Ch. 256..260: Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire Chapter 256-260
Chapter 256: No Permission Granted
Olivia washed her face and quickly threw on a simple brown dress. Next, she wore a black face cap and used a black mask to cover half of her face.
She took a moment to take her look in through the mirror before grabbing her bag and leaving.
She didn’t bother to think about whether she would be granted permission. All she knew was that she was going to see her mother.
Fortunately for her, Stephanie didn’t care about her visit to the police station and let her do as she pleased. But it’s not like she didn’t have someone keeping an eye on her.
The last thing Stephanie wanted was to deal with rumours that would affect Vintage Cellar. So, keeping a watch on Olivia meant keeping her in check, which was equal to fewer problems.
---
Arriving at the police station, Olivia made sure her disguise was intact before stepping out of the car.
She saw a few reporters clamouring outside the police station with their equipment and quickly dodged. Though her disguise was in place, she didn’t trust that they wouldn’t be able to recognize she was the one if they decided to analyse the photos.
As Olivia sneakily made her way inside the police station, she could only conclude that the news about her mother’s arrest hadn’t reached many ears. Otherwise, they would have known which police station she was held in, and then, they would all become campers outside there.
"I heard my mother was brought in here. I want to meet her," Olivia told the police sitting at the front desk about visiting her mother and was surprised by the protocol attached to it.
Olivia was asked questions such as:
What is your mother’s name?
When was she taken into the police custody?
After passing the information, she was required to wait for a minute while the records were being searched. After a few seconds had passed, the police officer standing behind his desk turned his expression to her.
"Mrs. Stella Swift, is your mother?" he asked.
"Yes." Olivia narrowed her gaze, already furious by the judgemental stare she thought she saw.
"Unfortunately, she isn’t allowed to see anyone at the moment?" the police Officer replied.
Olivia was completely baffled by that statement and immediately asked the reason she wasn’t allowed to see her mother.
"... My mother has been missing for more than a month and she only just returned today. There are lots of unanswered questions she has the answers to, so I need to meet her.
Hearing that she only had questions for her mother, the policeman told her that the police would handle that job during the interrogation and that she didn’t need to help them.
Olivia was so mad knowing that she had been indirectly asked to leave the station. But how was she going to do that without seeing her mother?
Who knows what she looked like now?
With Olivia’s insistence and trying to make a scene, the policeman found himself explaining her mother’s situation to her.
"My apologies, Miss. Your mother is not allowed to receive visitors until after her first court trial. We are afraid she might get new ideas and escape again."
This explanation was a hard pill for Olivia to swallow. It finally dawned on her that her mother was a criminal—and a big one at that.
"My mother has been missing for the past month. I am her only child, and I deserve to have a moment with her. Besides, what kind of ideas would she get from meeting me?" Olivia asked, her gaze darkening by the second.
Even if her mother was a criminal, they shouldn’t put words in a way that would make it look like she was an accomplice to that.
If meeting her mother would give her ideas to escape, then what would that make her?
A partner in crime?
Olivia didn’t like the sound of that. Unfortunately, no matter how she tried to reason with the policeman, she wasn’t granted access. Instead, she was asked to come in another few days.
Reluctantly, Olivia left the police station without meeting her mother. Devastated, she immediately went to her bedroom as soon as she returned home.
---
The following morning, rumours about Stella being handcuffed and dragged out of the spa by a team of police officers made it to the internet. Then, an hour later, the Tea Time Gossip blog confirmed the news with a two-hundred-page long article.
The blogger stated that Stella had been off social media for some weeks, only for her to resurface this time, having made a big mess.
---
"Stella Swift’s Public Arrest—What Crime Did She Commit?
Tea darlings, we thought she had finally learned to stay out of trouble and off the media, but it turns out that Madam Swift has been stirring up a mess behind the scenes!
Yesterday, Stella Swift—the once-feared mistress of the Swift family—was publicly arrested at a luxury spa. Witnesses say she was taken away in cuffs, escorted by officers who clearly weren’t there for a friendly chat. The sight was nothing short of disgraceful!
