The wind carried the faint rustle of leaves as Sophie walked through the quiet grounds of the Harper estate. The moon hung high, casting silver light over the sprawling gardens. Her heart was heavy, her thoughts a tangled mess of doubt and questions. She clutched her phone tightly, replaying her conversation with Victor in her mind.
His warning about the Harpers lingered, but it had only fueled her resolve to uncover the truth. Ethan's cryptic words, the documents in Maxwell's study, the cold control of Charlotte—it all pointed to something bigger than she had anticipated. And if she was going to marry into this family, she needed to know what she was walking into.
The next morning, Sophie made her way to the study. She had waited for the house to settle, for Maxwell and Charlotte to leave for their meetings, and for Daniel to busy himself elsewhere. She had to move quickly and quietly.
Pushing the heavy door open, she stepped inside, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. The room smelled faintly of leather and cedar, and the sunlight streaming through the tall windows highlighted the dust motes swirling in the air. The desk stood at the center, its surface cluttered with papers, a laptop, and a locked drawer that drew her attention.
She tried the handle, her pulse quickening when it didn't budge. Glancing around, she spotted a small key resting on the edge of a bookshelf. It felt almost too easy, but she didn't have time to second-guess it. Unlocking the drawer, she pulled it open to reveal a stack of folders and a flash drive.
Her hands trembled as she sifted through the papers. Financial statements, property records, legal agreements—most of it looked routine at first glance, but then she spotted a series of transactions that didn't add up. The sums were enormous, the recipients hidden behind shell companies with generic names. One name caught her eye repeatedly: Grove Holdings. It was underlined in red ink on one of the documents.
"What are you doing in here?"
Sophie froze, the sound of Daniel's voice sending a jolt of panic through her. She spun around, clutching the folder to her chest. Daniel stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
"I—" she stammered, searching for an excuse. "I was looking for a pen."
"A pen?" he repeated, his tone skeptical.
"Yes," she said, forcing a nervous laugh. "For the wedding planner. I couldn't find one anywhere else."
Daniel stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as they darted to the open drawer behind her. "That's my father's desk."
"I know," Sophie said quickly, trying to sound casual. "I didn't mean to pry. I just—"
"Just what?" he asked, his voice firm.
Sophie hesitated, her mind racing. She couldn't tell him the truth—not yet. "I was curious," she admitted, her voice softer. "About the family business."
Daniel sighed, his tension easing slightly. "You should've asked me. My father doesn't take kindly to people going through his things."
"I'm sorry," Sophie said, lowering her gaze. "It won't happen again."
Daniel studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Just be careful," he said, his voice quieter now. "This family isn't always as welcoming as it seems."
That evening, Sophie sat in her room, the folder hidden beneath a pile of clothes in her suitcase. Her conversation with Daniel replayed in her mind, his warning echoing Ethan's in a way that sent a chill through her.
Unable to shake the feeling of unease, she pulled out her phone and texted Victor: I found something. Grove Holdings. Does that mean anything to you?
The reply came quickly: Yes. Be careful. I'll look into it.
Sophie exhaled shakily, her fingers gripping the phone. She had thought the Harpers were simply a powerful family with a tight grip on their empire. But the more she uncovered, the more she realized just how deep their secrets ran.
The next day, Sophie found herself alone in the kitchen, sipping coffee as she scrolled through her phone. The silence was a welcome reprieve, but it didn't last long.
"You're up early."
She glanced up to see Ethan leaning against the doorframe, his expression as infuriatingly smug as ever. "Do you ever knock?" she asked, her tone sharper than intended.
Ethan grinned. "Why bother? This is technically my house too."
Sophie rolled her eyes, setting her mug down. "What do you want, Ethan?"
"To help," he said simply, stepping into the room.
She raised an eyebrow. "Help with what?"
"Whatever it is you're digging into," he replied, his tone dropping slightly. "You're in over your head, Sophie."
Her chest tightened. "What makes you think I'm digging into anything?"
Ethan smirked. "Because you're terrible at hiding it. And because I've been down this road before."
Sophie hesitated, her instincts screaming at her not to trust him. But the weight of what she'd uncovered—and the questions she couldn't answer alone—made her pause. "Fine," she said reluctantly. "What do you know about Grove Holdings?"
Ethan's smirk vanished, replaced by a shadow of something darker. "More than I'd like to."
"Then tell me," Sophie pressed, her voice firmer. "What is it?"
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's a front. For laundering money, hiding assets, covering up deals that would ruin this family if they ever came to light."
Her stomach dropped. "Why would Maxwell do that?"
"Because power is addictive," Ethan said quietly. "And he'll do whatever it takes to keep it."
The revelation sat heavily between them, the room silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. Sophie felt a surge of anger, fear, and determination all at once. She had walked into this family blind, but she wasn't going to let them control her.
"What do I do now?" she asked, her voice steady.
"You be smart," Ethan said, his gaze serious. "And you don't trust anyone. Not even Daniel."
Sophie frowned. "Daniel wouldn't—"
"Daniel doesn't know half of what goes on," Ethan interrupted. "And the half he does know? He's been conditioned to ignore it."
The words stung, but Sophie couldn't deny the possibility. She had seen Daniel's willingness to toe the family line, his reluctance to question Maxwell or Charlotte. If what Ethan said was true, how deep was Daniel in all of this?
As the day wore on, Sophie couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Every glance from Charlotte felt sharper, every interaction with Maxwell more calculated. Even Daniel's kindness carried a weight that unsettled her.
That night, as she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She reached for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Victor's name.
Grove Holdings is bad news. Be careful who you trust. I'll dig deeper.
Sophie's grip on the phone tightened, her chest tightening. The past was starting to unravel, and with it, the Harpers' pristine facade. But the deeper she dug, the more dangerous it felt.
And she was begi
nning to realize that there might be no way out.