CHAPTER FOUR: A DARK REVELATION.

Maria's words haunted me.

"We were paid to act."

I tried to shake it off, to convince myself that she was lying. But doubt crept in, poisoning my thoughts.

That night, as Leon held me close, I couldn't ignore the feeling that something was wrong.

"Are you okay?" he murmured against my hair.

I forced a smile. "Yes."

But I wasn't.

Days passed, and I couldn't stop watching Maria and Brown. Their stolen glances, the way they touched when they thought no one was looking—it was too real.

One night, I confronted Maria again.

"If you're not his sister, then who are you?" I demanded.

She hesitated before sighing. "I didn't want you to find out this way."

"Find out what?"

She took a deep breath. "Leon isn't who you think he is."

My heart pounded. "What do you mean?"

She glanced at the door, then whispered, "Do you know why he took you from Chris? Do you know why he treats you like a queen?"

I stiffened. "Because he loves me."

Maria shook her head. "No. He needed a replacement."

A cold chill ran down my spine.

"A replacement for what?" I whispered.

She hesitated, then said, "His fiancée. She was murdered."

I froze. "What?"

Maria leaned in. "There's a reason he never told you about his past. You were chosen, not loved."

I couldn't sleep.

Maria's words echoed in my mind. A replacement. Chosen, not loved.

The next morning, I searched for answers.

I started in Leon's study, rummaging through drawers, looking for anything that would prove Maria wrong.

But what I found was worse than I imagined.

An old photograph.

A woman who looked almost exactly like me.

Same eyes. Same hair. Same soft smile.

My stomach twisted. Was this… her?

I flipped the photo over. Written on the back, in Leon's handwriting, were the words: My perfect love. Forever.

A chill ran through me.

I wasn't his first love. I was his replacement.

That night, I couldn't look at Leon the same way.

He noticed. "Something's wrong," he said, his eyes searching mine.

I shook my head. "Just tired."

He kissed my forehead. "You know I'd do anything for you, right?"

I nodded, but my heart raced.

Later, Maria pulled me aside.

"You found the picture, didn't you?" she asked.

I swallowed hard. "Who was she?"

Maria's voice was barely a whisper. "Her name was Elena. She was engaged to Leon, but she died mysteriously."

I clenched my fists. "Did he… kill her?"

Maria hesitated. "No one knows. But after she died, he searched for someone just like her. And then he found you."

My blood turned to ice.

I was living with a man whose love might have been built on a lie.

I had to know the truth.

That night, as Leon slept, I took his phone and searched through his messages.

My hands trembled as I found one from an unknown number.

"The girl looks just like her. You did well."

I covered my mouth, holding back a scream.

Leon stirred in his sleep, and I quickly put the phone back.

I needed a way out.

Maria was right—I wasn't loved. I was trapped in a love that wasn't mine.

And I had no idea how dangerous Leon truly was.