The Heiress's Revenge - A Bloody Affair - Chapter 42

[42 – Web of Deceit – I]
After the press conference concluded, the crowd began dispersing, and the flashes of cameras dimmed. Knowing his son very well, Marcus called his bodyguards in his usual authoritative demeanor. He gave them clear instructions, in precise words to not let Ethan go anywhere else other than the car that he had arranged to take Ethan back home.

As expected, Ethan tried to sneak away the moment he saw that no one was around to stop him. But before he could, a couple of casually dressed bodyguards stepped closer and surrounded him, “Nice try, kid.” said a bodyguard.

“What?” Ethan’s eyes widened on realizing that he had been caught. The bodyguards steered him towards the car that Marcus had arranged for Ethan. They gently but firmly pushed him in the backseat of the car before closing the door and standing at a little distance from the car.

Ethan opened his mouth to protest but all his protests died at the sight of his father, Marcus, who was sitting in the passenger seat, “Did you really think that I would let you out of my sight after all this?”

“Dad.” Ethan muttered under his breath while mentally cursing himself for even thinking that his father would let him go that easily.

“What do you think of yourself, huh, Ethan?” Marcus’s tone was dripping with anger, “After sorting all this mess that you created, did you really think that I would let you go out and give you the chance to create a bigger mess?”

“Dad -” Ethan tried to explain himself but Marcus was not in the mood. He was furious that even after all his warnings, Ethan still tried to sneak away and not follow his command.

“I warned you Ethan, didn’t I? Not once, not twice, but so many times and yet you didn’t fail to disappoint me.” Marcus growled in anger while Ethan remained silent so as to not provoke him further.

“Did I not explain it to you how important this marriage is to us? I have explained to you in simple and very clear words that you have to get married to Caroline for us to be able to have access to the massive fortune on her name!” Marcus clenched his fists tights to keep himself from hitting Ethan.

“What is so hard to understand about that?” questioned Marcus, “Why are you so hell bent on ruining everything?” he shouted.

“Dad, I was only -” Marcus did not let Ethan speak and interrupted him, “You what, Ethan?”

“You what?!” he roared, “I have been extremely lenient with you but now you have crossed all the limits! When are you going to stop, you dumb bastard!” cursed Marcus making Ethan lower his head and just listen to whatever Marcus was saying.

“Now, you will go straight to our mansion and then stay there in your room until your wedding. You are free to do whatever you want but after your wedding. Until then, I am not going to let you out.” declared Marcus much to Ethan’s dismay.

“I would not hesitate to lock you up in your room and if necessary chain you like cattle!” Ethan winced knowing well that Marcus was capable of doing exactly what he was saying, “After all this mess that we have just managed to control, I don’t want you spilling more of your disgusting secrets in public.” Marcus warned before exiting the car.

The driver then locked the car so that Ethan would not be able to escape while Marcus went to sit in the other car with his wife, Katherine, and their daughter, Chloe.

Defeated, Ethan surrendered to his fate and chose not to tempt his fate and evoke his father’s ire. He knew that Marcus would not hesitate to actually chain him up if he saw the need. So Ethan decided to what he was being told to.

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Meanwhile, Elijah was walking towards his car planning to go visit Seraphina. He had promised her that he would take her to the hospital and now he was going to fulfil that promise. But just as he was about to reach his car, Mia ran up to him and stopped him in his way.

“Elijah, wait!” she stepped in front of him, panting lightly.

“What?” Elijah asked with a polite smile on his face but on the inside his was getting impatient.

“I just wanted to say that it’s been so long that we spent some time together, so I was hoping that we should catch up and have lunch together.” Mia offered with a gentle smile.

“Uumm,” Elijah smiled sheepishly,” Actually Mia, that would not possible today. I have something urgent to deal with so I would not be able to have lunch with you.” he informed hoping Mia would understand.

Mia felt a little saddened at Elijah’s refusal. She had hoped to spend some quiet and quality time with Elijah. He had been away living with his grandfather and when he came back, they only got to spend a year and few months before he was sent to London for business.

When he came back, she had been vacationing with her parents so she did not get the chance to properly spend some time with him after his return. That’s why she came over to ask him out for lunch.

“Is it really urgent?” she asked him, not wanting to pressure him for anything.

Scratching the back of his neck, Elijah replied, “Yeah. If it wasn’t I would not have said no.”

Nodding her head, Mia kept smiling and asked, “What about dinner then?”

Elijah sighed. He did not want to make Mia upset but right now his priority was Seraphina. He wanted to go check on her and make sure that she was fine. Also, he wanted to spend some quality time with her and planned on taking her out for lunch if she felt okay, otherwise they would get the food home delivered but he wanted to have lunch with Seraphina.

“That would not be possible as well.” Mia’s heart sank but she continued to smile and pretend that she was not upset, “I would not be able to return until midnight so dinner wouldn’t be possible as well.”

Mia was Elijah’s friend, a very good friend and he did not want to upset her so he suggested, “How about tomorrow? We’ll spend the whole day together catching up because I know that Mia the Monkey has a lot to talk about, isn’t it?”

Mia’s face brightened up hearing that, “Done.” smiled and then added, “But now that you have promised, you have to keep it as well. Otherwise you know, I’ll make you pay.” she spoke the last part with narrowed eyes and in tone filled with mirth.

“I know!” Elijah chuckled and ruffled Mia’s hair making her grumble and step back to avoid her hair getting messed up.

“Okay, then go!” Mia gently pushed at Elijah’s shoulder, “Go and get your important work done so that I can finally spend some nice time with my best friend.”

“Bye!” Elijah waved his hand, bidding her goodbye and almost ran up to his car.

As Elijah walked away, Mia’s father, Daniel who was eavesdropping on the whole conversation, finally came out of his hiding spot. He shook his head in frustration as he watched his silly daughter staring at Elijah walk away from her with a smile on her face.

He approached his daughter with a smile on his face, trying to make himself look kinder and happier, “Mia, sweetie, if you love him, tell him. Don’t let him go.”

Mia blushed and lowered her head feeling shy in front of her father, “Dad!”

Daniel chuckled and began smoothing her hair that Elijah had just ruffled, “Did you think that you can hide your feelings from your father? I have known since ages now.”

“Are you upset, dad?” Mia asked hoping that her Dad would approve of her feelings for Elijah and the possible alliance between them.

“What is there to be upset?” Daniel commented, grinning, “In fact, I like Elijah for you. He is a good man, and is perfect for you. But the question is, when are you going to tell him about your feelings?”

“I’ll tell him when the time is right, Dad.” Mia responded much to Daniel’s disappointment, “I still don’t know what Elijah feels for me. If this is just friendship or if this is something more.”

“That is why I am planning to conform his feelings first before telling him of my own.” Mia commented, “I am doing the right thing, dad.” she smiled, content with how the things were and taking things slow, but that was not the case with Daniel.

As Mia walked away, Daniel’s demeanor changed, his expressions turned serious, “How am I going to make this silly girl understand that we don’t have the time to take things slow.”

“If you don’t do something, then I will.” he vowed to himself to get Mia married to Elijah as soon as possible.