Chapter 7 A ghost from her troubled past

The sun peeked through the tall windows of the Johnson mansion, casting long streaks of light on the polished floors. Emma paced in her room, her mind swirling with what she’d seen in Ethan’s study the night before. She had barely slept, the weight of the folder’s contents pressing heavily on her chest.

Why was my father’s name on those documents?

Her father had been out of her life for years, a ghost from her troubled past she had long tried to forget. Yet, seeing his name listed among suspicious transactions tied to Ethan’s company made her stomach churn with unease.

She clenched her fists. She needed answers, but asking Ethan was out of the question. His icy demeanor and sharp accusations the night before had left no room for trust.

Downstairs, Ethan sat at the breakfast table, staring blankly at the untouched plate of food before him. His mind replayed the scene in his study, Emma standing frozen, guilt written all over her face.

He didn’t believe in coincidences. Emma’s sudden interest in his company’s affairs, combined with Caleb’s warning, only fueled his suspicions.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke his thoughts. He looked up to see Emma entering the room. She hesitated, her eyes flitting toward him before quickly looking away.

“Good morning,” she said quietly, taking a seat at the far end of the table.

Ethan’s gaze remained fixed on her. “Is it?”

Emma stiffened but didn’t respond. She busied herself with pouring tea, her hands trembling slightly.

“You were in my study last night,” Ethan said, his tone cold and direct.

Her hand paused mid-pour, but she quickly resumed, keeping her voice steady. “I was looking for you. I wanted to talk, but you weren’t there.”

He leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes narrowing. “And yet, you found time to rifle through my documents.”

Emma placed the teapot down with a soft clink, her face composed despite the panic bubbling beneath the surface. “I didn’t touch anything. I just saw the folder on your desk and... curiosity got the better of me.”

Ethan’s lips curled into a humorless smile. “Curiosity, huh? You know what they say about curiosity, don’t you?”

“I didn’t mean any harm,” she said firmly, meeting his gaze. “But if you’re hiding something, maybe you should worry less about me and more about whoever’s trying to sabotage you.”

Her words caught him off guard. He studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “What do you know about sabotage?”

“Not much,” she admitted. “But I’m not blind, Ethan. You’ve been on edge ever since the wedding. And now, with Caleb’s warnings...” She trailed off, her brow furrowing.

Ethan’s eyes darkened. “What did Caleb tell you?”

Emma hesitated. She knew Caleb’s suspicions weren’t hers to share, but she also couldn’t ignore the growing tension between them. “Nothing specific. Just that there’s trouble at the company.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Caleb talks too much.”

Later that day, Emma found herself wandering through the sprawling gardens of the estate, seeking solace in the quiet. The cool breeze rustled the leaves, and the scent of blooming roses filled the air.

She needed a plan. Her father’s name being tied to Ethan’s company was more than just an unfortunate coincidence. She had to find out what he was involved in before Ethan uncovered the connection.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. She turned to see Caleb walking toward her, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with something more serious.

“Emma,” he greeted, his voice softer than she expected.

“Caleb,” she replied cautiously. “What brings you out here?”

He gave her a knowing look. “I could ask you the same thing. You seem... distracted.”

Emma forced a smile. “Just needed some air.”

Caleb crossed his arms, studying her. “Does this have anything to do with last night?”

Her smile faltered. “What do you mean?”

“I mean the little stunt you pulled in Ethan’s study,” Caleb said bluntly. “You shouldn’t have gone through his things, Emma. He doesn’t trust easily, and you just gave him another reason to doubt you.”

Emma bristled. “I wasn’t ‘going through his things.’ I happened to see something, and now he’s treating me like a criminal.”

“Ethan has every right to be cautious,” Caleb said, his tone firm. “There’s a lot at stake here. If you care about him at all, you’ll stay out of it.”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t lecture me about caring for Ethan. You don’t know what it’s like to live under his constant suspicion.”

Caleb’s expression softened. “You’re right. I don’t. But I do know Ethan better than most. And trust me, he’s not as unfeeling as he seems. He’s just... guarded.”

Emma shook her head, frustration bubbling over. “Guarded? That’s an understatement. He treats me like I’m the enemy.”

“Maybe because he’s afraid you could be,” Caleb said quietly.

His words struck a nerve. Emma looked away, her mind racing. She wasn’t the enemy, but her father might be. And if Ethan found out...

That evening, Ethan summoned Caleb to his study. The tension between the cousins was palpable as they sat across from each other, the fire casting flickering shadows on their faces.

“Did you talk to Emma?” Ethan asked, his tone sharp.

Caleb nodded. “I did. She’s rattled, but I don’t think she’s hiding anything.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “She’s lying about something. I can feel it.”

Caleb leaned forward. “Ethan, you can’t keep treating her like a suspect. If you push her too hard, you’ll lose whatever chance you have at making this marriage work.”

“This marriage isn’t about feelings,” Ethan said coldly. “It’s about survival—for the company and for me.”

Caleb frowned. “Is that really how you want to live? Suspicious of everyone, trusting no one?”

Ethan didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames.

Later that night, Ethan received an anonymous email. The subject line read: You can’t trust her.

Attached was a single photo, Emma, standing in the gardens with Caleb, her face tense, her posture defensive.

Ethan’s eyes darkened as he stared at the screen. He didn’t know who had sent the message, but one thing was clear: the game was far from over.