Mia's Pov
Ryan and I stepped out of the warehouse, hand in hand, our footsteps echoing in the silence. I kept a firm grip on his hand, feeling the strength beneath his steady fingers, but no amount of closeness could erase the gnawing uncertainty that Aaron's imprisonment wasn't the end. Aaron was cunning; I knew that he'd find a way to fight back, even from behind bars.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, his voice breaking the heavy silence around us.
"Yes, I'm relieved," I replied, looking up at the stars in the inky sky, tiny pinpricks of light almost swallowed by the city's haze.
"But I can't shake the feeling that something's coming. Something worse." My voice dropped, barely louder than a whisper.
Ryan nodded in agreement.
"We're not out of the woods yet," he admitted.
"Aaron… he won't let this go. But whatever he tries next, we'll face it together." he assured me.
I wanted to believe that was enough, that our shared strength could hold off the inevitable. But before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket, cutting through the silence. I glanced down to see a message from my father: *We need to talk. It's urgent.* My stomach dropped, a leaden weight settling in my chest. Ryan noticed the shift in my expression.
"What's wrong?" he asked, brows furrowing in concern.
I swallowed, glancing at him with an uneasy smile. "It's my dad. He wants to talk, I think it's about...." The words felt heavy, uncertain, and I struggled to keep the tremor from my voice.
"Do you want me to come with you?" he asked,his hand tightened around mine
I hesitated, but only for a second.
"Yes," I gave in, my voice barely steady. "
Ryan nodded and guided me toward his car. As we slipped into the seats, the hum of the engine filled the silence, a low, steady sound as we drove. The drive was tense, the air thick with unspoken worries. I couldn't help but wonder what my father would say, if he would be relieved or angry or simply indifferent. I know he would have questions, questions I was not sure I could answer. Part of me feared he'd somehow turn this around, finding fault in my choices.
When we reached my family's home, the ivy-clad walls and darkened windows cast shadows that seemed to stretch out, swallowing the street around them. Once felt like a safe haven, now feels more like a fortress, one built on secrets and long-buried lies.
"Let's go," Ryan instructed, his hand brushed against mine, his warmth grounding me, and together we approached the door.
I knocked, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night. After a moment, my father opened the door, his face filled with a mixture of relief and worry. He pulled the door wide, gesturing us inside with a firm hand.
"Mia, I've been trying to reach you." he reported in a worried tone.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, feeling the tension in my shoulders knot tighter as we followed him into the dimly lit dining room.
My father sighed, his expression hardening as he gestured for us to sit.
"No," he replied bluntly, sitting across from us. "I got a call today. From Aaron's lawyer." The weight in his words was unmistakable, and it sent a chill down my spine.
"What did he say?" I queried, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
My father's gaze shifted between us, his face darkening.
"He's claiming the marriage contract was fraudulent. That I coerced you into it to save our company. He's using that angle to try and get himself released."
I froze, disbelief coursing through me like ice. "What? That's absurd! I signed it willingly; I wasn't forced!"
"It doesn't matter," my father responded, his voice tense with frustration. "Aaron's lawyer is twisting the narrative. He's going to try to use this to make Aaron look like the victim and to get him out on a technicality."
"We have proof of everything he's done. We're not letting him walk free." Ryan's voice cut through the tension, calm but steely.
My father nodded, though his gaze was still dark with worry. "We'll need all of it. Aaron has powerful connections, people who will back him up no matter what. He's already working on turning people at Hartley Enterprises against you, Mia. Trying to poison them against you."
Anger and dread warred within me, but I forced myself to stay calm.
"So, what do we do now?" I asked, meeting my father's gaze.
"We fight back. With everything we've got," my father suggested, his jaw tightening as he leaned forward. "We gather every piece of evidence we have. We won't let him manipulate the narrative."
Ryan placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"We've got recordings, his confessions, proof of his schemes. It has to be enough to show who he really is." I informed my father.
My father's face softened, traces of relief appearing in his eyes.
"Good. But Aaron will stop at nothing to discredit you, Mia. He'll twist this in any way he can. He's betting on us crumbling under pressure,you should be prepared." he advised.
I nodded, feeling a surge of resolve as I looked between them.
"Don't worry, we won't give him that satisfaction." But even as I spoke, a familiar feeling of dread pulled at me, reminding me of how much I'd already lost because of Aaron.
As the three of us continued to discus our plans, my phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me back to reality. I glanced down, my stomach flipping when I saw the name flashing on the screen: Vanessa.
"We need to talk. It's about Aaron."
The words felt ominous, each letter heavy with an unspoken warning. I could sense Ryan's gaze on me as I put the phone back down.
"Who is it?" he asked, his voice steady but concerned.
"Vanessa," I replied, struggling to keep my voice even. "She wants to talk about Aaron. She says it's important."
"Now? Can't it be tomorrow?" Ryan asked with a frown, his jaw tightening.
I shook my head slowly. "I don't know. But if she has any information that could help us, we need to hear her out."
Ryan nodded, his face unreadable. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"Yes," I replied, squeezing his hand. "Please."
I texted Vanessa back, asking her to meet us at a nearby cafe. The same cafe where Ryan and I had spent hours pouring over evidence, talking about our next steps, and sharing moments of quiet strength. The familiarity of the place was comforting, and I hoped it would soften whatever Vanessa had to say.
The drive was filled with anxious silence, each minute stretching into what felt like an eternity. As we parked, I spotted Vanessa through the cafe window, sitting alone at a corner table. She looked different than I remembered, her once confident poise replaced by an air of quiet vulnerability. Her gaze was distant, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her coffee cup.
As we approached, she looked up, her eyes meeting mine.
"Thank you for coming," she murmured, her voice shaky.
"What's this about, Vanessa?" Ryan asked, his tone calm but guarded.
She took a deep, shaky breath, glancing between us. "I know you're both on edge. I was terrified after I helped you with the recordings. But after everything, I… I think you need to know. Aaron's planning something. Even from jail, he's got people working for him. He's… he's not going to let this go."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean, he's 'planning something'?" I asked, dread settling like a rock in my stomach.
"Stay alert, he is pulling every string he has already," Vanessa replied, her voice trembling. "He's reaching out to old contacts, people he used to work with. They're already working to turn the board against you, Mia, to paint you as the manipulative one, Aaron will use every tactic he can, people, stories, anything to make you look guilty.."
I felt Ryan's hand close over mine, a silent reassurance. But even his steady grip couldn't dispel the chill running through me.
"I won't let him win," I spoke, feeling the desperation in my voice." I have lost so many things to Aaron, I won't lose more."
"I want to help." Vanessa cut in, her gaze on me with an intensity that took me by surprise. "I know I haven't always been trustworthy, but this time… I want to see him stop as much as you do."she added..
I glanced at Ryan, searching for his approval. His eyes were filled with determination, and I knew we couldn't turn our backs on her now. Though it was hard to trust her, we had to be willing to work together.
"Okay," I finally responded. "We'll take whatever help you can give."
Vanessa's eyes brightened, a hint of relief in her gaze. "Thank you. I'll give you every bit of information I can."
As we sat there, sharing information and ideas, I realized that we still have a long way to go but we are definitely not backing down.
No more running. No more hiding.