Married to my enemy's Brother

The Carter's House

The drive to the Carter estate was silent.

I sat in the back seat beside Daniel, staring through the window as the city lights disappeared behind us.

Neither of us spoke.

The strange warning at the reception kept repeating in my mind.

Ask your husband what really happened to your family.

Who had said it?

Why had the lights gone out?

And why had Daniel looked terrified?

I turned toward him.

He was staring straight ahead.

“Daniel.”

He glanced at me.

“What?”

“Who locked the doors?”

“I don't know.”

“Who turned off the lights?”

“I don't know.”

“Who mentioned my family?”

His jaw tightened.

“I don't know.”

I stared at him.

“You don't know a lot for a man who is supposed to be protecting me.”

His eyes met mine.

“I never said I could protect you from everything.”

“Then what can you protect me from?”

He didn't answer.

The car continued through the night.

After several minutes, he finally spoke.

“From making the wrong assumptions.”

I almost laughed.

“That's convenient.”

“Sofia.”

“No. You don't get to tell me to stay calm after what happened tonight.”

“I know.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

His expression hardened.

“There are things I can't explain yet.”

“Can't or won't?”

“Both.”

I looked away.

At least he was honest about that.

The gates of the Carter estate appeared ahead.

They opened slowly.

I had seen pictures of the Carter mansion in magazines, but photographs hadn't prepared me for the reality.

The property was enormous.

Tall iron gates surrounded perfectly trimmed gardens. Stone paths led toward a massive white mansion with tall windows, balconies, and golden lights glowing from inside.

It didn't look like a home.

It looked like a kingdom.

The car stopped at the entrance.

A staff member opened my door.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Carter.”

The words made me pause.

Home.

This wasn't my home.

Not yet.

Maybe never.

I stepped out.

Daniel came around the other side.

He stood beside me as we entered the mansion.

The foyer was even more impressive than the exterior. A grand staircase curved toward the upper floor, while enormous paintings covered the walls.

People moved quietly through the house.

Servants.

Security officers.

Staff members.

Everyone seemed to know exactly who I was.

Everyone was watching me.

Daniel noticed.

“Don't let them bother you.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“You'll get used to it.”

“I don't plan on staying long enough.”

He looked at me.

“One year can be longer than you think.”

I couldn't tell whether he was warning me or threatening me.

Before I could respond, an older woman approached us.

She wore an elegant dark dress and carried herself with the confidence of someone who expected everyone to obey her.

Her eyes moved from Daniel to me.

“So this is the bride.”

I straightened.

“Yes.”

She studied me for several seconds.

“I’m Evelyn Carter.”

Daniel’s mother.

I had never met her before.

But I knew her name.

Everyone who knew the Carter family did.

She extended her hand.

I took it.

“Congratulations.”

Her smile was polite.

Her eyes were not.

“Thank you.”

She released my hand.

“Your room has been prepared.”

“Our room?” I asked.

Daniel looked at his mother.

Evelyn smiled.

“Of course. You are married.”

I glanced at Daniel.

He didn't react.

That made me uncomfortable.

Evelyn turned away.

“Come. There are things you need to know about this house.”

I followed her.

Daniel remained behind for a moment.

I looked back.

He was watching me.

Then he followed.

Evelyn led me through a long corridor.

“You'll find that this family values privacy,” she said.

“I understand.”

“There are certain rooms you should not enter.”

I stopped.

“Which rooms?”

She continued walking.

“The west wing.”

“Why?”

“Because it is private.”

“What is there?”

She looked over her shoulder.

“Family matters.”

Something about the answer bothered me.

“What about Richard?”

Evelyn stopped.

The air seemed to change.

Daniel immediately stepped forward.

“Sofia.”

“What?”

Evelyn looked at me carefully.

“Why are you asking about Richard?”

“He spoke to me at the reception.”

“What did he say?”

“That I should never have married into this family.”

Silence.

Evelyn's face became unreadable.

Daniel looked away.

That reaction told me everything.

Richard's warning mattered.

More than they wanted me to know.

