Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever
Chapter 771: Crisis - Part 4

Chapter 771: Crisis - Part 4

Ivy’s eyes widened in horror when she saw Aria and Stuart being dragged inside the den. She couldn’t believe her eyes for a moment and shook her head to clear her sight.

’Please let it all be my illusion. Please let it all be a dream.’ She prayed desperately. Alas, her prayers had fallen on deaf ears.

Aria and Stuart had not disappeared as she wanted them to. Instead, they stood where they were as they tried to ward off the men who were pulling them with them.

"Did you like the surprise, Ivy?" Jared rubbed his hand, utterly thrilled by the way things were turning out. It was more exciting than he had imagined. "I’m sure you must have been missing your sister all this time. And, now here she is to accompany you. Say hello to Aria, dear."

Ivy’s eyes teared up as she watched her sister’s plight. Although she had no idea how she had got here, she knew her sister was here for her and Stuart had been implicated on the way.

"Let go of me." Aria fought the men with all her might. Unlike Ivy who was bound and helpless, she was free. She kicked and scratched the men who tried to hold her, putting all the training she had undergone under Maggie’s strict supervision to use.

Thus, her months of hardship helped her harm a few men, but not all though, and in no time she was subdued.

"Aren’t you a fighter?" Jared gave an appreciative look. "And a beautiful one at that." He ran his eyes all over her just like how he had done to Ivy, making Aria nauseous.

"You..." Stuart was livid and he kicked the guard beside him, sending him howling in pain. He then tried to punch the other man who was holding him captive but failed at it. The man was quicker than he was and before he could punch him, he was tripped and pushed to the ground hard. His forehead knocked against the hard concrete floor and blood started to ooze.

"Stuart!" Aria and Ivy shouted at the same time as they watched blood trickling down his face. Their tones were filled with terror and Aria once again tried to fight off the men. But in vain.

"Who is this, kid? Did you bring a guard with you, Aria?" Jared mused as he looked at Stuart with amusement.

"Let go of him." Aria seethed and glared at Jared hatefully. If a glare could kill, Jared would have been killed a thousand times.

"And why would I do that?" He quirked his brow at her and tilted his head.

"He is not involved in this matter. Let him go."

"Aria...." Stuart shouted, shaking his head profusely in disagreement.

"And you are in no position to make demands here. This is my place and I will make the rules." Jared deadpanned, his expression turning hard as he glanced at his three captives one by one. "Bind them to the chairs opposite Ivy. I need to have a word with Aria and this gentleman here who is willing to put his life in danger for his friends."

Turning over his head, he smiled at Ivy softly. "Wait for me, Ivy. I’ll return to you soon."

Ivy scoffed loudly and looked away in disgust which Jared didn’t mind.

"Well, well, well, Doctor Aria West, are you surprised that you were caught this soon?" Jared squatted in front of the two, yet focused his gaze on Aria alone, ignoring Stuart completely.

"Did you think my men wouldn’t notice the car that had been following them for quite some miles?" Jared let out a laughter filled with wickedness and glanced at Stuart whose face was paler than snow.

"Without my permission, you can’t even follow me let alone enter the premises I’m in." Jared paused for a moment and observed Aria carefully. "Just like your man and his friends. They are a few miles away. But unless I want to, they can’t find you or me or anyone here for that matter."

Jared stood up and returned to the center, his expression filled with triumph and evilness. "Who knew a day would come when I’d have the upper hand over Noah, Joshua and Ian?" Jared gloated. "I did at least. But I don’t think any of you did. Am I right?"

Aria didn’t respond to him and continued to attempt to free herself from the shackles.

"It’ll be fun to torment the people Noah loves the most. Don’t you think so?"

"In your dreams, Jared. In your dreams." She spat, not hiding her fury before him.

"And has anyone told you that I always achieve my dreams and this is one of the best dreams I will be achieving."

"Keep hallucinating. Noah will soon arrive and rip you apart. Just wait and watch."

"Are you sure, Aria?" Jared gave her a cryptic look and Aria started to have an ominous feeling all of a sudden.