But here’s the real tea—the reason for her arrest is still a mystery. The authorities are keeping things under wraps, which only makes us more curious. What could she have possibly done to deserve such a humiliating public takedown?
Did she commit fraud? Was she involved in some high-profile scandal? Or did she finally cross the wrong person? One thing is certain—nothing stays hidden forever. Sooner or later, the truth will spill, and you know Tea Time will be the first to serve it hot!
What do you think Stella did to land herself in this mess? Drop your wildest guesses in the comments!"
~Tea Time.
---
There were so many speculations after Tea Time released that article. And thanks to Stella’s bad public image, people thought the worst of her.
However, no one knew she was capable of murder; hence, that option was never mentioned.
As Abigail read through the article, a smug smile appeared on her face. Her joy knew no bounds. Finally, she could contact Aurora and laugh over it. Therefore, she made the call.
Abigail expressed her excitement over the recent development and thanked God for disgracing Stella in such a big and unforgettable way.
"Although I don’t believe in reincarnation, this kind of woman should have no business returning to this world again," she spat angrily.
Aurora had no energy to waste on Stella’s matter, but her best friend deserved satisfaction from the chat, so she humoured her, laughing here and there where necessary.
"Honestly, I don’t have time to spare on that woman. Whatever she is going through is well deserved. She tried to assassinate me but ended up killing my father. And as if that wasn’t enough, she killed the murderer she hired for the job just to try and cover up her tracks. I wish she would get the highest sentence for her crimes."
Aurora was embittered. She had been calm for the longest time, but today, as her best friend brought up this topic, she lost control.
She completely forgot she was pregnant and wished Stella evil. And if it were possible now, she would go to the police station and drag Stella by her hair.
’Maybe I should have requested that she got tortured for a few more weeks,’ She thought regretfully.
On the other hand, Abigail was already thinking of the possible worst scenario for Stella at her final judgement.
"Getting hanged would look good on her if you ask for my opinion. But on second thought, it wouldn’t be bad if she suffered in prison for the remaining years of her life here on earth. I’m sure her new fellows there will welcome and treat her well. What do you think?"
"I hope she gets poisoned once in a while so she keeps feeling pain repeatedly, watching her life hang by a loose thread. And every time she gets in that situation, she will worry if that was going to be her last breath."
As soon as Aurora finished saying what was on her mind, Abigail gasped in shock, pulling her back to reality.
"Aura, I didn’t know you had it in you to be very creative with your enemies’ punishment. Wow!"
A subtle frown appeared on Aurora’s face as lines formed on her forehead. She was wondering when her heart grew so cold as her hand instinctively reached to caress her small baby bump.
"Abby, we should close this case," she said, worried about the negative aura surrounding her.
She had gotten so lost in her quest for revenge that she let her bitterness surge out of control from deep within her.
Understanding her best friend’s discomfort, Abigail dropped the topic and casually turned her interest to Olivia.
"Is she coming back to Vintage Cellar?"
"I have no idea what she’s thinking. Maybe the break is doing her some good, and she doesn’t want to return. Whichever way she chooses to live her life is her business solely," Aurora replied.
Chapter 257: A Curse on Her Lineage
With Tea Time promising to find out the reason behind Stella’s arrest, her fans patiently await the big reveal.
On the other hand, Stella became a subject of ridicule.
The people in the social class gossiped with her name at every gathering. It was as if they would die if they didn’t mention her name.
"Who knows what she was arrested for?"
"Whatever Stella Swift is going through is well-deserved. I remember when she used to abuse her position and stomp on those below her."
"She has destroyed her late husband’s legacy. And she has made it obvious that he was the one keeping her in check before his unfortunate demise."
"Adam Swift made the worst mistake of his life when he married Stella."
"I heard Stella used to maltreat Aurora until she got married and left the house."
