Accidental Marriage With Mr Billioniare
Chapter 223: FINDING THE ATTACKER

Chapter 223: FINDING THE ATTACKER

Astrid and Julian sat in front of the TV, watching as the news of the airline launch and subsequent riot flashed across the screen.

The reporters were speculating about Astrid’s well-being, and fans were sending out messages of support and concern.

Astrid smiled wryly as she watched the news. "Look at that," she said to Julian. "Everyone thinks I’m hurt."

Julian nodded. "That’s the idea. We want to keep the person who attacked you on edge. If they think you are still recovering, they might let their guard down."

Astrid’s eyes narrowed. "But why did you decide to hide the fact that I am okay?"

Julian leaned forward, his eyes locked on hers. "Because, Astrid, if the person who wants you hurt has killed the attacker, it means there’s more to this than we initially thought. There’s a bigger player at work here, and we need to be careful."

Astrid pulled out her phone, but the first news she was getting was how she had gotten more followers on her social platforms.

"Wow.." she mumbled and went through messages to see even celebrities and more powerful people following her, she was more than speechless.

Everyone keeps wishing her a safe recovery but what caught her attention was the hashtag boycott, Mattie.

Just then Julian called back her attention, "You will need to work from home for a while now." she looked up at him in disagreement, frustration etched on her face.

"I need to know who my father is, Julian. I need to get Josh’s DNA."

Julian’s expression turned cautious. "I still don’t trust Rowan’s words, Astrid. We can’t just trust people willy-nilly."

"But Mattie’s had confirmed that Tonia isn’t her mother, there’s truth in what Rowan said. That means there’s still a chance that Josh isn’t my father."

Julian nodded, his expression softening. "Fine, we will find a way to get the DNA test done, and that isn’t changing my words, you aren’t going to the office for now and you need to be on guard 24/7."

She was about to argue with him when they heard the sound of the password clicking on her front door.

Just then, Maren rushed into the room, looking worried. "Astrid, oh my God, I was so scared when I heard the news! Are you hurt?"

Astrid shook her head, smiling reassuringly. "I am fine, Maren. Julian didn’t let the attacker get away."

Maren’s eyes turned to Julian, a mixture of relief and gratitude on her face. "Thank you, Julian... but why the hell did you scare us that way, we thought something happened to her." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Well... that was the best way to get the attacker off her back for a while."

Donald and Miles also rushed into the room, Donald’s face etched with worry. "Astrid, my dear, I was so worried about you!" he let out almost breaking down.

Astrid smiled, standing up to hug her grandfather. "I am fine, Grandfather. Julian took care of me."

Donald’s eyes turned to Julian, a questioning look on his face. "What happened, Julian? Why was Astrid attacked?" his voice sterned one could tell he was ready to attack Julian if he didn’t explain himself fast.

Julian’s expression turned grim. "I am still investigating, Donald. But I think it’s best if Astrid stays somewhere safe for a while."

Donald agreed instantly, "Yeah... she will come to stay with me at the mansion. It’s the safest place for her."

Julian’s eyes narrowed a hint of possessiveness in his voice. "Astrid is still my wife, grandad. I have the right to decide what’s best for her. And I say she will stay here, with me."

The room fell silent, as they both glared at themselves. Astrid’s eyes darted between the two men, a mixture of concern on her face.

Seeing none of them was backing down soon, she quickly intervened trying to ease the tension in the room.

"Grandfather, maybe I can just stay here, but you make sure the place is heavily guarded?"

Donald’s expression softened, at the mention of this, though he still doesn’t want his granddaughter for Julian but best believe that with Julian she would be safe not just anyone would want to trespass.

"Alright, alright. I will send some guards over immediately. I am worried about this, Astrid. I don’t have good feelings about this attack." he asserted again, still worried watching news that was supposed to be happy, there he watched his granddaughter getting attacked.

Astrid could see the tension in her grandfather’s body, and she quickly got up to help him sit down. She sat beside him, putting a soothing hand on his arm. "It’s okay, Grandfather. I am safe now. Julian is taking care of me."

"I should get you water.." she let out as she quickly ran over to the kitchen as she left the room, Donald turned to Julian.

"You know, Julian, I have noticed that Astrid doesn’t have a maid. Ever since she moved in here, why didn’t you get her one?"

"Astrid values her privacy, and she doesn’t fancy having maids around. But maybe it’s time we reconsidered that. Maybe having someone to help her with daily tasks would be a good idea."

Just then, Astrid returned with the glass of water, and Donald took it from her, his eyes grateful. "Thank you, dear. I think Julian is right, though. It’s time we got you some help around here."

******

A dark room was dimly lit, and the only sound was the heavy breathing of two figures present. A man, tall and imposing, stood in the shadows, his face obscured by the darkness. He was dressed in a brown suit, his eyes hidden behind an eye patch.

Suddenly, he spoke, his voice low and menacing. "How dare you kill the attacker without my permission?" he growled, his anger palpable.

The other figure in the room, a man with a scar above his left eyebrow, trembled slightly as he replied, "I-I didn’t mean to, sir. I just didn’t want it to be linked to us, to avoid the Logan family."

The man in the brown suit took a step forward, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You should have waited for my instructions," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.

Just then, the second figure’s phone buzzed, and he quickly checked the message. His expression changed from fear to anger, and he looked up at the man in the brown suit.

"Sir, we have just received news that another attacker has been identified," he said, his voice tight with tension. "And it seems that this attacker had other motives."

The man in the brown suit raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice softer now.

The second figure hesitated before speaking. "It seems that this attacker was not just targeting Astrid, but wanted to have her killed."

The man in the brown suit nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he considered this new information.

Just then, the door to the room burst open, and two men dragged in a third man, who was struggling against his restraints. The man in the brown suit looked at the prisoner with interest, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Ah, our attacker," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I have been waiting for you."

The captive looked up at the man in the brown suit, fear etched on his face.

"Who sent you?" he asked and the captive shook his head.

"P-please," he stuttered. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

The man in the brown suit chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Oh, I think you do," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You see, I have ways of making people talk."

He nodded to the second figure, who quickly moved forward with a lighter and a cigar. The man in the brown suit took a long drag on the cigar, exhaling slowly the whole room was filled with tension as they watched their boss.

"Let’s try this again," he said, his voice low "Who sent you to attack Astrid!" his voice boomed this time around.

The captive shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. "I-I don’t know," he stuttered.

The man in the brown suit nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving the prisoner’s face. "I see," he said. "Well, in that case, we’ll just have to do this the hard way."

He nodded to one of the men holding the captive, who quickly moved forward and placed the prisoner’s hand on the ground. The man in the brown suit took a step forward, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Let’s see how you like a little pain," he taunted, and placed the lit cigar on the back of the prisoner’s hand, and the prisoner let out a scream as the skin began to burn.

The man in the brown suit watched with interest, his eyes never leaving the prisoner’s face.

"Who sent you to attack Astrid?" he asked again, almost losing it already.

The captive shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. "I-I don’t know," he stuttered again.

The man in the brown suit nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving his face. "I see," he said. "Well, in that case, we will just have to take this a step further."

He pulled out a pistol and cocked it, pointing it at the prisoner’s head. "If you don’t tell me who sent you to attack Astrid, I will blow your head off," he said, his voice cold this time around.

But he was still silent, he smirked this time again, and before they could understand his next action he pulled the trigger, the bullet hitting the right arm of the captive.

"Are you talking or?..." he cocked his pistol again this time aiming at his head.

The captive let out a scream, his eyes wide with fear. "Josh Daniel!" he shouted. "It was Josh Daniel who sent me to attack Astrid!"