Riya’s heart plumted, her face turning pallid. Yes, she was captivated by Liam, but that was sothing she would never confess to Zachary. She shook her head feverishly in denial.
"I’m not," she stamred. "It’s just a marriage of convenience. There are no feelings between us..."
"I don’t believe it," he growled. "I will not allow you to marry him. You will et him and end this engagent—do you understand?"
Riya knew opposing him would only bring disaster. "I understand your point," she said cautiously. "I’ll talk to him. But... Liam told he only agreed because of his parents. I doubt he’ll...Mm..."
Her words were cut short as Zachary suddenly smacked his lips with hers in a bruising, domineering kiss. The force of it made her flinch, pain burning across her lips, but she dared not fight back. Fear locked her in place, her body stiff in his arms.
In a flash, Zachary lifted her in his arms and carried her into the room.
~~~~~~~~~~
At the hotel...
The event had gone smoothly. Zara was busy with Rachel, talking to the buyers and boutique owners. Nathaniel watched her for so ti, admiration softening his expression. He longed to stay by her side, to bask in her glow of success, but he also rembered that another important task was yet to be done. He slipped out of the hotel, dialing Ian’s number.
With quiet resolve, he slipped out of the bustling venue, pulling out his phone. "Hello...I’m on my way," he said curtly before ending the call.
It didn’t take long for him to arrive at the place where Jaxon was kept. It was a dilapidated, deserted house, cloaked in shadows. The only illumination ca from a dim yellow light seeping through the building, faintly piercing the darkness.
Nathaniel’s gaze swept the deserted surroundings before he stepped inside. The air was damp, heavy with mildew. In the center of the room, he spotted Jaxon slumped in a chair, ropes binding his limbs, his mouth gagged, unconscious. The sight only fueled the simring anger in Nathaniel’s chest.
From the shadows, Ian erged. His face was grim, his tone clipped. "I talked to him. He confessed but didn’t take Riya’s na."
"How could that be possible?" Nathaniel hissed. "He is definitely connected to Riya."
"I know, but we don’t have any proper evidence to prove that," Ian pointed out. "I checked his phone records. No calls, no ssages, no recent contact. Nothing links him to her."
Nathaniel’s patience frayed. "Then what the hell did he confess?" he demanded.
"He said he acted out of hatred for Madam Zara," replied Ian. "He has been plotting to harm her for a long ti, but every attempt failed. That night at the hotel, he was lurking for an opportunity... it was pure chance that he crossed her path outside the bathroom."
He recounted everything that Jaxon had said, but Nathaniel wouldn’t listen to it. He couldn’t believe that Jaxon had nothing to do with Riya.
"He has a connection with Zachary," Nathaniel recalled. "There’s no way he can deny it. Wake him up—I need answers."
Ian nodded and glanced at the unconscious Jaxon. Picking up a bucket of cold water from the corner, he splashed it on Jaxon.
Jaxon jolted awake with a sharp gasp, his body shuddering at the icy shock. His dazed mind barely had ti to catch up before Ian ripped the tape from his mouth. Jaxon let out a muffled cry at the sting, but before he could recover, Nathaniel stord forward, seizing him by the collar.
"Talk," Nathaniel growled. "Who is backing you? Who ordered you to sabotage the event?"
Jaxon’s throat went dry. He couldn’t take Riya’s na. Zachary had agreed to only one condition to help him at the ti – he could never reveal his connection with Riya, even if he got caught. Or else, he would lose his life.
Nathaniel might hit him, torture him, before finally handing him over to the cops, but he could never kill him. He wasn’t a criminal like Zachary.
"I already said everything," Jaxon muttered in a low, defiant voice. "It was . I wanted her to pay. She has always slipped through my fingers, but I swore I’d make her suffer. At Shay Walsh’s party, I had it all planned. She should have been ruined then, but luck saved her. Tonight, I was sure it would work. But no—she survived again."
He sneered. "If I get a chance, I’ll again try because I hate her. I hate her to the core for hurting my parents, for snatching everything from ."
"I don’t want to listen to all this," Nathaniel snapped, clasping his collar even tighter. "I want to know who is helping you."
"I have soone I know, an old friend," said Jaxon. "He pitied and promised to help in getting even with the one who had wronged ."