"Stella didn’t even do a good job raising her own daughter, but see how wonderful her stepdaughter turned out."
"Olivia is going to take after her mother if she’s not careful."
"She has already taken after her. A lion doesn’t birth a goat."
"Fortunately, Stella is no longer in our midst; otherwise, she would have sat in her seat to detect how we run our lives as if hers is better."
"Saint Stella, who ended up in police custody... hahaha."
"I wonder how long we will have to wait until the first trial to know her crimes."
Thanks to Stella’s ugly side, many people cheered at her downfall and hoped for her to be disgraced further.
---
While Olivia was denied a visit to her mother, who was in police custody, Stephanie visited the following day, made her demands and was granted access.
When Stella was told that there was someone there to see her, she got excited, thinking it was her daughter, only to enter the room and see Stephanie sitting comfortably with her gaze on her.
Instantly, Stella’s hope was dashed.
A minute later, Stella sat across from Stephanie with cuffs around her wrists.
"Have you come to gloat at me?" She sneered as her emotions riled within her. She was clearly unhappy with Stephanie’s visit.
And if it were possible, she would refuse to see her.
Hearing Stella’s question, Stephanie scoffed in disbelief.
"You have some guts, Stella, and I have to hand it to you for being brave," Stephanie said with a subtle frown arched in her brows. "You murdered my brother, cleaned your tracks and lived with the silence of your crimes until the police caught up with you. Then, you had the confidence to run away for weeks only to reappear out of the blues."
Stephanie took a deep breath and continued as Stella’s face lost its colour to ashen, "And now, you are asking me if I had come to gloat in your face. Excuse me! What is there to gloat about? Shouldn’t I have a knife by your throat by now?"
There was a tinge of intense anger in Stephanie’s tone. A nerve on her neck throbbed as her jaw hardened.
She felt nothing less than killing Stella right now and bearing the consequences that would come with it.
If Stella hadn’t proven to Stephanie that she was a foolish woman until now, then it was Stephanie’s fault.
Of all the things to worry about after killing Stephanie’s brother, Stella was concerned about her coming to make fun of her for being behind bars.
Should that even be a problem for a minute?
"You should be begging me for your life; rather, you are more concerned if I’m going to make fun of you. Where did you leave your brain?"
Stella grew silent as she watched Stephanie intently. Now, she was confused, wondering if she had any rights left to be mad about being insulted.
Seeing that Stella wasn’t retaliating, Stephanie went on with her scolding. "You went into hiding after killing my brother, your husband. You should be—."
Stephanie was yet to finish her words when Stella cut in, looking a bit mad.
"I didn’t go into hiding! I was kidnapped, and you had everything to do with it!" Stella’s accusations rang in the room, shutting Stephanie’s lips and leaving her to process the information.
"I see where Olivia’s madness came from. It has everything to do with you!" Stephanie roared. "You were kidnapped? By me? Stella, nothing will stop you from rotting in hell!"
A subtle confusion outlined Stella’s brows. Seeing Stephanie’s reaction, she hated to believe that she was telling the truth.
"I want to see my daughter," Stella demanded out of the blue, refusing to argue with Stephanie. And already, she has ruled her out from the suspect list of the possible people who had kidnapped and assaulted her.
"Keep dreaming!" Stephanie sneered. Next, she picked up her bag, refusing to waste any more of her precious time on her. "You are in no position to make any demands, talk more of speaking to me."
As Stephanie stood up to leave, Stella said to her, her gaze narrowing, "I will see my daughter, and then, you will have to take care of her like I would if I was home. At least you can do your best for your brother."
"Wait until you hear about how I took over everything that belongs to your daughter from prison, then you will know that I’m doing what’s best for my brother, considering he raised someone else’s child as his for years before recently discovering the horrible heart-wrenching truth."
Stella gritted her teeth as she stared daggers at her sister-in-law.
That woman had literally and openly confirmed the future mistreatment of Olivia.
Who does she think she is?
