The Devil's Contractual Bride-Chapter 27: A Big Loud Bang
Aria’s POV
The park was dark but I could see her face as she walked closer to where I sat,I stood up so fast that the bench scraped behind me.
"You?" My voice cracked in rage"You sent the message?"
Mia nodded once slowly.
"I know you might want to take out your anger on me or worse and trust me Aria,I know I deserve it. I helped him ruin you,I fell for his tricks and promises and now I fell so stupid."she pleaded,tears forming in her eyes
"I don’t have time for this"
"I know." She looked down at the cracked path between us and suddenly a red mark which was visibly the size of an adults male hand came to light
I took a step closer,my hands were shaking so badly I had to clench them to keep from dropping my phone.
"Why are you here Mia?What do you want from me?"
Mia reached into her coat pocket.
My thumb hovered over the "help" button Andre had programmed.
She pulled out a small black USB drive."This is not about what I want but what I owe you."
She held it out but I refused to take it.
"What is that?"
"Proof of everything Ethan did. The fake fertility test which he bribed the doctors to change and the drug he made them prescribe for you so you would have a miscarriage in a month.There is also proof there that the game company belongs to you."
My hand trembled as I finally took the drive.
"Why are you offering me help now?"
Mia’s eyes filled with tears.
"Because I’m pregnant and Ethan already told me he wants nothing to do with it. He said I was a mistake so he treats me as shut, using me as a punching bag at will."
I stared at her in disbelief "You’re lying."
"I’m not," she said. "I have no reason to lie anymore,he has hurt me more than I can imagine and I’m risking everything including my life to give you this."
I looked down at the USB in my hand.
My fingers closed around it.
"What exactly is on it?" I asked.
"Everything you’ll need Aria.Bribe receipts,original lab report and the emails where he told the doctor exactly what to write, messages between the two of us when we were making plans on how to steal your game idea"
My stomach ached severely,I thought I might be sick right there on the path.
I felt the world tilt,I grabbed the bench to stay upright and prevent myself from falling
"What are you going to do if he finds out you did this?" I asked again.
"That doesn’t matter now,all I want is to see him gone and behind bars. He is a ruthless bastard and I’m done being his pawn of a cheap commodity he can discard anytime he wants."Her hands were shaking as she spoke,it was evident she was scared.
"I have to go before he realizes I’m here.I’m certain he has a tracker to find me if I’m out for long." she explained taking a step back.
I clutched the USB tighter.
"Wait—"
Headlights flashed at the park entrance and black Mercedes pulled up fast to where we stood
The driver’s door opened and Ethan stepped out smiling wickedly.
He started walking toward us like he owned the game and we had just walked into his trap.
Mia’s face went white,I wanted to tell that her everything would be fine but I was scared as well and we both stood transfixed as Ethan walked closer
"He’s here,run!!."She whispered. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
I turned to make a run for it but the park was too dark and I couldn’t see where I was going and it slowed me down.
Mia had already bolted into the shadows and Ethan halfway across the grass pursuing me .
As I continued to sprint out of the park,paths twisted the carpet grass scratched my feet like fingers.
I heard Ethan’s footsteps behind me as he got closer
"Aria," he called. "Don’t run,we need to talk."
I didn’t stop, instead I cut right toward the river path where Andre was parked
My lungs burned and my legs shook but I couldn’t give up,Ethan was gaining, barely a few feet away from me.
Two more figures stepped out from the trees on either side blocking the path ahead.
I skidded to a stop. Seeing that I was already trapped Ethan slowed smiling wider.
"You should have stayed away from Mia,now I have to do this the hard way."
I backed up against a tree and clutched the USB in my fist.
"We were just talking as friends,she was once my secretary, remember?" I spoke loudly, hoping that Andre would hear my voice and come to my rescue.
He stepped closer and when I looked around there was no way out.
Then headlights suddenly appeared from the opposite entrance.
A car screeched into the park,its doors flown open.
Andre jumped out running toward me.
"Aria!"
Ethan t and his men turned immediately I ran towards Andre and they did the same in pursuit.
Andre reached me first and grabbed my arm.
"Run!"
We bolted towards the car.
Gunshots cracked behind us –not at us but warning shots into the air.
We didn’t look back until we got to Andre’s car and jumped in.
He floored it and drove off speedingly into the night,the park shrinking in the rearview mirror.
I was shaking so hard my teeth chattered. We were now at a traffic stop and I sincerely hope Ethan and his goons didn’t follow us.
Andre glanced at me. "You okay?"
I held up the USB.
"She gave me this," I said. "Mia. She said Ethan faked the fertility test and this USB contains the truth with regards to that and my game as well."
"Are you sure—-"
"Andre, look out!!" A truck on high-speed was driving straight towards the driver’s side of Andre’s vehicle and in a second there was a loud bang. Suddenly everywhere went black.
