"Well, she ought to have a say in this. Her child is involved. Let's not forget that the whole reason why this started is me. I have to end this. Too many innocent people are getting involved. It is not what I want," Astra said. It hurt her that even more people were being dragged into her mess. Even the little boy Theo was having such a traumatic event in his life because of her. She was a bit grateful that he was just a child and that he would not remember any of it.
"Well, this is not entirely your fault Astra. You are not the one that made him obsessed with you. My experience with these things is that the more you try to drive them away, the closer they get to you," Sarah said surprising her and it seemed everyone in the room. Coming from her, it was even more than a compliment.
"But then again, Astra says she wants to use herself as bait, we should let her. She is who Ray wants," Sarah continued and the good feeling that Astra got from the compliment momentarily died. Both Nicholas and Jared started to talk at the same time but Sarah raised up her hand.
"Hear me out," she said.
"We can relay the plan with the police and we have to be very careful. It will not be easy, but I think we can get everyone out safely. I have a plan," Sarah said and Astra calmed, albeit a little. Nicholas raised an eyebrow at Sarah, and Jared said, "Well, let's hear it."
Sarah took a deep breath and started talking. "First we have to call Ray. Well, Nicholas will call him. We will let him know that we have him figured out, but that you don't want anything to do with Astra anymore. You will now add the point that she cheated on you, you will make him think you don't know he forged that yet. Then you will volunteer Astra's location along with the fact that you have always been jealous of his relationship with Astra and that you were almost sure they were playing around while the both of you were married. All this is baiting him. You will indicate that you want nothing to do with Astra anymore, something about her being too much trouble and then plead with him for Theo. It will be easy. He will want to meet you, maybe after he has gotten Astra. I think he will try to talk to Astra first, not kidnap her. Astra can bring Stephanie into the equation then. She will negotiate her leaving," Sarah started and Astra's eyes widened. She wondered how she would do all that, or most importantly if it would work.
"But then even if she manages to do all that and everything managed to actually work, Astra will be stuck with Ray," Jared said. It was clear that he liked her idea. He was looking at her intently.
"That's where the police and JW security come in. She would know where he is based by then. We will follow him well enough to know his destination. And even if he moves we would have studied his movement and I can almost bet that we would know where he moved to," Sarah said.
"It would be much better than the state that we are now. We don't know what is happening. It is very unnerving. I think I might go crazy," Sarah said and Astra knew that she shared the sentiment too.
"What if things go south?" Nicholas asked and Astra sighed.
"This might not entirely be my fault, but I have some blame in it, I have to right my wrongs. So this would be some sort of sacrifice made by me. You guys will find me eventually, and sooner rather than later, and Ray will not hurt me. It is better than Stephanie and Theo being there," Astra said.
"No, that's not right. I will not agree to that," Nicholas said and both Sarah and Jared turned to him, surprise in their eyes.
"Well thank God it's my decision not yours," Astra said right back and Nicholas frowned.
"I am sure we can figure out a way around it," Jared said and Astra looked at him, she was not sure whose side he was on. Whether he was for Nicholas or he was for her. Either way, she needed some sort of validation to know she was doing the right and noble thing. Nicholas was not helping.
"How about you go with a GPS tracker and a camera. We will plant it in your body and we will be able to figure out your location and also get some concrete evidence," Sarah suggested and Astra smiled. she liked that idea.
"I am all for it," Astra said.
"Are you all not thinking? Do you think the criminal mastermind would let you into his dungeon without checking you thoroughly?" Nicholas asked and Astra's spirit came down again.
"You don't have to be such a spoil sport," Sarah mumbled to Nicholas and Astra agreed.
"Well we have to do something. Of course all of our plans would have issues with them, and nothing would completely work out. But we cannot leave Theo and Stephanie with that monster all their lives because something bad may or may not happen to me. What happened to taking risks?" Astra asked. She knew that her annoyance showed in her voice.
"Risks taken are not usually life threatening!" Nicholas shouted again. He seemed very pissed.
"I can not listen to this anymore," Nicholas said and left the dining table and walked up to his room.
Astra stood up after him with the mind of following him, but Sarah held her hand.
"He loves you, that's the problem. He would not see reason in ten years," Sarah said. She sounded angry as she said the word of love. As though Astra was undeserving of his love. Astra knew that Sarah still thought that she cheated on Nicholas.
"I did not cheat on him. That was another of Ray's tricks. I have seen the pictures I have no idea where they came from," Astra said. She had this strong urge to defend her self against Sarah.
"I don't think you need to explain yourself to me," Sarah said and shrugged. She then focused on her meal which is probably already cold.
"I think I do need to explain myself to you. You are angry at me on behalf of Nicholas and I am telling you that you don't need to be. Nicholas and I are just victims in this very complicated mess. My life seems like a soap opera at the moment. If anyone is supposed to be angry it should be me. Why didn't he tell me this all these years? It would have made things much more easier," Astra said to Sarah and the younger woman sighed.
"I don't know what exactly went on between the two of you, but when I see people unsuited for each other I know it. You both may love each other, and don't try to deny it, but there are too many things that happened to you both. I suggest that you stop trying to get back together. This is real life, not a soap, love does not conquer everything. Sometimes, love is not enough," Sarah said and Astra felt like a knife entered into her heart. She had not the time to consider all that had happened, but some small part of her hoped that they would be able to get back together after it all over, but then she considered all that happened, maybe it was the universe trying to push them apart? Maybe they were not right for each other like Sarah said. In that case, love would never be enough. The realization was so heartbreaking that she did not want to think about it. Astra wondered if all the hurdles they passed was simply the universe saying, no more. That would be chilling.