Chapter 11

Allyson's POV

Allyson's phone buzzed incessantly, breaking the uneasy silence in the room. She glanced at the screen and saw it was her uncle. Her heart skipped a beat. He rarely called unless it was something important.

"Uncle Richard" she answered, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Allyson, where are you?" His voice was a mix of concern and irritation. "I've been informed by the staff that you haven't been home in over six months. What's going on?"

Allyson sighed, knowing she couldn't keep her secret life hidden much longer. " Uncle, when did you come back?" Trying to avoid the question.

"Ally!! It's not funny, answer my question" Richard said firmly.

"I've been... busy, Uncle. I needed some time to myself."

Richard's voice hardened. "Busy? Refusing to use the chauffeur and bodyguards I assigned to you? What is this nonsense? I allowed you to work in the subsidiary company for a few months, but this is unacceptable. Come to the family mansion immediately."

Before she could respond, he hung up. Allyson felt a wave of dread wash over her. She had hoped to reveal her marriage to Nate in her own time, but it seemed her hand was being forced.

Just as she was about to collect her thoughts, the front door opened and Nate walked in. Allyson quickly composed herself and ended the call.

"Nate," she said, forcing a smile. "I have to go see a client. It's urgent."

Nate raised an eyebrow but didn't question her. "Alright, be safe. I'll see you later."

She kissed him quickly and headed downstairs. As she stepped outside, she saw her chauffeur waiting by the black Rolls-Royce. Allyson's stomach churned. She didn't like lying to Nate, but she couldn't tell him the truth, not yet.

Nate's POV

Nate watched Allyson leave, something about her demeanor nagging at him. He headed to the bedroom, trying to shake off his unease. As he reached the window, he saw a man in a black suit opening the door to a sleek black Rolls-Royce for Allyson. She slipped inside without a glance back.

Nate felt his heart sink. The image of the car, the chauffeur, it all screamed of wealth and secrecy. Rachel's words echoed in his mind: "She's not who you think she is."

Could Rachel be right? Was Allyson hiding more than he knew? The doubt gnawed at him, making him feel sick.

Allyson's POV

Allyson sat in the backseat, her mind racing. She knew this confrontation with her uncle wouldn't be easy. Richard had always been overprotective, especially after her parents died. But she needed to assert her independence and, more importantly, find a way to tell him about Nate.

When they arrived at the family mansion, Richard was waiting for her in the grand foyer, his expression a mix of relief and anger.

"Allyson," he began, his tone sharp. "What's going on? Why have you been avoiding home and the security I arranged for you?"

Allyson took a deep breath. "Uncle Richard, I needed some space to figure things out. And there's something I need to tell you. I got married."

Richard's face turned ashen. "Married? To whom? When?"

"Nate Harris," she said, her voice steady. "It was a whirlwind romance, but I love him. And I wanted to experience life on my terms before telling you."

Richard stared at her, his eyes narrowing. "Allyson, this is reckless. You know how important your position in the company is. How could you keep this from me?"

Back at home, Nate paced the living room, the image of Allyson getting into the Rolls-Royce replaying in his mind. He needed answers, but he didn't know where to start. The phone buzzed again with another message: **"You're close to the truth, but can you handle it?"**

Nate's heart pounded. Who was sending these messages? What did they know?

Meanwhile, as Allyson tried to explain her decision to her uncle, Richard's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his expression darkened. "It's the board. They've called an emergency meeting. Apparently, there's been a significant leak of confidential information."

Allyson's blood ran cold. A leak? Could it be related to her? 

Richard hung up and looked at Allyson with a mix of disappointment and fear. "You need to come with me. Now. This could be catastrophic for the company."

As they rushed to the boardroom, Allyson's mind raced. What had happened? And how could she fix it without exposing her double life to everyone?

Back at home, Nate received a final chilling message: **"The truth will tear you apart."**

Nate felt a sense of foreboding. Whatever Allyson was hiding, it was bigger than he had imagined. And he knew that their lives were about to be turned upside down.