"If you hate Olivia so much because Adam isn’t her biological child, what about Aurora? She is not his daughter at all. Or is this some special edition recipe of wickedness?"
"Don’t you dare compare Olivia’s life to Aurora’s. My brother chose to marry her mother even though she was a single mother. But you? As soon as Evelyn died, you found your way into our family. You tore us siblings apart, and see what you did in the end. You turned into a murderer. What monster is worse than you?"
Stella quickly cut in with all the insults rolling in. She couldn’t stand them. "You are deviating from the topic, Stephanie! Your brother clearly knew Olivia wasn’t his and still gave a share of his properties to her. So, who are you to pin your problems on this case and want to oppress my daughter?!"
Even while at fault, Stella didn’t make any attempt to back down when she was supposed to keep her mouth shut and brood over her bloody crimes. But no! She chose to wag her tongue and challenge Stephanie, forgetting that after the law punished her, her daughter was going to suffer.
Inhaling sharply, Stephanie pointed a finger to Stella’s face and continued, "Although God doesn’t make mistakes, I stand my ground to say he made a mistake creating you. You should have died in your mother’s womb. And this is me cursing you and your generation with the pain of my brother’s death in my heart. You will suffer a fate worse than what you’re experiencing. There will be no peace and joy in the lineage of the wicked!"
Stephanie laid a curse on Stella’s lineage and slammed her palm on the table to seal it, seething in rage.
"Mark my words, Stella, you will watch from hell as your generation suffers and wish you were never born in the first place?"
After saying her piece, Stephanie walked away, her heels clanking heavily against the polished tiled floor. And as she walked along the corridor, her heavy steps echoing, she blinked back the tears that had formed in her eyes.
She missed her older brother so much. And it hurt so much knowing the truth about his unfortunate demise.
She promised that Stella would reap every fruit of her labour by a thousandfold without escaping anyone.
That night, Stephanie didn’t come downstairs for dinner and had, instead, ordered a cup of coffee.
Olivia had been afraid of facing Stephanie at the dinner table and had to prepare her mind before arriving only to realize that she would be alone for the night.
Although she, for a moment, thought about what must have made her Aunt miss dinner, that thought quickly disappeared as it had come.
For the first time in a long while, Olivia finished her food in peace with no side remarks or uncomfortable stares.
"I hope every night remains this way," Olivia mumbled to herself as she added more food to her plate and continued to eat in a hurry, as if afraid that Stephanie would change her mind and suddenly come to join her.
After feeling her stomach with enough food, Olivia was finally able to relax until she accidentally learnt that Stephanie had gone to visit her mother at the police station earlier that day.
"W-what? She was allowed?" Olivia’s eyes grew wide in shock as she tried to assimilate the news. "Does this mean she might have asked the officers to stop me from visiting my mother?"
Sadly for Olivia, no matter how much she tried to analyse the situation, there was no one to confirm or deny her deductions.
Chapter 258: A Spy in Their Midst
Three days had passed since Stella’s arrest, and Wing City had remained relatively calm—at least on the surface. But deep within the shadows, something sinister was brewing elsewhere.
At exactly 9:45 PM, Xander’s phone vibrated on his desk. He picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, and swiped the answer button.
"Asher," he greeted, his tone low and carrying a tinge of exhaustion to it. He had been walking all evening and had lost track of time.
"We have a problem," Asher’s voice came through. "A spy has infiltrated Arsenal."
Xander’s gaze darkened instantly. He sat up straighter. "A spy?" This wasn’t good news.
"Yeah. He’s one of the latest recruits. Whoever planted him wants access to Wing City’s intelligence, and I strongly suspect it’s the Reagent family pulling the strings. They must have decided to send one of their own this time around after past failed attempts."
Xander exhaled sharply. The Reagent family had been a thorn in their side for years, trying to gain power and control over Arsenal—their elite, government-sanctioned secret service that operated from the shadows. If they succeeded, the entire intelligence network of Wing City could fall into the wrong hands.
