Congratulations on your marriage, Mr. Blackwood."
---
The voice was calm.
Too calm.
---
Aria felt her blood run cold.
---
Ethan didn't react outwardly.
But the air around him shifted.
---
"Who is this?" he asked, his tone flat.
---
A soft chuckle came from the other end.
---
"I'm disappointed," the man replied. "After everything… you still don't recognize my voice?"
---
Ethan's eyes darkened slightly.
---
Silence stretched.
Heavy.
---
Then—
"I thought you were smarter than this," the voice continued. "Marrying her… bringing her back into your life…"
---
Aria's heart started racing again.
---
*Back into your life.*
---
"You've made things very… interesting."
---
Ethan's grip on the phone tightened.
---
"What do you want?" he asked.
---
Straight to the point.
---
Another chuckle.
---
"Ah, there it is. The businessman I remember."
---
A pause.
Then—
---
"I want what you took from me."
---
The room went still.
---
Aria's eyes flickered between Ethan and the phone.
---
"What are you talking about?" Ethan's voice dropped slightly.
---
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
---
A beat.
---
"Your wife's family," the man continued slowly, "was just… collateral damage."
---
Aria's breath caught.
---
"Collateral…?" she whispered.
---
Ethan's jaw tightened.
---
"You destroyed my empire," the voice went on. "Piece by piece. Deal by deal."
---
Something in Ethan's expression shifted.
Recognition.
---
"…Viktor," he said coldly.
---
A soft laugh echoed through the phone.
---
"Finally."
---
Aria's heart pounded.
---
"Who is that?" she demanded, panic rising again.
---
But Ethan didn't answer her.
---
"You should be dead," he said into the phone.
---
"And yet," Viktor replied smoothly, "here I am."
---
A pause.
---
"And I have something you want."
---
Aria stepped closer instantly.
---
"My mother—please—don't hurt her!" she cried, unable to hold back anymore.
---
Silence on the line.
---
Then—
A low, amused hum.
---
"So this is her," Viktor said. "The girl you chose."
---
Aria's chest tightened.
---
"She sounds just like her father."
---
Her heart stopped.
---
"What did you say?"
---
But Viktor ignored her.
---
"You always did have a weakness, Ethan," he continued. "You just never realized it."
---
Ethan's voice turned deadly.
---
"Say what you want and end this."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
"Come alone."
---
The words landed like a threat.
---
"Location will be sent."
---
"And if I don't?" Ethan asked.
---
A soft sigh.
---
"Then your wife gets to say goodbye to her mother."
---
Aria's knees nearly gave out.
---
"No—please—"
---
But the call ended.
---
Just like that.
---
Silence filled the room again.
---
Heavy.
Crushing.
---
Aria turned to Ethan immediately.
---
"You have to go," she said, her voice shaking. "Please—you have to save her!"
---
Ethan didn't respond right away.
---
His mind was already moving.
Calculating.
Planning.
---
"Who is he?" Aria asked desperately. "What did he mean about my father? About everything—?!"
---
Ethan finally looked at her.
---
"Viktor Hale," he said.
---
The name meant nothing to her.
But the way he said it—
---
Did.
---
"He was my partner," Ethan continued.
"Years ago."
---
Aria's breath caught.
---
"What happened?"
---
A pause.
---
Then—
"I ended him."
---
The words sent a chill down her spine.
---
"But clearly," Lena's voice cut in from behind,
"you didn't finish the job."
---
Both of them turned.
---
Lena stood there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
---
"You knew?" Aria asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
---
Lena didn't answer directly.
---
"He's not just here for revenge," she said instead. "If Viktor is moving now… it means something bigger is happening."
---
Ethan's gaze sharpened.
---
"I know."
---
Aria looked between them, panic rising again.
---
"Can someone explain what's going on?!" she cried.
---
Silence.
---
Then—
Ethan stepped toward her.
---
"You're staying here."
---
"What?!" she shook her head immediately. "No! I'm coming with you!"
---
"No."
---
"You can't ask me to stay calm while my mother is out there!" she shouted.
---
"I'm not asking."
---
Her chest tightened.
---
"I don't trust you," she said.
---
The words hung between them.
---
Ethan didn't flinch.
---
"You don't have to."
---
A pause.
---
"But I'll bring her back."
---
Something in his voice—
---
This time—
---
It wasn't cold.
---
It wasn't distant.
---
It was certain.
---
And for a brief moment—
---
Aria wanted to believe him.
---
But fear still gripped her heart.
---
"Promise me," she whispered.
---
Ethan held her gaze.
---
Then—
"I don't make promises."
---
Her heart sank.
---
But then he added—
---
"I make results."
---
Before she could respond—
---
He turned and walked toward the exit.
---
"Wait!" she called out.
---
He stopped.
But didn't turn around.
---
"If something happens to her…" her voice broke,
"I'll never forgive you."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
Without looking back—
---
"Then I won't let it happen."
---
The door closed behind him.
---
And just like that—
---
He was gone.
---
Aria stood there, her heart racing, her mind spinning.
---
Because now—
She wasn't just trapped in a contract.
---
She was trapped in a war.
---
And the most dangerous part?
---
She didn't even know all the sides yet.
---
To be continued…