After my encounter with Derek, the weight of his words pressed heavily on my mind. The Stone family, an ancient contract, and the complex history between our families—it all felt like a puzzle with too many missing pieces. Derek's presence unsettled me, but what he revealed couldn't be ignored. If there really was a contract between the Carter and Stone families, I needed answers.
I returned to the estate, my steps heavy as I made my way through the hallways of the Carter mansion. There was only one person I trusted to tell me the truth—my aunt, Rebecca Carter. She was the only one in this family who had ever shown me real kindness. Maybe she could help me make sense of all this.
As I entered the family library, I found her seated at a large, wooden desk, flipping through a thick family history book. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, but as soon as she saw me, her face softened.
"Emma," she said gently, "you look troubled. What's on your mind?"
I sat down across from her, the weight of the day's revelations swirling in my mind. "I met someone in the woods earlier today," I began, my voice tentative. "His name is Derek Stone. He said something about an old contract between the Carter and Stone families. He spoke about our families' complicated history, and now I'm confused. I need to know—what is the truth about this contract?"
At the mention of Derek Stone, Rebecca's expression shifted. Her face became more serious, and she let out a quiet sigh, placing her book aside.
"The Stone family..." she murmured, as if the very name brought back painful memories. "Emma, there is a lot about our family's past that has been deliberately kept hidden from you. I've always believed you had a right to know, but others in the family—well, they think it's best to protect you from certain truths."
Her words sent a shiver down my spine. "What is it that I need to know, Rebecca?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rebecca took a deep breath before continuing. "Decades ago, the Carter and Stone families were bitter rivals. We competed for land, resources, and influence. The conflict between our families nearly destroyed us both. In an effort to avoid complete ruin, a contract was drawn up—one that would secure a fragile peace. This contract involved... much more than just an agreement over land or money. It also involved a marriage alliance."
I felt my stomach drop. "A marriage alliance?" I echoed, the pieces slowly falling into place.
Rebecca nodded. "Yes. The original contract stipulated that a member of the Carter family would marry a member of the Stone family. This was meant to bind the two families together, to ensure lasting peace and cooperation. But things didn't go as planned. Over the years, the Stone family's power waned, and the terms of the contract were never fully fulfilled."
Her words hung in the air, the weight of their implications crushing down on me. So my marriage to Logan Blackwood—was it not just a political move within our family? Could it be part of this ancient agreement?
Before I could ask another question, the door to the library swung open with a loud creak. Standing in the doorway was my uncle, Jonathan Carter. His sharp eyes flicked between Rebecca and me, suspicion etched into every line of his face.
"What are you two talking about?" he asked, his tone hard and unwelcoming.
Rebecca stiffened but didn't answer immediately. She glanced at me, her eyes urging caution. I hesitated but knew Jonathan wasn't someone who could be easily deceived.
"We were discussing the Stone family," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Derek Stone came to me today. He mentioned an old contract between our families."
At the mention of the Stone family, Jonathan's expression twisted into a sneer. "The Stones are irrelevant," he said coldly. "They're a dying breed, clinging to the past. Their family lost everything a long time ago. You'd do well to forget whatever nonsense Derek Stone told you."
"But he spoke of a contract," I pressed, not ready to drop the subject. "If it exists, I deserve to know about it."
Jonathan crossed the room to the window, his back to us as he stared out at the estate's vast grounds. "The contract means nothing anymore," he said flatly. "The Stones have been reduced to near nothing, grasping at straws to reclaim the power they once had. They're using this so-called 'contract' as a desperate attempt to regain what they lost. You shouldn't waste your time entertaining their delusions."
His words were dismissive, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than Jonathan was letting on. Derek didn't strike me as someone clinging to a fading past—he seemed sharp, calculated, and far from powerless.
"I don't think it's that simple," I said, my voice firmer now. "Derek Stone is here for a reason, and I doubt it's just to talk about long-lost family contracts. There's something more going on."
Jonathan finally turned to face me, his eyes cold and calculating. "Emma, your duty is to this family. You need to focus on what's ahead—your marriage to Logan, and the future of the Carter family. The Stones are irrelevant to that future. Don't let them distract you from what truly matters."
His words felt like a chain tightening around me, constricting my every move. I knew Jonathan wouldn't willingly tell me more, and Rebecca, despite her desire to help, seemed reluctant to say anything further in his presence.
After Jonathan left the library, I remained seated, my thoughts swirling. Rebecca stayed silent for a moment before finally speaking, her voice quiet.
"Jonathan has always believed in keeping certain truths hidden," she said, her gaze far away. "He thinks it protects the family, but I know it only breeds more secrets. I want to help you, Emma, but you need to be careful. There are forces at play here that you may not fully understand yet."
I looked at her, my heart heavy. "What should I do, Rebecca? I don't know if I can trust Derek, and even Logan's true intentions are unclear to me."
Rebecca reached out and gently placed her hand over mine, her touch comforting. "Trust yourself, Emma. In this family, everyone has their own game to play—Derek and Logan included. But you must stay true to what you believe. Don't let them manipulate you."
Her words gave me a small measure of peace, but the uncertainty of my situation still weighed on me. As I walked back to my room, I felt the enormity of my family's history and the impending marriage pressing down on me like never before. The pieces were slowly coming together, but there were still so many shadows lurking, so many unanswered questions.
As I looked out the window into the growing darkness, I realized I wasn't just part of a family—I was part of a legacy. A legacy filled with secrets, alliances, and betrayals. And whether I liked it or not, I was already caught in the middle of it all.