When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 165

Ethan

I walked through the lobby of Black Investment Group, still thinking about those quarterly reports from this morning. The numbers looked decent, but something was bugging me about the Asian markets division.

That's when I heard this obnoxious chattering from the front desk crew. They were huddled together like high schoolers, their voices bouncing off the marble.

"Oh my God, did you see that ring Noah gave her? That's gotta be a two-million-dollar Tiffany!" The blonde receptionist—Sarah? Sandra?—was practically bouncing.

"I heard he had it made special months ago. So it wasn't some spur-of-the-moment thing," another one said, waving her phone around.

"She just vanished for like forever, and now we find out she was off getting engaged! Ugh, I wish I could disappear and come back with a millionaire fiancé," the third one sighed.

I felt my jaw clench. Checked my watch—11:30 a.m. These people were on my payroll to work, not gossip about celebrities. I walked over, and their faces went from excited to terrified the second they spotted me.

"Looks like you all have plenty of time for celebrity gossip on company time," I said, keeping my voice flat and cold. "Michael."

Michael practically jogged over from the coffee station, his tie crooked. "Sir, I was just—"

"Take fifteen percent off their quarterly bonuses," I said, loud enough for the whole group to hear. Had to make a point. "And we need to talk about how you're managing this floor. This is unacceptable."

The employees scattered like I'd fired a gun. Michael and I got in the elevator, and I could feel him sweating bullets next to me during the ride up.

In my office, with all of Manhattan spread out below, Michael cleared his throat like he was about to ask for a raise.

"Sir, about the employees—"

"What?" I didn't look up from my screen.

"I was thinking... maybe you should consider doing a proper proposal for Amelia," he said carefully. "Your wedding was pretty quick, and your initial... approach wasn't exactly..." He let it hang there.

I looked up sharp. "You saying I didn't treat my wife right?" It came out harsher than I meant, but the truth stung.

Michael shifted around, messing with his tie. "I'm just saying maybe a romantic gesture would be nice. Especially after Noah's whole public thing. Every woman wants to feel special, you know?"

I didn't shut him down immediately. Actually leaned back and thought about it. The idea of surprising Amelia with something meaningful, seeing her face light up... that hit me somewhere unexpected. I'd been so focused on fixing my past mistakes that I hadn't thought about making new, better memories.

"I'll think about it. Get out."

After Michael left, I sat there staring at the city. I'd built this whole empire by being relentless and focused. Amelia deserved way better than the cold, business-deal marriage I'd originally given her—the one that somehow became the most important thing in my world.

Someone knocked. Michael came back in looking even more nervous, holding an envelope.

"Didn't I just tell you to leave?" I said, annoyed as I signed the last contract on my desk.

"Sir, this just arrived," he said, holding out this old, yellowed envelope and a small package. "Sir, this just arrived... from Harrison... He left this and said it was urgent."

My irritation vanished. "He's gone already?"

"Yes, sir. Left this and said you needed to see it immediately."

I took the envelope. There was a faded "6" written on it in old ink. The paper felt ancient, like it might crumble if I looked at it wrong. I opened the letter first:

"Dear Mr. Black,

Forgive my silence all these years. Now that I see you and Ms. Amelia Thompson are truly happy, I've decided to share this secret I kept for William before I leave town. Whether you tell Amelia after watching is your call.

—Harrison"

My heart started racing. I opened the package and found some old, spotted papers and a USB drive. I stared at it for a long moment, getting this sick feeling in my stomach.

I plugged the drive into my computer, hesitating before opening the files. 501 videos. The early ones showed Amelia's life—birthdays, school events, moments William wanted to remember. A younger Amelia smiled from the screen, with the same determined look in her eyes she has now.

I couldn't watch them all right now, so I clicked on the last video. When William's face appeared—gaunt and exhausted but with eyes full of love and regret—my chest tightened.

"Amelia, after you watch this, you might hate your grandfather..."

I made myself watch the whole thing, my hands actually shaking. The truth about her mother's death was worse than anything I'd imagined. When it ended, I just sat there in silence, feeling like William's confession was suffocating me.

I yanked out the USB and shoved it back in the envelope. I'd planned to show this to Amelia right away, but now... she'd been through enough hell. This would destroy her. Not yet, I decided, locking the envelope in my desk drawer. Not until I figured out how to tell her without completely breaking her.

I checked my watch—time to pick up Amelia from the hospital. I straightened my tie, trying to pull myself together, but William's words kept echoing in my head.

---

Sitting outside the hospital, I was still messed up from William's message. The truth explained everything about her mother's death—and pointed fingers at people Amelia still had to face every day. I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice her walking up until she tapped on the window, her white coat bright against the gray afternoon.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked when I rolled down the window, pointing at the door lock with a tired smile.

I snapped back to reality and hit the unlock button. "Sorry, just work stuff on my mind." The lie felt like sandpaper in my throat, but I couldn't dump this on her. Not yet.

When Amelia slid into the passenger seat, bringing that mix of hospital antiseptic and her perfume, I deliberately changed the subject. "Noah's proposal was something else, wasn't it? Pretty romantic stuff."

"It really was," she agreed, studying my face with that way she has of seeing right through my bullshit. "Olivia was practically glowing. Kept staring at that ring like she couldn't believe it was real."

"All the romance a girl could want," I said quietly, then turned to look at her, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "The romance I never gave you... I'm going to fix that. You and the kids deserve everything."

Amelia smiled and caught my hand, her touch warm and steady. "We already have what matters most—Lucas and Ella. Everything else is just icing on the cake."

I looked at her, feeling my chest get tight in a way I never knew was possible before she came into my life. Leaning closer, I said quietly, "Mrs. Black, you have no idea how much I love you."