CHAPTER 44
William sat on the edge of the bed, the contract spread out on the table before him. The same contract he had drawn up months ago. A fake marriage. No emotions. No strings. Just business.
But now… everything felt wrong.
His hand ran through his hair as he whispered, "It was supposed to be simple."
He heard the door creak open. Liam walked in.
"You're still here," Liam said.
"Barely," William muttered.
"You look like a man who just lost a war."
William scoffed. "I did. With myself."
Liam stepped closer. "You care about her."
William didn't answer.
Liam sighed. "Why is that a problem?"
"Because this marriage is fake. Built on lies. And the moment she finds out the whole truth, she'll hate me. Maybe she already does."
Liam folded his arms. "Then tell her everything. Let her hate the real you, not the version you keep pretending to be."
"I can't," William said. "I don't even know who the real me is anymore."
"You're scared."
William looked up. "Wouldn't you be?"
Liam nodded slowly. "Every day."
The silence stretched between them until William finally stood.
"I have to leave. There's a deal in Europe. One I can't postpone."
"For how long?" Liam asked.
"Two weeks. Maybe more."
"She won't like that."
"She won't care," William replied.
Liam gave him a long look. "You're wrong."
—
Kate stood on the balcony, arms crossed, staring at the city lights. Tina sat behind her, sipping juice, her leg still bandaged.
"You've been quiet," Tina said.
"I'm always quiet now."
Tina chuckled weakly. "Well, William left. So that explains the moody air."
Kate turned slowly. "He didn't even say goodbye."
Tina raised a brow. "He didn't?"
Kate nodded. "Liam told me. Not William."
"Wow," Tina muttered. "That's cold."
Kate sighed. "I thought things were getting better between us. He finally opened up a little… but now it's like he disappeared again."
"Maybe he needed space."
"Or maybe he just needed to run away from me," Kate said, her voice low.
Tina looked at her closely. "You miss him."
"I hate that I do."
"It's not a crime, Kate. You're human."
"I didn't sign up for this. This thing we call a marriage. It was supposed to be fake. So why does it hurt like it's real?"
Tina leaned back. "Because somewhere along the line, it became real."
Kate stared down at her fingers. "He left without a word. No explanation. No goodbye. Just vanished."
"You want him to miss you too?"
Kate nodded slowly. "Yes. I want him to feel even half of what I'm feeling right now."
Tina smiled faintly. "Then that means you're in love with him."
Kate blinked. "No. It doesn't."
Tina didn't say anything.
"I'm not," Kate repeated.
But even she didn't believe that.
—
Later that night, Jeremy's voice echoed through the speaker.
"I think I've found something," he said.
Liam leaned closer to the laptop. "Talk."
"I tracked the burner number Clark used last. It pinged near a warehouse in East Ridge."
"That's close," Liam said. "Too close."
"I know. And listen to this," Jeremy said, tapping keys. "There's a property registered to a fake name—same address. I ran it through a shell company. Guess who owns it?"
"Who?"
"Your dear uncle. Robert."
Liam's jaw clenched. "That bastard's still hiding secrets."
"You want me to dig deeper?" Jeremy asked.
"Dig till you find the bones," Liam growled.
"And Kate?"
"I'll tell her. But not until I know what exactly we're dealing with."
Jeremy paused. "She already suspects, Liam. She's not stupid."
"I know. But I'm not losing anyone else. Not her. Not Tina."
"Then you better move fast. Because if Clark's nearby, he's planning something."
Liam looked at the screen, eyes sharp. "And this time, I'll be ready."
—
Meanwhile, in the dark mansion, Kate and Tina sat on the couch. A movie played, but neither of them watched.
"I thought this place would feel safer," Tina murmured.
Kate replied, "It's just quieter. Not safer."
"You've changed, Kate."
"So have you."
"No," Tina said. "I've always been this way. I just didn't show it. But you… you're softer now. Sadder."
Kate looked down. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No. It just means you care."
Kate turned her head toward the front door. "I keep hoping I'll see him walk in."
Tina followed her gaze. "Maybe he will."
Kate exhaled. "Or maybe I'll walk out first."
