Chapter Twenty-one: The Trap Tightens

What am I going to do? Aria’s thoughts spiraled as she hurriedly texted Ethan the location for their meeting. Anxiety gnawed at her, but she felt she had no choice. Her pulse quickened with each step as she sneaked out of the hospital. She knew it was dangerous to confront Ethan alone, but the fear of those compromising photos being leaked was even greater.

Meanwhile, Alexander was in the car, heading back to the hospital with his assistant, Lucas. The atmosphere was calm until Lucas suddenly pointed out of the window.

"Look, isn’t that young madam?" Lucas said, squinting to see through the dimly lit street.

Alexander, who had been scrolling through his phone, glanced up. His face darkened when he spotted Aria, heading towards a figure he recognized all too well.

"Pull over," Alexander commanded coldly.

Lucas quickly obeyed, stopping the car and rushing to open the door for his boss. They both stepped out, moving cautiously toward the shadows.

"Mr. Alexander... that guy looks like Ethan," Lucas muttered as they approached. He squinted, trying to confirm his suspicion. "But why would young madam be meeting him at this unholy hour?"

Alexander clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as the pieces began to fall into place. He recalled the stern warning he had given Aria just days earlier: ‘If Ethan bothers you again, let me know immediately.’ She had agreed. So why was she here, sneaking off to meet the very man he had told her to stay away from?

Lucas, sensing his boss’s rising anger, tried to calm the situation. "It can't be, Mr. Alexander. Ethan almost killed young madam. She wouldn’t meet him after that. We must be mistaken. The shadows are deceiving us. I’m sure she’s still in her ward."

But Alexander wasn’t listening. His eyes were locked on Aria, who was holding a small package—likely a payment for Ethan’s silence. She didn’t keep her word, he thought, his anger growing with every passing second. How can I trust her when she’s lying to my face?

Determined to confirm his suspicions, Alexander pulled out his phone and dialed Aria’s number. Sure enough, he watched as she glanced at her phone and then immediately ended the call.

The sight ignited a storm within him.

"Mr. Alexander, I’ll call the police immediately!" Lucas said, sensing the gravity of the situation.

But Alexander’s fury was already boiling over. "No need," he retorted, his voice cold as ice. "That woman deserves whatever comes her way." He turned sharply, ready to walk away, leaving Lucas in stunned silence.

Lucas sighed heavily, pulling out his phone to call the police anyway. "He cares about her, but he’ll never admit it," he muttered to himself. "If something happens to her, he’s going to blame me." He hurried off, dialing the authorities as quickly as he could.

Meanwhile, Ethan noticed that Aria had become distracted, fumbling with her phone in an attempt to delete the incriminating photos. He seized the opportunity. Swiftly, he pulled out a handkerchief laced with a powerful sedative and clamped it over Aria’s nose and mouth.

Her struggles were brief. Within moments, Aria’s body went limp, her phone slipping from her hand as unconsciousness took over. Ethan smirked as he dragged her into the shadows, unaware that someone else was watching.

From behind a nearby tree, Jessica stepped out of the darkness, her eyes gleaming with malice. She had followed Ethan to the rendezvous, curious about his plans, but what she had just witnessed gave her a wicked idea.

Spotting Aria’s dropped phone, Jessica picked it up and stared at the screen. Her eyes widened as the compromising photo of Aria on the lap of an older man stared back at her. But then her shock turned into a sinister grin.

"Let’s see how you get out of this one, Aria," she whispered to herself, a malicious plan forming in her mind.

With Aria unconscious and in Ethan’s clutches, Jessica had the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the situation. She quickly pocketed the phone and slipped back into the shadows, unnoticed by Ethan, who was too busy hauling Aria away to realize what he had left behind.

---

Not far from the scene, Alexander stood frozen by the side of the car, his mind in turmoil. His anger was palpable, but underneath it all, he couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that something was terribly wrong. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was worried about Aria. Why would she meet Ethan? Why wouldn’t she come to me?

As he stared out into the darkness, Lucas approached, having just finished his call with the police. "They’ll be here soon," Lucas reported, trying to gauge his boss’s mood. "But Mr. Alexander, are you sure we shouldn’t—"

"Enough, Lucas," Alexander snapped, though his voice lacked its usual venom. "I’ve made my decision."

But even as he said the words, doubt began to creep in. Was Aria in real danger? He remembered how vulnerable she had looked when he found her in the hospital, how she had held his hand, seeking comfort.

Just as Alexander was about to dismiss the thought, a car screeched around the corner, breaking the silence. It was the police, arriving faster than expected.

Lucas sighed in relief, but Alexander’s heart pounded with unease. What if something happens to her?

"Let’s go," Alexander said suddenly, his voice tight. He couldn’t shake the feeling that walking away was a mistake, and he wasn’t about to let Aria face whatever danger awaited her alone.

Alexander couldn't bring himself to take the step and drive away without confirming if Aria was truly okay. Lucas, noticing his boss's conflicted emotions, quickly ran off after the police to make sure Aria was safe.

Moments later, Lucas ran back, panting. "Mr Alexander, young madam has gone missing".

Alexander stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding as Lucas’s words echoed in his mind. Aria has gone missing. A surge of panic washed over him, but he quickly masked it with cold fury.

"What do you mean she’s missing?!" he barked, his voice sharp with tension. His gaze bore into Lucas, who looked at the ground, too afraid to meet his boss’s eyes.

“I-I don’t know, sir," Lucas stammered, still catching his breath. "When I got there, young madam was already gone. But there were signs… signs of a struggle, like she had been dragged away." He swallowed hard, sensing the storm brewing in Alexander’s demeanor.

Alexander clenched his fists, fury, and fear swirling inside him. How could this happen? He had been watching from the shadows just moments ago, convinced that Aria had betrayed him by meeting Ethan. But now, the possibility that she had been taken by force made his blood run cold.

Without another word, he spun on his heel and stormed toward the car. Lucas followed close behind, fumbling with his phone as he dialed the security team.

"Call everyone," Alexander commanded through gritted teeth, his voice low but deadly. "I want a full search for her. She couldn’t have gone far. And inform the police.”

Lucas nodded frantically, speaking into the phone as he relayed the urgent orders. "Yes, Mr. Alexander. I’ll have the team spread out immediately.”