Mia's POV
I paced back and forth in my bedroom, Ryan's words echoing in my mind with every step. It had been days since our conversation in the library, and yet, I couldn't stop replaying his warning in my head. Aaron had manipulated me, married me under false pretenses. And now after everything, I had discovered he was trying to sell my company without me even knowing.
I stood in front of the window, staring out into the darkened city. Somewhere out there, Aaron was plotting his next move, Ignorant of the fact that I am now aware of all his betrayals. But instead of fear, all I felt was anger. A fire had ignited within me, and I wasn't going to let him win. Not anymore.
Ryan and I had been quietly gathering information ever since that night. Bank statements, contracts, anything we could use to bring Aaron down. But every piece of evidence we uncovered only added to the complexity of his plan.I clenched my fists, the frustration rising in my chest. How had I let things get this far? How had I been so blind to everything happening around me?
"Don't," Ryan's voice broke through my thoughts. "Don't blame yourself."he spoke as he leaned against the door frame.
"How long have you been there?" I asked in shock.
"You didn't ask for any of this," he added, ignoring my question.
"I can't help it," I replied, my voice breaking just slightly. "I walked right into this. I'm the one who let him in."
Ryan shook his head, taking a step closer. "You had no choice Mia."Aaron took advantage of you. You couldn't have known what he was planning, you don't deserve any of this.
"Maybe not," I said, my gaze drifting to the file he held. "But it's my mess to clean up now.
"Look," he said, spreading a stack of documents before me, his finger pointing to a line of unfamiliar legal jargon. "Aaron's setting up a sale for Hartley Enterprises behind your back. He's inflating its value, manipulating the board, and trying to push the deal through before you can stop it."
A surge of anger rose in me as I scanned the pages. The text swam before my eyes, but the intent was clear. My company, my family's legacy, was slipping from my grasp because of him. "If he sells Hartley, I'll be left with nothing. No assets, no business. He'll have taken it all."
My hands clenched around the folder, its edges biting into my palms. "So he's really trying to strip me of everything."
Ryan's expression hardened, his jaw clenched. "We have to act fast. We're already gathering evidence, but it's not enough to simply block the sale. "He has already started the process. If we don't act fast, he will get away with it. We need something that will crush him completely, that will make the board see him for the liar he is."
My gaze dropped to the stack of papers, my mind racing with the implications. "What can we possibly find that would be big enough to turn everyone against him?"
Ryan hesitated for a second, his eyes glancing toward the door as though expecting Aaron himself to be eavesdropping.
"There's someone who might have the information we need to stop him." he said cautiously "Someone who knows his secrets, maybe even enough to turn this whole thing around, but it's risky." he reported.
"Who?" I inquired
He exhaled slowly, as if weighing his words. "Aaron's ex, Vanessa."
I stiffened at the mention of her name. Vanessa had always been a shadow in the background of our marriage, someone Aaron never spoke about but kept her close enough to ensure her silence. I had heard rumors about their relationship, but the details were always left unsaid, hovering in whispers I had tried to ignore.
"And you think she'll help us?" I asked, unsure of where this was going.
"She might," Ryan replied cautiously. "But only if we approach her the right way. She's still bitter about how things ended with Aaron, and she might be willing to talk if we give her the right incentive."
I felt a pang of uncertainty. Vanessa was unpredictable, and the thought of getting involved with her made me uneasy. But if she had information that could help us stop Aaron, we didn't have a choice.
"What kind of incentive are we talking about?" I asked.
"A secret she's been keeping for years. Aaron thinks he's the father of her child, but…" He trailed off, his eyes flicking to mine. "There's reason to believe he might not be," he revealed.
The words landed like a blow, leaving me momentarily speechless. "What are you saying, Ryan?" I queried in shock.
My mouth went dry, a cold chill creeping up my spine. "Are you sure Aaron doesn't know?"I whispered.
"No," Ryan replied quietly. "He's in the dark, and that's her trump card. She's kept it a secret to protect herself, but if she'll talk, we'll have the power to destroy him in every way that matters. But Vanessa won't give this up easily."
"If we can get Vanessa to admit the truth, we'll have a weapon. This is something Aaron doesn't even know about, and if it comes out, it could destroy him. He thrives on control and reputation, this could ruin him." he replied in an unwavering tone.
He moved closer, his gaze piercing. "Vanessa knows what's at stake, for her and her child. We have to show her this is in her best interest too, that speaking out won't just help us, it could protect her as well."
The implications began to take shape, each layer falling into place like pieces of a puzzle. I imagined the life Vanessa must've been leading, holding onto a secret of that magnitude, weighed down by Aaron's relentless grip.
"And you really think she'll tell us?" I asked, trying to ignore the unease pooling in my stomach.
Ryan's eyes softened just a bit. " Like I said before Mia, It all depends on how we approach her. If we show her that helping us could free her, not just from Aaron but from the life he's forced her into… she might talk."
I took a breath, steadying myself as I let his words sink in. "And what if Aaron finds out we're trying to get to her? What if he tries to silence her?" I queried.
"Then that's a reason to even be more careful," Ryan replied, his tone low. For sure he'll come after her, too, if he suspects she's helping us. That's why we need to act fast."
I nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of it all. I hadn't asked for this war, but now, as I stared at the documents, I realized that there was no turning back. Aaron had taken too much from me, and if Vanessa held the key to stopping him, I was willing to take the risk.
"How do we contact her?" I asked, my voice steadying.
Ryan's lips curled into a grim smile. "I've already reached out. She agreed to meet tomorrow."
"Really? Let's do it then," I responded , my voice firm.
Ryan studied me for a moment, as if searching for any sign of hesitation. When he didn't find any, he just nodded and turned to leave the room.
"Ryan," I called softly, stopping him as he reached the door. He turned, his eyes watching me with that familiar steadiness, the kind that somehow always grounded me, even in the midst of all this chaos.
"Yes?" he answered, voice low and attentive.
"Why are you doing this?" The question slipped out before I could think to hold it back. "Helping me… risking so much for this. For me. You barely even know me."
He looked at me, a mixture of emotions flashed across his face. For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer, that he would shrug it off like he usually does, with his quiet detachment. But instead, he stepped closer, his gaze steady on mine.
"Because I've been in your shoes before, Mia. I know what it's like to be trapped, feeling like your life is being taken from you piece by piece," he responded, voice barely above a whisper. "And because… I see a lot more in you than you see in yourself right now. You're stronger than you think."
I swallowed, caught off guard by the rawness in his words.
"But Aaron's your brother," I replied, my voice a little unsteady. "Isn't that… doesn't that make this hard for you?"
Ryan let out a bitter laugh. "You'd be surprised what family ties can do to a person when trust is broken. He's my brother, yes, but that doesn't mean I owe him blind loyalty, especially when he's doing everything in his power to hurt people who don't deserve it.
For the first time, I felt a sense of unity between us, an unspoken promise that we would see this through together.
As the door closed behind him, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.