William was still in his office, packing the last files he would need for the trip. His fingers trembled slightly, but he refused to embrace it. He zipped the folder and was about to stand when the door opened.
Kate.
She stood there, her arms crossed, face unreadable. "So it's true. You're leaving."
He hesitated. "Liam told you?"
"No. Tina did. I figured Liam wouldn't bother."
William looked away. "It's just for a deal, Kate. I'll be back."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
"The point is," she stepped closer, her voice low, "you couldn't even look me in the eyes and tell me."
"I didn't want to complicate things."
"Too late for that," she said, her tone sharp. "You left me wondering if I did something wrong. Again."
William met her eyes. "You didn't."
"Then why the silence? Why the distance? You hold me like you need me. Then you push me away like I mean nothing."
He inhaled deeply. "Because this wasn't supposed to be real. You weren't supposed to matter to me."
"But I do."
He didn't answer.
She shook her head. "That's what I thought."
"I'm trying to protect you, Kate."
"From what? You? Or the truth?"
He stepped forward. "Everything. The more you know, the more you'll hate me."
"I'd rather hate the truth than love a lie."
William clenched his jaw. "You think this is easy for me? I'm trying to handle business, my past, my enemies—"
"And I'm your wife, William. Even if it's on paper. I deserve to know what's going on."
He paused, his expression softening. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"You already are."
He stared at her for a moment. Then whispered, "I'll be back. Two weeks."
"You really think we'll be the same by then?"
"I don't know."
She looked away. "I won't wait forever."
He nodded slowly. "I don't expect you to."
She turned to go, then stopped. "I miss the version of you who looked at me like I mattered."
William replied quietly, "I miss him too."
—
After William left, the mansion felt colder.
Tina walked into the living room, a tray in hand. "Made us some tea. Thought it might warm the silence."
Kate smiled faintly. "Thanks."
They sat together, the rain tapping lightly on the windows.
"You okay?" Tina asked, sipping.
Kate nodded, then paused. "No. I'm not."
"I figured."
"He left again. No goodbye. Just… walked away."
Tina looked at her. "He's scared."
"Of me?"
"Of what he's feeling."
Kate sighed. "I want to stop caring. But every time I try, I remember how he kissed my forehead after I had that nightmare. Or how he wraps the blanket around me when he thinks I'm asleep."
Tina smiled. "You fell hard."
"I didn't mean to. I didn't even want to."
"Love never asks for permission."
Kate chuckled softly. "You sound like a romance novel."
"I read too many," Tina grinned. "Helps with heartbreak."
They sat in silence again.
"You're healing, right?" Kate asked.
"Slowly. Leg's better. Heart… not so much."
Kate nodded. "I get it."
—
Meanwhile, at Liam's apartment, Jeremy had just returned with a laptop in hand.
"I broke into a secure server," Jeremy said. "Took me hours."
Liam leaned forward. "Tell me you found something."
"Oh, I did. Clark's not alone. There's someone big backing him. Military-grade equipment, offshore accounts. Clean records. This guy knows how to stay hidden."
"Who is it?"
Jeremy tapped a few keys. A blurry image popped up.
"Couldn't get a name yet. But he met with Clark three nights ago."
Liam stared at the screen. "That looks like an airfield."
"Private one. East Ridge."
"Coordinates?"
Jeremy passed him a paper. "Right there."
Liam stood. "We go tonight."
Jeremy frowned. "Shouldn't we inform William?"
"He's gone. He's in Europe."
Jeremy blinked. "Seriously?"
Liam nodded. "Kate's upset. Tina's recovering. Clark's getting bolder. We can't wait."
Jeremy sighed. "Alright. Then let's end this."
—
Back in the mansion, Kate sat in William's study. His scent still lingered. She ran her fingers along the books on the shelf and then found a file hidden behind one of them.
She opened it slowly.
Inside were pictures. Receipts. Documents. Names.
Robert. Clark. Dray Corp stocks. Everything linked.
Her heart pounded. "What the hell is this?"
Suddenly, Tina entered. "Kate?"
Kate quickly closed the folder. "Yeah?"
"You okay?"
Kate forced a smile. "I will be."
But in her mind, something clicked.
William had been hiding something. Something big.
And now, she had to know what it was.