The Devil's Contractual Bride-Chapter 50: Another Plan

Aria’s POV

I stood outside Clara’s half-open door still transfixed and surprised at what I just heard. Clara is working for Ethan?

I tried not to believe but the ongoing conversations cleared every benefit of doubt I had intended to give her.

"Of course, Ethan," she continued. "I already pulled the latest stock purchase reports. The offshore accounts Aria used are all there including every single transaction since the crash. I can send you the full file tonight. It will also interest you to know that the SEC and FBI will have arrested them any time now, but I made sure the timestamps point straight at Lucian specifically and he looks guilty as hell."

Rage burned hot within me as I peeped in and saw Clara biting her lips and circling her fingers on the table like she was talking to some highschool sweetheart.

It pained me more that this bitch had stood beside us through the board meetings, press storms and the kidnapping. Worst still,Lucian trusted her with his life but all this while she was the one handing Ethan the rope to hang us with.

I pressed my back against the wall, fingers trembling as I slipped my phone from my bag. I opened the voice recorder app, hit record and held it close to the gap in the door.

Clara’s mouth kept running like a loose tap. "The anonymous accounts that I set up for are working perfectly and I’m going to make sure more pop up every hour.

Lucian’s trying to trace them though, but I’ve been feeding him false leads so he still thinks it’s the fall guy his hitman caught.."

Ethan’s voice came through faintly on speaker. "Good. Keep doing what you’re doing. They might wiggle their way out from the FBI and SEC but I have a little surprise for them coming soon."

Clara laughed softly "Trust me,I have everything under control here. You know that I won’t dare let you down."

She muttered something else before the room fell silent.

I stopped recording, saved the file and backed away on silent feet. My heels made a soft click on the tile, but I didn’t care if she heard anyway. I just needed to get out before I kill someone with my bare hands.

I hurried down the hall, pulse roaring in my ears but didn’t stop until I reached the elevator. The doors closed and I sagged against the wall, shaking.

Marcus was waiting exactly where I’d left him except that he was jamming to some music and the moment I slid into the back seat he noticed the change in my mood , "Is everything okay Ma’am?"

"No. Step out of the car please."I replied with a rather harsh tone. He reluctantly got out of the car and started parading the garage.

Unlike me I didn’t regret speaking to him that way. Who knows if he’s also Ethan’s spy.

I pulled out my phone again and dialed Lucian.

"Aria, I was about to call you. What’s keeping you over there"

"Clara," I cut in, the word spilling out in a rush. "It’s Clara, Lucian. I heard her when she was on the phone with Ethan. She’s been helping him the whole time."

The line went dead silent for a second, then Lucian spoke again. He sounded calm but I could hear the fury underneath his voice.

"Slow down, love. Breathe. Hope you recorded it?"

"Yes. I got the whole thing."

"Alright love. Get back here right now and don’t speak to anyone about this."

"I wasn’t planning on doing that.You’ll see me in a bit," I replied before disconnecting the call.

I signalled Marcus and he got back into the car."We’re heading to the hospital"

He nodded to the order and swiftly drove the car out of the garage and into the road that led to the hospital.

We got to the hospital quickly thanks to Marcus’s driving speed. When I burst into Andre’s room Lucian was standing by the window with his arms crossed around his chest.

Andre was still half-propped up.He looked between us, "What happened?"

"Relax Andre,don’t get all worked up" I strode over to his bed and patted him on the cheek before I crossed over to where Lucian and put the recording on so it would play on loud speaker.

Clara’s voice filled the quiet room as Andre and Lucian listened with keen attention.

By the time the tape finished Lucian’s face was rigid like stone. His hands clenched at his sides. "She’s been with me for six years and all that time I trusted her with everything!."

Andre’s weak voice cut in. "The lady driver... the one I saw in the crash. If Clara’s working with Ethan... maybe she’s the one who hit us."

Lucian nodded . "Anything is possible at this point. But we need not worry because we’ll use this to our advantage.

We don’t confront her yet so she’ll eventually fall into our trap."

I fell into the chair beside Andre’s bed."What devastates me the most is that she was right there working under our nose the whole time"

Lucian came to where I sat and squatted in front of me,he held my face and made my eyes meet his gaze. "I know it hurts like hell to be deceived by someone you trusted and I know this might remind you of the betrayal you faced with Ethan and Mia but trust me,this time we’re going to use their game to our advantage."

I leaned forward, forehead against his, tears slipping down my cheeks. "I’m so tired of people we trust turning on us."

"It will all end soon love" He said with a reassuring kiss.

We sat there for a moment before two uniformed officers randomly stepped in, followed by another officer in a plain suit,their eyes immediately locking on Lucian.

"Mr. Lucian Voss?" the officer in a plain suit asked, looking at Lucian.

Lucian stood confidently like he was expecting them. "Yes."

The officers in seconds pulled out their handcuffs and filled behind Lucian "You’re under arrest for the murder of Victor Hargrove. You have the right to remain silent for anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."