Chapter 154
Devon's POV
I stood in the doorway of Eden's interrogation room, watching Scarlett Harper's face transform from confusion to horror as my security team brought her in. Marcus had followed my instructions perfectly—she hadn't even had time to text anyone before being escorted to this soundproof chamber.
Her eyes widened when she saw Ethan Blake hanging from the ceiling restraints, his face bruised, breathing shallow but steady. I'd made sure he wouldn't suffer permanent damage—just enough to make him look pitiful.
"What is this?" Scarlett's voice cracked as she tried to back toward the door. "Let me go! Do you know who my father is?"
I blocked her escape route, my expression deliberately blank. "Ms. Harper, please take a seat."
"I'm not doing anything you say! I'm leaving right now!" She attempted to push past me, her desperation palpable.
Marcus grabbed her by the arm, roughly forcing her into the metal chair in the center of the room. She winced at his grip.
"Marcus," I said softly, "be gentle with the lady." My voice carried politeness, but my eyes remained cold. The irony wasn't lost on me—gentleness was the last thing she deserved after what she'd planned for Aria.
Scarlett's breathing quickened as she glanced around the windowless room. The single door, the concrete walls, the drain in the center of the floor—all designed to intimidate. Her eyes kept darting between Ethan's hanging form and my face, searching for mercy she wouldn't find.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered.
I straightened my cuffs. "Patience, Ms. Harper. We're waiting for a few more guests."
On cue, Marcus left and returned minutes later with four men, their hands zip-tied behind them, their faces bloodied from what had clearly been a rough capture.
"These gentlemen have been following Ms. Harper for the past few days," I informed Scarlett, circling behind the men. "Rather suspicious behavior, wouldn't you agree?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Scarlett insisted, her voice trembling. "I've never seen these men before."
I placed my hand on the shoulder of the largest man. "Tell Ms. Harper who hired you."
When he hesitated, I applied pressure to a nerve point that made him gasp. "She did," he blurted out, nodding toward Scarlett. "The blonde. Paid us five grand each to rough up some chick named Aria. Said to teach her a lesson she wouldn't forget."
Scarlett's face drained of color. "He's lying! I would never—"
"Marcus," I interrupted calmly. "The phone."
Marcus stepped forward, holding Scarlett's phone. "Found the texts, sir. Very explicit instructions. Even has photos of Ms. Aria Harper for identification."
I watched Scarlett's expression collapse as she realized the depth of evidence against her. Her strategy shifted instantly.
"Please," she whimpered, sliding off the chair to her knees. She crawled toward me, wrapping her arms around my legs. "I'll do anything you want. Anything. Just let me leave, and this never happened."
I looked down at her, feeling nothing but cold contempt. She'd plotted to have these men violate Aria—the woman who now occupied my thoughts day and night. The punishment needed to fit the crime.
"Anything?" I repeated, my voice dangerously soft.
Hope flickered in her eyes. "Yes. Anything."
I stepped back, breaking her grip on my legs. "Then you can experience exactly what you planned for Aria."
Her face crumpled in horror as understanding dawned. "No. No, please—"
"Gentlemen," I addressed the bound men, "you're being offered a choice. You can either face charges for conspiracy to commit assault and spend the next decade in prison, or you can demonstrate to Ms. Scarlett Harper exactly what you had planned for Ms. Aria Harper."
"You can't do this!" Scarlett screamed, scrambling backward.
"I believe I just did." I turned to Marcus. "Remove their restraints. I'll give them privacy to carry out their task."
Marcus efficiently cut the zip ties. As we walked toward the door, Scarlett's pleading turned to hysterical sobbing. I closed the door behind us, her cries instantly muffled by the soundproofing.
In the hallway, I removed my jacket and tie, both speckled with Scarlett's tears.
"Burn these," I instructed Marcus. "And have the car ready in thirty minutes. We'll release Ms. Harper and deliver Mr. Blake to his residence afterward."
"Yes, sir. And the men?"
"Pay them as agreed and ensure they understand the consequences of speaking about tonight's events."
Marcus nodded, his expression professional despite the screams still audible through the door.
I felt nothing as I walked away—no guilt, no satisfaction, merely the calm certainty of a task completed. Aria was under my protection now, whether she fully realized it or not. And I protected what was mine.
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Aria's POV
I was jolted awake by commotion downstairs—shouting, crying, and the sound of the front door slamming. The clock on my nightstand read 2:17 AM. I slipped into my robe and moved toward my bedroom door, curious and apprehensive about what could cause such a disturbance at this hour.
The marble staircase felt cold under my bare feet as I descended. When I reached the bottom step, I froze at the sight before me.
Scarlett was crumpled on the floor of the foyer, her clothes torn and soiled, her face streaked with makeup and tears. Her blonde hair was tangled and matted, and even from where I stood, I could see bruises forming on her wrists and neck. Elsa was kneeling beside her, attempting to help her to her feet.
"What happened?" I asked, injecting genuine-sounding shock into my voice.
Scarlett's head snapped up. Her swollen, reddened eyes narrowed with such hatred that I instinctively took a step back.
"You!" she shrieked, her voice raw. "This is all your fault! This was meant for you!"
I blinked, making sure my expression showed nothing but confusion. "What are you talking about? What happened to you?"
My father emerged from his study, hastily tying his robe. His face contorted with fury and concern as he rushed to Scarlett's side.
"What in God's name is going on?" he demanded, helping Elsa lift Scarlett. "Who did this to you?"
Scarlett clung to him, her sobs renewed. "They—they grabbed me when I went to Eden. They said I was expected."
My stomach tightened. I knew exactly what had happened, but I maintained my facade of innocence.
"Eden? The private club? Why would you go there alone at night?" I asked, carefully modulating my tone to sound concerned.
"Because Ethan was supposed to be there with her!" She jabbed a finger in my direction. "She hinted that Ethan was there!"
My father turned to me, his expression darkening. "Aria? What is she talking about?"
I shook my head, feigning bewilderment. "I have no idea. I haven't spoken to Ethan in weeks. I've been at home all evening."
"Liar!" Scarlett screamed, suddenly lunging toward me. My father caught her around the waist. "You set me up! You knew what would happen!"
"Scarlett, please," my father said firmly. "You're not making sense. Who did this to you?"
Her breathing was ragged, hysteria building. "Kane. Devon Kane. He—he was waiting for me." She broke into fresh sobs. "And Ethan was there too, tied up. They made me—they made me—"
She doubled over, coughing violently. To my horror, specks of blood appeared on the marble floor as she retched.