Chapter 329 Buried Secrets

Chapter 329 Buried Secrets
Emma's POV

I was completely helpless as Ryan's men held me back. I watched in frustration as they dug up the large mound of earth I had so carefully packed down earlier. My heart raced as their shovels hit something solid.

"Found it, boss," one of the men called out, pulling a simple ceramic urn from the freshly dug hole.

Ryan smirked, taking the urn and examining it with mocking eyes.

"Why didn't you open it and check what's inside?" Ryan taunted, his eyes never leaving my face. "Weren't you curious?"

"You think everyone's as perverted as you are?" I shot back, my voice steady despite my racing heart.

Ryan laughed. "It's called being inquisitive, sweetheart."

"No, it's called being a sick bastard. Just like your father."

Ryan's face darkened momentarily before he regained his composure. He gestured to the urn. "Open it."

"Open it yourself," I challenged.

"I would, but I'm concerned your boyfriend might have rigged it with something nasty," Ryan replied, his tone casual but eyes watchful. "Be a sweetheart and protect me."

I studied his face, remembering the first time I'd met him. He'd seemed normal then—cocky but not malicious. Now he was completely warped.

"You're the perfect example of someone who self-destructed," I remarked coldly. "You weren't always like this."

"People change," Ryan shrugged, unconcerned.

"Your mother would be so disappointed in what you've become."

His reaction was instant. His hand shot out, gripping my jaw painfully. "Don't you dare mention my mother. You're the reason she's dead."

I stared back defiantly. "I'm the reason? You're the one who set fire to the monastery."

"I may be a lot of things, but I would never set fire to a place with my own mother inside," Ryan snarled, his fingers digging deeper into my skin.

"You wanted to burn me alive so I wouldn't find whatever Blake gave me," I accused. "You didn't care who else got hurt."

One of Ryan's men cleared his throat. "Boss, we should check what's in the urn."

Ryan released my jaw, shoving the urn into my hands. "Open it."

With trembling fingers, I removed the lid. What I saw inside was completely unexpected. The urn contained a string of small LED lights wrapped around white feathery padding, creating a soft glow like a gift box. Nestled in the center was a small red jewelry box.

I mentally rolled my eyes at Blake's bizarre staging. This was clearly meant to mislead anyone who found it.

I carefully lifted out the jewelry box and opened it. Inside was only a diamond ring, maybe three or four carats. My heart sank. There was no data collector that Blake had mentioned.

Ryan snatched both the ring and the box from my hands, examining them carefully. He turned the ring over, held it up to the light, and even bit it to test if it was real.

"Where is it?" he demanded, his voice dangerous.

"That's all there is," I replied, genuinely confused. The box felt too light to contain any hidden device.

"Break it," Ryan ordered one of his men, gesturing to the urn.

The man smashed the ceramic urn against a nearby headstone. Fragments scattered across the ground, but nothing else was hidden inside.

I frantically thought through the possibilities. Had the collector been removed? Had Nora somehow gotten to it first?

"Either you give me what I want, or I'll bury you right here," Ryan threatened, his voice low and menacing.

I met his gaze steadily. "Then stop talking and just bury me."

I let my shoulders slump slightly, playing the part of someone betrayed. "Blake lied to me too. There was supposed to be something important in there."

Ryan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You two are slippery as eels, always one step ahead."

"Check the ground again," one of his men suggested. "Maybe it's buried deeper."

They dug down further, excavating the entire plot until they hit solid stone at the bottom. Still nothing.

Ryan's face contorted with rage. He turned and kicked the man who had suggested more digging, sending him tumbling into the hole.

"If Blake tries anything clever, I'll take your life," Ryan declared as we walked back to his car. "You're my insurance policy now."

"Blake's already working with you people," I countered. "He even took Rachel hostage."

Ryan's laugh told me everything. "That wasn't Blake, sweetheart. That was Parker."

My stomach dropped, but I kept my face neutral. "Where is Blake, then?"

"Tell me where the collector is, and I'll tell you where your boyfriend is."

Once inside the car, I stared at the diamond ring Ryan had placed in his pocket.

"That was from Blake to me," I said quietly.

"Finders keepers," Ryan replied, examining the ring again. "Besides, I don't trust that this isn't hiding something."

I leaned back against the seat, exhaustion suddenly overwhelming me. My eyes grew heavy as the car sped through the darkness, and despite my best efforts to stay alert, I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke, we were pulling up to an enormous mansion. Ryan helped me out of the car with mock chivalry.

"You're the first woman I've brought back here," he said with a smirk. "Special treatment just for you."

I desperately wanted to contact Nora but had no direct way to reach her. I needed to be careful not to ruin whatever plan Blake had in motion.

"I need to go to the hospital," I said, clutching my stomach. "I'm not feeling well."

Ryan studied me for a moment, then made a call. Within an hour, a doctor arrived at the mansion to examine me.

"The baby is developing normally," the doctor confirmed after examining me. "Just make sure she gets plenty of rest and nutrition."

After the doctor left, I sat on the edge of the luxurious bed, contemplating how I could possibly reach Nora.

To my surprise, I heard voices downstairs—one of them unmistakably Nora's. I moved closer to the door, listening.

"So aunt, you're dating this guy now?" Ryan's mocking voice carried up the stairs.

I heard a sharp smack, followed by Ryan's protest.

"Don't you dare bully a pregnant woman," Nora's voice was stern. "Have you forgotten our family rule? We absolutely do not bully the elderly, women, or children."

"I've been treating her very well," Ryan protested. "She has the best room in the house."

"She's pregnant and scared," Nora insisted. "I'll be taking over her care."

"I almost forgot you and Blake were engaged before, right?" Ryan's voice was sly.