Nathaniel’s fury boiled over. He shook Jaxon hard, his teeth clenched. "Zara never wronged you—or your parents," he snarled. "It was you who wronged her. You kidnapped her to clear your debts, and because of that, she lost her child. And yet, you dare to bla her?"
With every word, his anger surged higher. He swung his fist at him, the blow connecting with his nose brutally.
Jaxon howled in agony, blood spilling down his face.
"Now tell —who ordered you to hurt Zara? Was it Riya?" Nathaniel demanded.
"Riya? Who is that? I don’t know her," Jaxon denied it straight away.
"Don’t lie or I’ll hit you hard," Nathaniel threatened.
Jaxon couldn’t tell him the truth. He would endure the pain and humiliation and even go to jail. But he didn’t want to die."
"If you want to hit , go ahead," he muttered through the blood. "I’ve told you the truth. Believe it or not, that’s up to you."
Rage pulsed through Nathaniel, so strong it nearly blinded him. He raised his fist yet again, but before he could deliver the punch, Ian’s urgent voice cut in.
"Wait a mont, Mr. Grant."
Nathaniel froze mid-swing, his fist hovering in the air. He turned to Ian, his glare sharpening.
"Please. There is sothing I need to tell you."
Nathaniel shot Jaxon a hard glare before stepping back. "What is it?" he snapped, every line of him radiating anger.
Ian lowered his voice. "I know you are furious, but the fact remains—we don’t have solid proof tying him to Riya. Give ti to find sothing. Don’t kill him. He can be helpful."
Nathaniel paced a beat, jaw tight. "We may not be able to link him directly to Riya," he admitted grudgingly. "But we can prove he is connected to Zachary. He might know what Zachary is planning. Break him—push him until he cracks."
Ian watched him for a mont before saying, "He was in connection with soone in Zachary’s gang. He owed money to a man there, which is why he kidnapped Madam—to settle that debt. There is no direct link with Zachary."
"Fuck you," Nathaniel snapped, losing his temper. "He managed to stay hidden because he had Zachary’s backing. We even have proof that the hideout he has been staying in all those days was arranged by Zachary. And you are saying we have no evidence. Are you on my side or his?"
"Hahaha..." Jaxon’s laughter echoed inside the house.
Both Nathaniel and Ian turned to him, annoyed and surprised at the sa ti.
"I’m the one who is tied to the chair in a helpless state," Jaxon scoffed. "But it’s you who seems more troubled than . You think I have a connection with Zachary. Then hear out – yes, I am linked to his gang. I even talked to him once, but can you prove it? No..."
He started laughing again, the sound of his laughter grating on Nathaniel’s nerves.
"Shut up," Nathaniel growled, strangling him. "I’ll kill you."
Jaxon gasped. The sudden pressure around his throat choked him. His body twisted involuntarily in a violent attempt to inhale air. But Nathaniel’s grip remained firm.
Fearing Nathaniel would end up killing Jaxon, Ian stepped in and forcefully pulled Nathaniel’s arm.
"Let him go," Ian exclaid. "You are going to kill him."
Nathaniel, however, wasn’t in the mood to listen to any reasons. He shoved Ian away. The force sent Ian flying away and collapsing on the floor. Turning back to Jaxon, Nathaniel again clasped his fingers around his throat. His intention was clear – he wanted to kill him right there.
"I’m asking you the last ti," Nathaniel hissed. "Answer honestly. Who had hired you? Is it Riya or Zachary?"
"Not Riya, nor Zachary," Jaxon replied in a mocking tone.
"Still not honest," Nathaniel growled threateningly. "Then I’ll punish you – right here, right now." He wrapped his fingers around Jaxon’s even harder.
Ian, who was still disoriented from the falls, was terrified that Nathaniel would definitely kill Jaxon. But he couldn’t let that happen. His mind raced to find a reason to stop Nathaniel.
An idea crossed his mind. Only Zara could calm Nathaniel.
"Mr. Grant, don’t make a mistake," Ian cautioned. "Think about your wife. She might be waiting for you. Head back to her. Let deal with him."
At the ntion of Zara, Nathaniel’s expression changed. His grip around Jaxon’s throat loosened.
Jaxon gaped for air, cold sweat dripping from his brow. He had just narrowly escaped.
"Alright, I am leaving. But I want a thorough investigation." Dropping fiery words, Nathaniel left in a hurry.
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