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It was arranged years ago."
"Before I even met you?"
"Before you knew Adrian existed."
I stepped backward.
"Why?"
Daniel didn't answer.
"Why me?"
He looked away.
"Because of what your father did."
My blood ran cold.
"What did he do?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I can't tell you."
"Then why send me the letter?"
"Because I don't want you walking into this marriage without knowing the truth."
I stared at him.
"Are you warning me?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Then help me."
He looked at me for several seconds.
"I can give you one clue."
I waited.
"Look into the old fire."
"What fire?"
He walked away.
"Daniel!"
He stopped.
"What old fire?"
He turned around.
"The fire that destroyed everything ten years ago."
Then he left me standing alone in the garden.
I couldn't move.
Ten years ago.
A fire.
A secret agreement.
My father's enemy.
Daniel's family.
And somehow, my future had been decided long before I ever fell in love with Adrian.
I looked toward the house.
For the first time, I wondered whether my father had known all along that I would eventually meet Adrian.
And if he had…
Had my love story been part of his plan from the beginning?