Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever
Chapter 772: Crisis - Part 5

Chapter 772: Crisis - Part 5

Ivy limped her way slowly, enduring the pain she was in. Her entire body was aching as if a truck her driven over her, breaking her bones and tendons. Tears rolled down her eyes as she listened to Jared count somewhere far away.

Ivy had no idea where she was and if she could even hide in the place she was. It was Jared’s den and there was a high chance that he would catch her before the stipulated one minute was up. However, she had to try, she had to try for Aria and Stuart, the man who was thrashed black and blue and was now lying conscious.

And this was the best way she could think of a plan of escape or even find a weapon that could help her deal with Jared. If not fully, she could at least stall time until Noah and the others arrived.

Even during such a critical time, Ivy never thought of Joshua. He was now just a stranger and she had accepted it the moment she had stepped out of his mansion.

"One." She heard Jared shout behind her and Ivy’s heart jumped a beat. Jared had already finished counting when she had yet to find a place to hide.

Ivy ran as far as she could with her injured body. In her hurry, she completely missed the trail of blood she had left on her way.

Meanwhile, Jared glanced at Aria and his lips arched up into a smirk. "Let the game begin."

Aria raised her head as soon as she heard him and she steeled her heart. This was her only moment and if she didn’t help Ivy now, she’d get caught easily.

"I never knew you were such a coward." Aria commented all of a sudden and Jared, who was about to start searching for his stopped short. Her words irked him completely and he glowered over her.

Aria, however, remained unfazed. She faced him head-on and even made sure to meet his gaze. "You know that you can’t touch Noah all by yourself. That’s why you are using us, the ladies around him to deal with him. Am I right?"

Jared’s jaw ticked in anger and he clenched his fists hard until his knuckles turned white. Aria had successfully managed to touch his weakness. Anything to do with Noah would irritate him and even more so when people compared the two and claimed Noah to be great.

"You are just a coward who uses underhanded techniques because you know you can never catch up to Noah. You do not have to guts to attack Noah directly." Aria continued when she noticed Jared’s jaw ticking in fury. At the same time, she kept counting the seconds, praying for Ivy to find a spot that the monster before her could never find.

Jared was no utterly vexed and he dropped the rod in his hand before he approached Aria. Raising his hand, he slapped her hard until her cheek turned red and swollen. Blood started to trickle down from the corner of her lips.

The pain from the slap was so intense that Aria felt her jaw had been broken. Jared hadn’t held back at all and had been heavy-handed with her.

"The truth won’t change just because you slapped me. You are just a cockroach in the gutter while Noah is the King who is meant to rule the world. You and he can never be in the same line and mind you, you will never cross Noah and reach to the top. He is number one and will always be." Aria didn’t back down and continued to rant, delaying as much as possible, helping Ivy to gain more time.

Again, Jared was triggered and he slapped her on her already swollen cheek. This time, the pain made Aria see stars. The entire world spun and she felt nauseous all of a sudden. She couldn’t even see clearly from one of her eyes. But being a doctor, she knew that she was fine. They were just external wounds, fortunately.

"I’ll take care of you once I catch Ivy. Both of you sisters will be my treat for the night." Jared promised before he picked up the rod and ran in the direction Ivy had gone.

"Ivy, I’ve done my best. Please hide yourself well and don’t come out whatever happens. At least, let’s one of us stay safe." Aria prayed and waited with her anxious heart that was thumping madly in fright.

Meanwhile, Jared was utterly vexed. His rage only made him run madly like a wild beast as he searched for Ivy.

"Ivy, where are you?" He shouted, enjoying his hunt. "Are you here?" Jared cleared some of the cardboard boxes that were lying at the side. "Hmm, where are you hiding, Ivy?"

In the deserted place, his voice sounded utterly daunting and coupled with his furious tone, it was all the more sinister.

Even Aria who was listening to his shouts felt a chill run down her spine, let alone Ivy who was hiding from him. With every step he took closer towards her, she felt death approaching her and she begged desperately for Noah and the others to arrive before it was too late.

"Are you here, Ivy?" Jared swung the rod in his hand, hitting the metal beams that supported the place and the loud sound of the metal clashing against metal was like the call of death for the West sisters.

"Where could you be hiding?" Jared continued his monologue. The stipulated time was almost up and there were only a few seconds left.

Ivy counted the last few seconds in her mind. Even though she was not hopeful that a vile man like Jared would let them go, she had no other choice. When in danger, they had to try all routes of escape.

"Are you here?" Jared shouted and Ivy held her breath. He was just a few feet away and if he turned right even an inch, he could see her hiding.

Jared didn’t proceed further and tapped the iron rod on the ground twice before he lifted it and swung it hard. Ivy was completely unprepared for the attack and the metal rod hit her exactly on her head. Blood whooshed out right away and she fainted the next instant.

"And there you are," Jared exclaimed.

Aria’s heart skipped a beat and she fidgeted in her place as she tried to get out of her shackles. But in vain. The shackles dug into her skin until there were abrasions. She was even bleeding in some places. But Aria didn’t give a damn about it. Her sister’s safety was more important than hers.

’Ivy, please be safe. Please be safe. Please.’ She begged as tears fell out of her eyes. All she hoped for was the time to stand still so that Jared could do nothing to her sister.

Alas, fate had other things in mind. Her face lost all its color when she saw Jared pull an unconscious Ivy by one of her legs while her entire body was being dragged on the floor.

What terrified her more was that Ivy was unconscious and her entire face was covered with blood. She didn’t even know if she was alive or dead.

"Ivy!" Aria shouted in despair as she choked on her tears. But there was no response from her. "Ivy!" She cried, begging her to open her eyes. But in vain.

"Please open your eyes, Ivy. Please." She wailed and Jared dragged her until she was lying right in the middle of the place.

Glancing at Aria whose eyes had turned red and swollen just like her cheek, he smiled faintly. Tapping the iron rod that was stained with blood, he turned around until he was facing Aria completely.

"And I won. I found Ivy before one minute ended." Jared gloated while Aria kept crying miserably.

"Please let her go," Aria begged. All her courage from before was gone. She was willing to do anything to get his mercy.

"What is that? I didn’t hear you." Jared gave her a look that said he’d not relent irrespective of what.

"Please let her go. Kill me instead." Aria tried again and Jared’s smile turned into a satisfied grin.

"Oh, I’ll come to that, alright. I’ll fulfill your wishes and kill you. But give me some time. Let me handle your sister first and for your assurance, your sister is alive."

Aria breathed a sigh of relief.

"For now." He added. "She will not be after some time though. And for your disrespectful words that hurt me deeply and infuriated me, I’m thinking of punishing your sister. What do you say?"

"No," Aria shouted but Jared had already taken action and swung the iron rod in his hand, hard, on Ivy’s head.

Her head lolled to another side and Aria felt herself crumbling. "Ivy." She cried but her sister remained unresponsive. If the first hit had not killed her, the second one would definitely kill her. There was no way she’d survive it if she didn’t receive the treatment on time.

"Please let her go. You may kill me instead. Please." Aria begged as she kept moving in her chair. But Jared had his eyes fixed on Ivy and he licked his lips.

"Now it is time for Ivy to fulfill my bet. I have never raped an unconscious woman. This will be a first for me." Jared stated and Aria felt the entire world around her spin. Her eyes turned hazy and she couldn’t stay upright.

Jared ignored Aria’s plight and tore Ivy’s bloodstained shirt. "However, I’m sure I’ll like it."

And with that, Aria fainted the next instant.