Evelyn finally spoke.

“Richard has always been difficult.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“You don't need to concern yourself with him.”

“I think I do.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“You have been a Carter for less than an hour.”

“And already I'm being told what I can and cannot ask.”

Daniel stepped between us.

“Mother, that's enough.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“You brought her into this family.”

“Yes.”

“Then make sure she understands what that means.”

She walked away.

I watched her disappear down the corridor.

Then I turned to Daniel.

“What does that mean?”

He sighed.

“You'll have to learn some things on your own.”

“That's not good enough.”

“It will have to be.”

He opened a door.

“This is your room.”

I looked inside.

The room was beautiful.

A large bed stood in the center. Tall windows overlooked the gardens, and a sitting area occupied one corner. Everything was elegant and expensive.

I stepped inside.

Daniel remained at the doorway.

“You can have whatever you need.”

“I need answers.”

“I know.”

“When are you going to give them to me?”

“When I can.”

I turned toward him.

“Do you regret marrying me?”

He looked surprised.

“No.”

The answer came quickly.

That surprised me even more.

“Why?”

He looked away.

“Because I knew what I was agreeing to.”

“That doesn't explain anything.”

“I know.”

He turned to leave.

“Daniel.”

He stopped.

“Where will you sleep?”

He looked toward the opposite end of the hallway.

“My room.”

I blinked.

“Your room?”

“Yes.”

“You're not sleeping here?”

“No.”

For the first time that night, some of the tension in my chest eased.

“Good.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“You sound relieved.”

“I am.”

He nodded.

“Good night, Sofia.”

“Good night.”

The door closed.

I stood alone in the enormous bedroom.

I should have felt safe.

Instead, I felt watched.

I walked toward the window.

The gardens were dark except for the small lights along the paths.

Then I noticed something.

A figure stood near the trees.

I froze.

The person was too far away to see clearly.

I stepped closer to the glass.

The figure didn't move.

I blinked.

Gone.

I pulled the curtain closed.

My heart was beating faster.

I told myself it was nothing.

Just a shadow.

Just my imagination.

But I didn't believe myself.

I changed out of my wedding dress and sat on the edge of the bed.

The silence of the room felt unnatural.

My phone vibrated.

A message.

Unknown number.

I opened it.

There was only one sentence.

You married the wrong Carter.

I stared at the screen.

My fingers went cold.

I typed a reply.

Who is this?

The message showed as delivered.

No response came.

I tried again.

What do you know about my family?

Nothing.

I waited.

Still nothing.

Then another message appeared.

Ask Daniel about the night your father lost everything.

My heart dropped.

I stood immediately.

Someone knew.

Someone knew about my family.

Someone knew enough to mention the night everything collapsed.

I rushed toward the door.

Then stopped.

Daniel had told me not to make assumptions.

But what if he had been lying?

I opened the door.

The hallway was empty.

I walked toward Daniel's room.

Before I reached it, I heard voices.

Richard.

His voice was unmistakable.

“You shouldn't have married her.”

Daniel answered quietly.

“I didn't have a choice.”

“You always have a choice.”

“Not this time.”

“She will find out.”

“Not if we keep her away from the truth.”

My heart pounded.

I stepped closer.

Richard spoke again.

“You think you can control this?”

“No.”

“Then why bring her here?”

Silence.

Daniel finally answered.

“Because if she stayed outside, she would have been in more danger.”

My breath caught.

Danger?

What danger?

Richard lowered his voice.

“You're already protecting her.”

“I’m her husband.”

“You're supposed to use the marriage.”

“I know.”

“Then act like it.”

I stepped back.

The floorboard creaked.

The voices stopped.

The door opened.

Daniel stood there.

His expression changed when he saw me.

“Sofia.”

Richard appeared behind him.

He looked at me for several seconds.

Then his eyes dropped to the phone in my hand.

“You received a message.”

It wasn't a question.

I tightened my grip around the phone.

“How do you know?”

Richard smiled.

“Because I sent it.”

Daniel turned sharply.

“Richard.”

“What?” Richard asked.

