She Was Forced to Marry a Poor Stranger — Unaware He Was a Billionaire Hiding His Identity
Chapter 3
Ethan moved Clara to a small house outside the city.
It wasn’t luxurious.
Three bedrooms.
Old kitchen.
Quiet neighborhood.
Clara looked around.
“This is yours?”
“Yes.”
“You own it?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Saved for years.”
She didn’t believe him.
But she didn’t question it.
That night, they ate takeout.
It was the first normal meal they had shared.
Clara looked at him.
“You don’t act like someone who owes twenty-three million dollars.”
“I don’t.”
She frowned.
“Then why did you marry me?”
“Because your uncle offered me something.”
“What?”
Ethan didn’t answer.
She waited.
Finally he said,
“Access.”
“To what?”
“The company.”
Clara stared.
“So you married me for business.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
He looked away.
“My family.”
She sighed.
“This is exhausting.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“You’re not wrong.”
The next morning, Clara found a suit hanging in the hallway.
It was expensive.
Very expensive.
She touched the fabric.
“That’s not yours.”
Ethan walked in.
“What?”
“This suit.”
“Oh.”
“You said you were broke.”
“I never said I was broke.”
“You look broke.”
He laughed.
“That’s different.”
Clara stared at him.
“Who are you?”
He didn’t answer.
Before she could press further, his phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes.”
A voice spoke.
Ethan’s expression changed.
“Move the acquisition forward.”
Pause.
“No. Buy the entire block.”
Clara heard the words.
She frowned.
“Who was that?”
“My office.”
“Your office?”
He nodded.
“Where?”
“Downtown.”
“You don’t have an office.”
He smiled.
“Apparently I do.”
She stared at him.
He was definitely hiding something.
But before she could ask, they heard a car outside.
Ethan looked through the window.
The same black SUV.
“Stay here.”
He walked outside.
The SUV sped away.
Ethan returned ten minutes later.
He was holding an envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Clara.
Taken outside her apartment.
On the back:
SHE’S NOT WHO YOU THINK.
Clara felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Someone is watching me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know yet.”
She looked at him.
“You’re lying.”
He nodded.
“Partly.”
“Why?”
“Because I know who might be behind it.”
“Who?”
Ethan sat down.
“Your uncle.”
Clara stared.
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
“He wouldn’t do this.”
“Then why did he disappear?”
“Because he’s a coward.”
“Maybe.”
Ethan showed her another document.
A bank transfer.
The money had been sent from Bennett Industries.
To an account controlled by Richard.
“Two million.”
Clara’s eyes widened.
“He stole it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To finance something.”
“What?”
Ethan pointed to another company.
Vale Strategic Holdings.
Clara didn’t recognize it.
Ethan did.
“That’s the investor who bought your company.”
She stared.
“Who owns it?”
He paused.
“I do.”
Silence.
Clara couldn’t speak.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You own the company that bought mine?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not a logistics worker.”
“No.”
“Then what are you?”
Ethan looked at her.
“I run Vale Global.”
She stared.
She knew that name.
Everyone did.
Vale Global was one of the fastest-growing investment groups in the country.
The founder had never been photographed publicly.
No interviews.
No public appearances.
No social media.
Only a name.
Ethan Reed.
Clara’s mouth fell open.
“You’re…”
“Yes.”
“The billionaire?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a billionaire.”
He nodded.
Clara stood.
She couldn’t breathe.
“You married me?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed to get close to the company.”
She stared at him.
“So this whole marriage…”
“Started as business.”
Her heart dropped.
Then he said,
“But it stopped being that.”
She looked at him.
“When?”
“The first night.”
She didn’t know whether to believe him.
But she knew one thing.
The poor stranger she’d been forced to marry was actually one of the richest men in the country.
And he had been hiding his identity from her.