"I know Noah will find this place and let me clarify this, my dear." Jared’s tone spoke of a brutal promise and all the three people who were his captive felt the danger in the air.

"I want him to find this place. By the time I’m done tormenting you all, you’d be half dead, especially you Ivy ’cause you are my first guest and you’ll receive special treatment. And by the time Noah arrives, I’d have left this place good. I wonder how Noah’s reaction will be when he sees you all wounded, bloody and on the brink of death."

Just the thought of it made Jared euphoric while the three people felt chills run down their spine.

"Shall we start? Although I have an ample amount of time, I can’t waste it and do nothing."

Jared then returned to his chair and took his seat before he snapped his fingers. "You may start with the man. But keep him alive."

"No," Aria shouted while Stuart was dragged out of his chair. "Let him go. He has no enmity with you. You may harm me instead."

Aria cried as she fidgeted hard in her seat.

"Oh, I will come to you next, Aria. Don’t worry. This is just a small punishment. Who asked him to irk me of all people?"

He waved his hand and three men started to kick Stuart while he tried to escape them.

"Stuart." Ivy cried and tears gushed out of her eyes. The sisters tried hard but they couldn’t get out of their shackles.

In no time, Stuart was beaten black and blue and he was bleeding from quite a few places including his busted lips. He had fainted some time ago and his breathing was rugged. It was the only indication he was alive. It was a heinous sight and the West sisters felt miserable. He was implicated because of them and they’d forever be guilty about it.

Ivy lowered her head and made a decision before lifting her eyes to meet Jared’s. "If you have the guts come at me. Don’t harm someone who has no enmity with you."

And that was all it took for Jared to switch his character. He raised from his chair with a growl and rushed towards Ivy before he kicked her hard on her stomach. The chair toppled over due to the impact and Ivy felt an intense pain coursing through her body. Some of her ribs were broken for sure.

"Ivy!" Aria screamed in horror, her face blanching immediately.

Jared turned a blind eye to everyone else and ignored Aria’s cries. Bending forward, he lifted Ivy along with the chair. "Didn’t you question my courage just now? I’ll show you how much of a courageous man I am."

"Release her." He ordered and the guards released her from the shackles. He picked up one of the iron rods from the corner and dragged it on the ground, eliciting a terrible screeching sound.

Taking this chance, Ivy lunged at the nearby man to grab his gun. But Jared was quick to stop her and he twisted her arm until a loud crack reverberated in the place.

"Ivy!" Aria screamed at the top of her lungs while Ivy cried out in pain.

"Tch, tch, tch! What a bold yet stupid move! Did you think you’d outsmart me, Ivy? When did you become so dumb?" Jared chastised her and Ivy cried in anguish. Her entire body was aching and she felt like dying at that moment.

"Don’t try to act smart, Ivy. If you do, I’ll kill your beloved sister." He turned her around so that she was facing Aria and her eyes rounded when she saw the gun pointed at Aria’s forehead.

Satisfied that the threat had been registered, Jared let her go. "Let’s play a game, shall we?" He questioned all of a sudden with his lips curled up again. I’ll count to fifteen and you may hide anywhere you want in this place, Ivy. Once I’m done, I’ll search for you. If I find you within a minute, I’ll allow all three of you leave this place, alive. I promise and I rarely make promises. But if I were to catch you..."

Jared paused and ran his eyes over Ivy. "I’ll rape you in front of everyone here. What do you say? Do you want to play this game?"

Ivy was in pain. Yet, she understood his words and she glanced at Aria who was crying miserably. This was her only chance to save everyone. Even if Jared was not trustworthy, she had no choice but to give it a try."

"Smart decision," Jared smirked and tapped the iron rod twice on the ground and the sound was no less than of a hammer to the West sisters that seemed prepared to smash their heads.

"Your time starts now. One."

Ivy started limping as she looked for a place to hide while Jared watched her leave his sight slowly as he continued to count.

"Seven," He shouted and looked at Aria. "And you Doctor," He tapped the rod on the floor again and Aria’s heart skipped a beat. "You’ll watch me rape your sister in front of everyone. Once I’m done with her, it will be your turn next. So, enjoy the scene while you can. Fifteen. Ivy, here I come."