And also, the reagent family have been after Xander for while now. Though they do not know his real identity and are only aware of his other secret identity, they have been relentless in their pursuit.
"Have you confirmed his identity?" Xander asked.
"No," Asher admitted. "But I have my eye on three suspicious recruits. One of them is definitely the mole. I need you to go over their profiles before we make a move."
Xander nodded, his fingers drumming lightly against his thigh. "Send me everything you have. I’ll go through them tonight."
"Already did. Check your email," Asher replied with a hint of urgency in his tone.
Xander reached for his laptop and refreshed his inbox. As expected, there was a secured file from Asher. He would go through it later.
"What’s the plan?" Xander asked.
"We observe first," Asher replied. "Let them think they’re still in control. Once we confirm who the spy is, we will extract him without raising suspicion. No room for error."
"Understood." Xander’s tone was final.
After discussing a few more logistics, the call ended. Xander dropped his phone and exhaled.
A spy within Arsenal... This was going to be messy.
---
Leaving his study, Xander climbed the stairs to his bedroom. When he stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of Aurora lying on her side, a pregnancy book propped up in her hands. The dim bedside lamp cast a warm glow on her features, highlighting the slight swell of her belly.
He smiled to himself.
Aurora must have sensed his presence because she turned to look at him. "You took a longer time than usual before coming up," she said. "Work?"
"Something like that," Xander replied as he climbed into bed beside her, refusing to discuss further details. "What are you reading?"
Aurora lifted the book slightly so he could see the title. A Guide to Early Pregnancy: What to Expect in the First Trimester.
Xander’s brows arched. "You’re really into this, huh?"
"Of course," Aurora chuckled, shifting to get comfortable. "I need to know what’s happening inside me as a first time Mum since I don’t have any mother figure in my life to school me. A lot of changes are going on in my body."
Xander leaned in, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder as he peered at the book. "Then I should read with you."
Aurora turned to him in surprise. "Really?"
"Mm." He nodded. "I want to know every detail about pregnancy so I can help you when the need arises."
Aurora’s heart swelled with warmth. "That’s really sweet."
Xander pressed a kiss to her temple before settling beside her. Together, they read through a Chapter about morning sickness, hormonal changes, and how certain smells could trigger nausea.
"Does this mean I should stop wearing cologne?" Xander teased after reading the part about scent sensitivity.
Aurora giggled. "Not yet. You still smell nice to me. But if my hormones start acting up, I will let you know."
He smirked. "Noted."
They continued reading for another ten minutes until Aurora suddenly closed the book and placed a hand on her belly.
Xander noticed the way her lips pursed. "What’s wrong?"
"I’m craving something."
Xander tilted his head. "What do you want?"
Aurora hesitated for a second before saying, "Something sweet and fresh... maybe fruit salad?"
Xander chuckled. "Stay here. I will get it for you."
Aurora’s eyes sparkled. "Really?"
"Of course." He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before getting up and leaving the room.
He absolutely didn’t mind that it was almost midnight. His wife’s needs were more important to him. He got her pregnant, so he had to be responsible for her.
---
Five minutes later, Xander returned with a glass bowl filled with neatly diced fruit—strawberries, blueberries, grapes, kiwi, and slices of watermelon and banana. The fruits were drizzled with evaporated milk and condensed milk.
Aurora’s face lit up instantly. "You even added watermelon!" she exclaimed as she took the bowl from him. "Thank you."
Xander smirked as he climbed back into bed. "I pay attention."
Aurora wasted no time digging in, taking a spoonful of the sweet colourful mix and popping it into her mouth. A satisfied hum left her lips.
Xander watched her with amusement, his heart full. Seeing her happy was more rewarding than anything else in the world.
As Aurora continued eating, she paused for a moment and looked at him. "What if our baby likes fruit as much as I do?"
"Then I’ll make sure our kitchen is always stocked," Xander replied smoothly.
Aurora grinned. "Good answer."
