Chapter 4: The Fire Beneath the Ice

Emma sat on the edge of the guest room bed, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her dress. The silence of the mansion felt suffocating. The opulence of the place, with its marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and towering windows, was nothing short of breathtaking. Yet, it wasn’t warmth she felt here, only coldness, mirroring the man she was now tied to.

Ethan Johnson.

The once-mighty heir of Johnson Enterprises now a broken shadow of his former self. Emma had heard the stories—the car accident that had shattered not only his legs but his place in society. It wasn’t pity she felt for him, but anger at the world for discarding him like a broken toy. Still, when she had signed the marriage contract, she hadn’t expected him to be this cold, this resentful, this… lonely.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.

“Come in,” she called hesitantly.

One of the house staff stepped in, their posture stiff. “Mrs. Carter, oh, apologies, Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Ethan has requested your presence in the study.”

Emma’s chest tightened. What now? She nodded, standing, her movements hesitant.

Ethan sat in the study, the firelight casting flickering shadows across his face. His dark eyes were unreadable as they focused on the papers in his hand. When Emma walked in, he didn’t look up.

“You called for me?” she asked, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach.

He finally lifted his gaze, his piercing stare making her feel exposed. “Sit.”

She obeyed, her back straight, refusing to let his commanding tone intimidate her.

“I’ve been reviewing the terms of this marriage,” he began, his voice icy. “Do you understand what this means, Emma?”

“I know it wasn’t our choice,” she said carefully. “But it’s what we’re stuck with.”

His lips curled into a bitter smile. “Stuck with. Interesting choice of words.” He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped. “Let me make something clear. This marriage is a transaction. I don’t expect anything from you, nor should you expect anything from me. Stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

Emma’s jaw clenched. “Is that what you think? That I’m just here to… exist in your shadow? I didn’t ask for this either, Ethan, but I’m not a ghost. I’m your wife now, whether you like it or not.”

His eyes darkened, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. “And what exactly do you expect from me, Emma? A husband? Someone to love you?” He laughed, the sound hollow. “You’re delusional if you think that’s who I am.”

She stood, anger bubbling in her chest. “You think you’re the only one who’s been hurt? The only one who’s been abandoned? I’ve spent my whole life being overlooked, unloved, treated like I didn’t matter. So don’t you dare act like you’re the only one who’s suffered, Ethan Johnson.”

His expression froze, her words hitting a nerve. For a moment, the room was silent except for the crackling of the fire.

Then he spoke, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t know anything about me, Emma. You don’t know what I’ve lost.”

She stepped closer, her gaze fierce. “Then tell me. Show me who you really are. Stop hiding behind this wall of bitterness.”

His hand slammed against the armrest of his wheelchair, his frustration boiling over. “Get out,” he growled.

But she didn’t move. Instead, she crouched down, her face level with his. “You can push me away all you want, Ethan, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m your wife, remember?” Her voice softened. “I’m not your enemy.”

For a split second, something in his eyes shifted—a flicker of vulnerability, quickly buried beneath the cold mask he wore so well.

Before either of them could say another word, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. The door burst open, and one of Ethan’s assistants stumbled in, his face pale.

“Sir—Mr. Johnson—there’s a problem,” the man stammered.

“What now?” Ethan snapped, his patience clearly fraying.

The assistant hesitated, his eyes darting nervously toward Emma before focusing back on Ethan. “It’s… it’s about the company. There’s been a breach.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened, his hands gripping the armrests of his wheelchair. “What kind of breach?”

The assistant swallowed hard. “It’s internal. Someone accessed confidential files… and leaked them.”

Emma’s heart skipped a beat. She could see the storm brewing in Ethan’s eyes, his mind already racing to figure out who had dared betray him.

“Get out,” he barked, and the assistant scurried away without another word.

As the door clicked shut, Ethan’s gaze turned to Emma, sharp and accusing. “I knew this marriage would bring nothing but problems,” he spat. “What do you know about this?”

Emma’s eyes widened in shock. “What? You think I had something to do with this?”

“You’re the only new element in my life,” he said coldly. “Until you arrived, things were under control. Now, everything’s falling apart.”

Her hands clenched into fists. “That’s ridiculous! I’ve done nothing but try to help you—”

“Help?” He laughed bitterly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t flatter yourself, Emma. You’re just another pawn in this game, just like me.”

The sting of his words left her momentarily speechless. She turned on her heel, storming out of the room, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and hurt.

As she walked down the hall, her thoughts racing, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something much bigger was at play. The breach, the tension in the house… something wasn’t right.

And she was determined to find out the truth.

In the shadows of the mansion, someone watched Emma’s retreating figure, a sinister smile playing on their lips. The leak wasn’t an accident, it was a carefully orchestrated plan. And Emma was about to find herself caught in the crossfire of a war she didn’t even know existed.