The Devil CEO's Contract Wife-Chapter 278: Reed’s Confession

Reed swallowed thickly. "Yes, you’re right. Which is why I came to you... I need help."

"Bringing your problems to a lady, especially one you don’t know about. Not a very smart move."

"I know you..."

My body tensed.

"I know that you have money. Enough to help me with what I need."

He still can’t tell it was me.

Reed probably found his way here because of the rumors spreading about Vixen.

"I need enough money to keep hiding."

"Hiding?" I questioned sharply. "Shouldn’t your main focus be on leaving Midnight as soon as possible?"

He adjusted his baseball cap beneath his hood. "I can’t leave yet."

"Why?"

Reed gave me a look, and for a minute, it seemed like I had given myself away for being abrupt. But as quickly as it came, it was gone, almost as if he expected this outcome.

"I need to see both of them, even if it’s for the last time."

My fingers twitched. I strained to remain as stoic as I could, but the layers of my emotions were slowly coming forth.

"I have made mistakes, a lot of mistakes, and I know for someone like me, I’m gonna get whatever I deserve. Which is why I escaped so that I can get the chance to see them again."

He’s talking about Esme and me. And escaped? Ares must have been keeping him prisoner or something, which explains why I couldn’t reach him.

"Mistakes... didn’t you betray your Don King?" I played along.

"You could say that..." He conceded.

"You’re on the run then..."

"Not just from Don King, but another."

I narrowed my eyes. What’s he talking about?

"I’m caught up in something, and I’m not sure I’m gonna walk out of it alive."

"You must have had it pretty rough. I could almost feel sorry for you."

"I don’t need your pity."

"Then you should know if I’m gonna help you, I would want something in return."

"Tell me what you need."

"First, I need to know everything that went down with the Don King. I can’t help you unless I know what I’m getting myself into. I have been warned many times not to get involved with him. I’m sure you can understand why I’m being cautious; it doesn’t matter if you’re a handsome stranger. Looks can only get you so far."

Reed sighed heavily as if thinking about it, but he doesn’t have so much of a choice anymore. He came out here to a place where he could easily be spotted. He was desperate, and I was the only chance he got.

My guess was that because I wasn’t affiliated with anyone here, I was an outsider in the eyes of the underworld, and that was just what he needed. The moment the others found out he had a falling out with Ares, they would expose him or worse.

"And the second?" he asked, knowing there was more.

"That will come naturally," I replied. "Think of it as me weighing my chances with you."

He nodded, taking another shot of his drink, wincing in the process.

I leaned back on my seat, awaiting him to get talking as I brought the glass close.

"I worked for Constance King."

The drink froze halfway to my lips.

"She gave me a mission, a simple one.." He hesitated before he resumed. "Watch her grandchildren, Ares King to be precise. I was ordered to keep simple tabs and report back to her. So I worked my way into Don’s circle, stayed close to him for years. He wasn’t an easy man to work with, but I gained his trust. He trusted me enough to become his wife’s bodyguard."

My hold on the glass was so tight I thought it was going to break in pieces. Slowly, I lift my gaze to Reed, disbelief rising.

"Working for Ares King...I... I was beginning to shift from my objective, leaving out details and reports when I knew I shouldn’t. I had two bosses. I was torn. Being under Don King gave me another purpose until it didn’t seem like I was there just to observe."

He swallowed hard. "And then things changed. Feelings got in the way. His wife, Catherine King, was... a friend. I needed to protect her. She came to me and said that she needed to get away; she had been through so much, and she was breaking. I did what I had to do."

"The whole time..." I found my voice, and I could barely recognize it because of how icy it was. "When you took the Don’s wife away, were you in contact with Constance King?"

"Yes." He ran a hand down his mouth.

My heart crushed at his confession. That was why he suggested Penrose.

I thought he was trying to do right by us, but I was wrong. I must have ruined his plans when I told him I didn’t wanna change my name. I recalled how unhappy he was.

It was never about my sake or Esme’s.

I trusted him, and for what? I was so stupid and blind not to see it. But how could I have known? He played his part really well, and when I came to realize his feelings for me, I even thought about accepting them and leaving the past behind.

I was such a fool. To trust or even entertain the idea.

Reed finally looked at me, and he froze. I must have been staring at him so blankly that I appeared lifeless, but I don’t care.

"Those weren’t mistakes, Mr. Cross," I said. "They are not meant to be considered mistakes when you knew exactly what you were doing the entire time."

"Think of it however you want. My biggest mistake yet was letting Don King find us." He ran his mouth and all I wanted to do was sew it shut. "The last thing I ever wanted is for Catherine and Esme..." He paused. "For them to be in danger."

Too late for that... Constance decided to get rid of me, and I almost lost Esme, all because of this bastard sitting in front of me.