As she took another bite, Xander reached over and swiped a grape from her bowl. She gasped in mock outrage.
"Hey! That’s mine!"
Xander smirked, chewing leisurely. "I deserve a reward for my efforts. And since you chose not to give me a spoon, I had to take it myself."
Aurora rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine. You can have more," she said, passing the bowl to him.
They sat there in bed, eating fruit together, basking in the quiet, intimate moment.
And for a little while, Xander allowed himself to forget about the spy threatening Arsenal’s security. Because right now, the only thing that mattered was the woman beside him and the tiny life growing inside her.
Chapter 259: Catching The Spy
Xander had barely gotten out of bed when his phone vibrated on the nightstand. He reached for it, still groggy from sleep, and glanced at the caller ID. It was Asher.
And Asher calling so early in the morning wasn’t a good sign, especially given the severity of their conversation last night.
Xander glanced at the other side of the bed to make sure the ringing tone of his phone hadn’t disturbed her sleep. Seeing that she was still comfortable, he moved the bed covers and got out of bed before leaving the room entirely.
Taking the stairs, he quickly pressed the answer button on his phone screen before placing the phone against his ear.
"Good morning, Asher." Xander’s voice was rough with sleep. "What’s up?"
"We move today," Asher’s firm voice came through. "The Major has given the order to catch the spy before sunset."
Xander rubbed his face, waking himself up fully. "So soon?" It hadn’t been up to eight hours since he learned about the spy and now, they were to catch him within twelve hours?
Today was going to be a very long day.
"The longer we wait, the higher the chance of him slipping through our fingers," Asher replied. "We’ve already narrowed it down to three possible suspects. I need you here in an hour."
Xander sat up and swung his legs off the bed. "Understood. I’ll be there."
"Did you go through the profiles I sent to you?" Asher inquired.
"Yes, I did. Two stood out to me. We will discuss the details when we meet up. I will be at the headquarters in an hour," Xander informed.
The call ended, and Xander returned to the bedroom. He kept his phone on the nightstand and sat on the bed. He released a deep tired sigh.
Just then, Aurora stirred beside him, blinking sleepily. "Was that Asher?" She had heard his phone ring earlier, but didn’t wake up immediately.
"Yeah," Xander murmured, brushing his fingers through her hair. "Work calls."
Aurora pouted slightly but didn’t complain. Instead, she reached for his hand and intertwined her fingers with his. "Do you have time for breakfast?"
Xander smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Of course." That was non-negotiable.
---
After a quick shower, Xander joined Aurora at the dining table. Nene had prepared a simple but nutritious meal—oatmeal with honey, slices of toast, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Aurora watched him eat, occasionally sneaking glances at him. She could tell his mind was already at work, probably strategizing about some ideas.
"You look troubled," she finally said. "It seems like there is a serious deal today. Take care of your health and don’t get lost in work."
Xander looked up, meeting her gaze. "I will." He was satisfied she didn’t probe about this work as he wasn’t ready to lie to her.
Aurora pressed her lips together before adding, "If at any time you have something to talk to me about, I will be always available to give you a listening ear."
Even though Aurora wasn’t probing about his work, she couldn’t help but be worried because no matter how he tried to mask it, she could tell there was trouble in paradise.
"I know, Sweetheart." Xander smiled, touching her hand on the table. Already, he had concluded to be mindful of his expressions so she wouldn’t have to be worried anymore.
Aurora sighed, nodding in understanding and finally focused on her food.
After finishing breakfast, Xander stood up, adjusted his watch, and leaned down to kiss Aurora deeply. When he pulled away, his lips lingered on her forehead for a second longer than usual.
"Tell me when you close from work," he said to her.
"Why? You want to take me somewhere?" she teased.
Xander chuckled and said that he was only making the request to ensure her safety. Then, he informed her that he was leaving for work.
"Stay safe," she whispered.
"You too," he murmured before finally stepping away.
Then, with a final glance at her, he walked out the door.
