Chapter 30 Soldiers in a Revenge plot
Ariella felt like she’d been punched. Everything…the contract, the marriage, Aiden’s pain’ it all led back to a murder six years ago. They weren’t just pawns in a business game. They were soldiers in a revenge plot that had been brewing since Aiden was twelve years old.
“Does Lily know?” Aiden asked finally.
“No. Richard wanted to protect her from this as long as possible.”
“And Ariella’s brother?” The question came from Ariella, voice shaking. “You said…at the first meeting, you said Ethan found the same evidence. That Winters had him killed too.”
Marcus looked at her with something like pity. “Your brother worked part-time at a Frost Industries subsidiary. Data entry. Low level. But he was smart. He noticed the same irregularities Catherine had found. Started asking questions, pulling files.”
“No,” Ariella whispered.
“He went to HR. Filed a formal complaint. Three days later, he was dead. Another car accident. Another drunk driver who conveniently died before trial.”
The world stopped spinning.
“You’re saying…” Ariella couldn’t breathe. “You’re saying Winters killed Ethan because he asked questions about financial reports?”
“I’m saying your brother stumbled onto something massive. And Winters couldn’t risk another investigation. Couldn’t risk someone else connecting the dots like Catherine had.”
“Oh my god.” Ariella stood on shaking legs. “Ethan was murdered. He was…he didn’t die because I called him. He died because he was good at his job. Because he noticed things. Because…”
Her legs gave out.
Aiden caught her before she hit the floor, pulling her against his chest. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
“He was murdered,” she sobbed into his shirt. “Six months. I’ve spent six months thinking it was my fault and he was murdered.”
“It’s not your fault. It was never your fault.”
Marcus gave them a moment. Then, gently: “There’s more.”
“How can there be more?” Aiden’s voice was raw.
“Your father’s will. When he dies, which will be soon everything transfers to you. The company, the assets, the evidence. All of it. And you’ll have a choice to make.” Marcus pulled out one final document. “You can let the contract marriage expire quietly. Take the company, take the money, move on with your life. Winters will eventually face justice through other channels, but you’ll be free of it.”
“Or?”
“Or you can fight. Use the evidence your mother died for. Testify. Bring Winters down completely. But it will be public. Brutal. Every detail of Catherine’s murder, Ethan’s murder, the embezzlement, all of it will come out. The press will tear you apart. Winters has lawyers, connections, power. He won’t go quietly.”
“So my choices are let my mother’s murderer walk free, or destroy my own life trying to stop him.”
“Yes.”
Aiden laughed, hollow and broken. “Great. Fantastic. Just what I always wanted.”
Ariella pulled back, wiping her face. “What about me? What are my choices?”
Marcus looked uncomfortable. “Technically, once the marriage contract expires and Aiden has control of the company, you’re free to leave. Your family’s debt is paid. The bakery is secure. You can walk away from all of this.”
“But?”
“But if you stay and remain married to Aiden, even after the contract ends you’ll be part of this fight. Winters will come after you too. He’ll dig into your past, your family, your mother’s suicide attempt. He’ll use everything he can to discredit you both.”
“So I can abandon Aiden right when he needs support most, or I can stay and watch my family get destroyed on national television.”
“I’m sorry. I truly am.”
Ariella looked at Aiden. His face was blank, shut down, protecting himself the only way he knew how.
“I need to see him,” Aiden said suddenly. “My father. Right now.”
“He’s sleeping…”
“I don’t care. Wake him up. I need…” His voice cracked completely. “I need to hear him say it. That he’s been lying to me for six years. That he used me. That everything…all of it, was part of some revenge plan.”
“Aiden…”
“Now, Marcus. Or I walk out of this house and you never see me again.”
Marcus nodded slowly. “Okay. But Ariella should come too. This concerns her just as much.”
Richard’s bedroom was on the first floor now, he couldn’t manage stairs anymore. The room smelled like medicine and death and lies that had rotted for six years.