“You shouldn't have done that.”

Richard looked at me.

“I think she deserves to know that she married into a lie.”

My heart raced.

“What lie?”

Richard walked toward me.

Daniel stepped in front of him.

“Go back to your room.”

I stared at Daniel.

“No.”

“Sofia.”

“You said you would tell me the truth.”

“I said I would explain when I could.”

“When?”

Neither man answered.

Richard looked at Daniel.

Then at me.

Finally, he said quietly, “Ask him about the night your father lost everything.”

Daniel's face hardened.

Richard turned and walked away.

I watched him disappear.

Then I faced Daniel.

“What happened that night?”

He closed his eyes for a moment.

“Sofia, you need to trust me.”

I almost laughed.

“Trust you?”

“We just got married.”

“Exactly.”

I held up my phone.

“Someone knows about my family. Your brother says I married into a lie. Your mother is warning me about the house. And you keep telling me that the truth can wait.”

He looked at me.

“What do you want me to say?”

“The truth.”

He was silent.

Then he said something that I never expected.

“I wasn't the one who destroyed your family.”

I stared at him.

“I never said you were.”

His expression changed.

“You believe my family did.”

“Yes.”

“And if I told you that your father was betrayed by someone he trusted, not by the person you think, would you believe me?”

My heart pounded.

“Who?”

Daniel shook his head.

“I can't tell you yet.”

“Why?”

“Because the person who did it is still close to your family.”

I felt the room spin.

“What does that mean?”

He stepped closer.

“It means you have been looking in the wrong direction.”

I stared at him.

“Then help me look in the right one.”

His eyes held mine.

“I will.”

“Promise?”

He hesitated.

Then nodded.

“I promise.”

I wanted to ask what he meant.

Instead, I remembered the contract.

One year.

I had signed it because my family needed saving. But the document contained another clause: neither Daniel nor I could interfere with the other’s personal affairs unless the agreement was threatened.

I had thought it was harmless.

Now I wondered who had insisted on it.

“Daniel,” I said, “who wrote the agreement?”

He looked at me.

“My family’s lawyers.”

“Richard?”

Daniel's silence was enough.

“Richard helped write it?”

“He was involved.”

“Why?”

“I don't know everything he wanted.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“No.”

He looked tired.

“I expect you to understand that there are things even I am still trying to uncover.”

That answer unsettled me.

I realized Daniel might not be standing on the other side of the secret.

He might be trapped inside it too.

A quiet sound came from downstairs.

We both looked toward the staircase.

“Did you hear that?” I whispered.

Daniel nodded.

He reached for the door.

“Stay here.”

“I’m coming.”

“No.”

“I’m your wife now.”

His expression softened for a second.

“That is exactly why I need you to stay.”

I wanted to argue, but he was already walking away.

Then he stopped and turned.

“Sofia.”

“Yes?”

“If anyone asks about your family tonight, tell me first.”

“Why?”

“Because there are people in this house who know more than they should.”

He disappeared down the hallway.

I stood there, wondering how many people who had smiled at me tonight were secretly waiting for me to make a mistake.

The Carter mansion felt less like a home and more like a trap.

For the first time since entering the Carter house, I felt something other than anger.

Hope.

But it lasted only a moment.

From somewhere downstairs came the sound of something crashing.

Daniel immediately turned toward the door.

“What was that?”

He walked into the hallway.

A security guard came running from the opposite direction.

“Mr. Carter!”

“What happened?”

“The west wing door is open.”

Daniel's face changed.

“What?”

“The door was locked earlier.”

Richard appeared at the end of the corridor.

He looked at Daniel.

Then at me.

Nobody spoke.

Richard's expression was serious.

“She's here.”

My blood ran cold.

“Who?” I asked.

Richard didn't answer.

Daniel looked at me.

“Stay behind me.”

But before I could move, a woman's voice echoed from the darkness of the west wing.

“Sofia Hayes.”

I froze.

The voice continued.

“You should have never come here.”

The lights in the hallway went out.

And this time, I knew it wasn't an accident.