---
Secret Service Headquarters – Arsenal Base
Xander stepped into the underground facility, his boots clicking against the polished floors. The air was thick with tension. The moment he arrived, Asher greeted him with a sharp nod.
"Glad you could make it," Asher said, leading him toward the surveillance room.
Inside, the screens flickered with live footage of different sections of their headquarters. Several men stood around, reviewing files and scanning the monitors for suspicious activity.
"We’ve been watching the three suspects all morning," Asher continued. "Two of them haven’t done anything suspicious yet. But the third one..." He pointed to the screen, where a young recruit named Daniel Firth was pacing near the secured archives.
Xander narrowed his eyes. "He looks nervous."
"He should be," Asher smirked. "Because he’s about to get caught."
One of their analysts turned from his computer and spoke. "Sir, I just traced an unauthorized access attempt from Daniel’s credentials. He tried to get into the classified database but was locked out by the firewall."
Xander’s jaw tightened. "That’s enough proof."
Asher grabbed a gun from the weapons locker and tossed it to Xander. "Let’s go pay our little spy a visit."
---
Daniel Firth was sweating.
He had thought he could pull this off. Just one more attempt and he could have gotten his hands on the intelligence files. But now... he could feel eyes on him.
His hands shook as he pulled out his phone to send a coded message to his handler.
’I’ve been compromised.’
But before he could hit send, a cold voice spoke behind him.
"Don’t bother."
Daniel froze.
He turned slowly, and his stomach dropped when he saw Xander standing there, gun raised, pointed directly at his head.
Actually, there were a few reasons he was shocked to see Xander. One, being the reason that he didn’t know ’Xander’ was a member of the Arsenal group as this was his first time seeing him. Secondly, he wasn’t going to survive this.
Asher was right beside Xander, arms crossed, a smug look on his face.
"Looks like we caught a rat," Asher mused.
Daniel’s mind raced. Should he run? Try to fight?
Xander clicked the safety off. "Move, and I’ll put a bullet in your skull." His tone was firm, leaving no room for hope.
Daniel swallowed hard. His back was against the wall—literally and figuratively.
His breath came out shaky as his hands slowly rose in surrender.
The trap had been set, and he had walked right into it. Maybe he would have succeeded if he had been a little patient since rushing straight for his mission just two weeks after his recruitment into Arsenal blew his cover.
Xander’s finger tightened around the trigger. "You have exactly five seconds to start talking before I decide whether you leave this room alive without memories, or in death."
Daniel’s face paled.
He knew, without a doubt, that Xander Scott wasn’t bluffing.
Chapter 260: Aurora Will Hate This
Daniel Firth groaned, his head lolling to the side as consciousness slowly returned to him. His hands were bound tightly behind his back, and his body ached from where Asher’s gun had struck him.
He blinked, his vision hazy, but as soon as he saw Xander towering over him with an unreadable expression, fear spiked through his chest.
Xander crouched to his level, eyes cold and calculating. "Let’s try this again," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "Who sent you?"
Daniel swallowed hard but remained silent. He could barely move his tongue, but even if he could, he had been trained not to break easily.
Xander sighed, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t have the patience for this. He knew Daniel wouldn’t talk so soon, but he had been hoping for some level of cooperation.
Behind him, Asher leaned against the metal table, arms crossed over his chest. "Tough guy," he mused. "Shame it won’t last long."
When Daniel still refused to answer, Asher lifted his gun again. Before Xander could stop him, he swung it, striking his temple with the butt of his weapon. Daniel let out a choked gasp before slumping over, completely knocked out.
Xander exhaled, already feeling the weight of what was to come.
"You’re taking him home," Asher said, holstering his gun.
Xander’s jaw tensed. He had been expecting this, but that didn’t mean he liked it. "I can’t."
"You have to," Asher countered. "We can’t bring him to Arsenal’s prison. Too many eyes. Too much paperwork. And I don’t have a secret underground basement like you do, otherwise, I’d take him myself."
Xander clenched his fists. "My wife will find out. She’s already been through enough, Asher. You remember what happened last time?" His voice lowered, the memory cutting deeper than he cared to admit. "She caught me torturing people in that very same basement, and she tried to run away. She was terrified of me. I won’t let her go through that again, especially now that she’s pregnant."
Asher placed a firm hand on Xander’s shoulder, his expression softening. "Then don’t lie to her."
Xander met his best friend’s gaze, conflicted.
"She’s your wife, man. You can’t keep hiding this side of you from her. Since she already has an idea, it will be easier for her to understand. Just tell her the truth, no matter how bitter it is."
Xander let out another deep sigh, glancing down at the unconscious spy. "Aurora is not going to like this," he muttered.
"No, she won’t," Asher agreed. "But she will hate it even more if you act sneakily."
Xander didn’t respond. He just pinched the bridge of his nose before giving a silent nod.
With that, they moved.
---
Xander’s Private Residence.
Liam led a team of security personnel as they carried Daniel Firth through a discreet entrance at the back of Xander’s building. The underground basement was accessible through another hidden passage apart from the one that led to Xander’s study.
It was designed to keep unwanted guests—and prisoners—out of sight.
The men moved swiftly, ensuring no trace of their activities could be seen from the outside.
Meanwhile, Xander and Asher remained outside, standing in the backyard, when the former’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Aurora’s name flashing on the screen. And immediately, his heart dropped.
If only he wasn’t guilty of a crime, then there would be no need to be afraid of his wife’s call.
Xander swiped his finger across the screen and answered the call immediately. "Hey, Sweetheart."
"Hey," Aurora’s soft voice came through, calm and unsuspecting. "I forgot to let you know I was on my way home. My car is just driving into the premises now."
Xander stiffened. His pulse quickened.
She was here? Now?
His grip on the phone tightened. "You’re home?" He couldn’t believe it, so he checked the time on his wristwatch to confirm that it was just a few minutes past two.
Not much time had passed, and his wife was already back home.
If it were any other day, Xander would have been glad. Sadly, today was on another level of tricky.
But despite the turmoil in his head, he couldn’t help but be a little concerned as to why his wife returned home early today. Perhaps was the baby troubling her again?
"Yes," Aurora replied. "Are you still at work?"
Xander cursed internally. His men were still securing Daniel. If Aurora walked in and saw even the slightest trace of something unusual—bloodstains, equipment, or worse, the lingering presence of their security team—it would be impossible to explain.
He had to act fast.
"No," he said quickly. "I’m at home. I just returned and decided to check out a few things. I will see you inside later, okay?"
And before she could respond, he cut the call.
Asher raised an eyebrow. "That’s smooth. Real smooth."
Xander ignored the sarcasm. "I hope she doesn’t ask the butler or Nene where I am; otherwise, she will find out that I was outside, and she will get curious."
Right after saying that, he instructed, "Tell your men to withdraw in five minutes." Then he ran a hand down his face and added, "I need to get inside before she starts asking questions."
Asher smirked. "You mean before she catches you in another lie?"
Xander shot him a glare, but Asher wasn’t wrong.
Asher clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Tell her the truth," he reminded him. "She deserves that much even if she wouldn’t accept it. At least, let it be that you are not keeping anything from her."
With that, Asher turned and signalled to his men. "We’re leaving."
Xander watched as Asher and his team swiftly exited the estate. Taking a deep breath, he phoned Liama and instructed him to keep everything calm because his wife was home. Next, he dropped the call and turned toward the house’s main entrance.
Aurora was waiting inside. And Xander had a choice to make.
Lie.
Or tell her the truth.
Either way, there was no escaping this.
***---***
Appreciation Note:
Thank you, dearestsss, Ashley_Chitsinde, Irene_babilekere, Favour_favour, Daoistq2i3WX, Kake_Tak for your comments. Happiness always surges through my bloodstream while reading them.