Did She Take The Bait?

After the man had assisted Ria into her car, she was given some hot chocolate to warm up herself. The driver noted that he couldn't bring a frail woman home to his master, so he had to do his best to serve her. 

Ria sat in the back seat, wrapped with a thick warm blanket. She was hiccuping and sniffing although tears no longer poured from her eyes. A few rain drops beat against the window as the driver sped off. The rain was starting to slow down. Occasionally, the driver would glance at the mirror to check on her, worry etched across his fair and handsome face. 

Her empty and lifeless eyes made the driver's heart squeezed in on itself. He felt pity and pained seeing her so abused and neglected. 

Ria didn't know when she fall asleep but when she woke up and rubbed the grogginess out of her eyes, she saw that it was no longer night. They had been driving the entire night. Now, the beautiful rays from the sun above shone through the car. 

She took a deep breathe, feeling the calm atmosphere before she took a long look at the high rise buildings and beautiful skyline. So familiar, she noticed. There were a few more new buildings than the last time she was here. That was like five or six years ago, before she married him. Last time, she gave away her dream just to be with him.

 She felt a slight regret in her heart. She could have been..... Forget it. Ria decided to start her life all over again. From now on, she decided not to her entangled with those feelings, even though her heart slightly disagreed with her. She spotted a rainbow and smiled. A sweet soft smile. 

She finally managed to ask, "Where are you taking me? This is not the way home," 

"You're right, Miss Flinch. There's someone who wants to meet you before you head home. I'm taking you to him," the driver, the man in the black suit, replied while keeping his eyes on the road. He wore a serious expression the whole time. 

"Hmm," she nodded and sat back down, relaxing into the soft luxurious cushion. 

"Why didn't you leave when you found out that he had another woman?" The sudden question from the driver pulled at her heart. 

"I.....I.... Because I thought he would see the good in me and love me eventually," her lips trembled as she spoke. 

After a long silence, the driver spoke again.

"Miss Flinch, he's not worth it. You should have left when you knew his heart didn't belonged to you. I'm sorry you had to go through all of this. Since it's over, my master hopes you can start all over again and live a new happy life," 

"I know. Thanks," her voice was pitifully low. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Ria felt comfortable with the driver, Nate Edwards, because he worked for her family, precisely, her brother. Seeing him here means that her brother already knew about the divorce and was coming to get her back. 

"Nate, did something happened in my family?" Ria asked all of sudden. She had a gut feeling that it had something to do with her grandfather. It seemed like they needed her to return urgently. 

"I don't know the details but from what I heard, he's been hospitalized a few times. When he heard about your divorce yesterday, his condition worsen. He's been coughing out blood and having nightmares. He also has been asking to see you," Nate replied. 

Ria was very worried about her grandfather. Since young, her grandpa had been the one who played and accompanied her whenever her father left on business trips. He was the only one who understood her the most. The old man would teach her everything he knew and play sports with her. When her brothers were busy with schoolwork, he would secretly take her out to eat delicious foods and candies. In his eyes, she was his most precious treasure. She recollected the happy moments she spent with the old man and couldn't help but smile. She couldn't wait to see her grandpa again. 

They crossed the bridge and soon Ria was taken to another country and city. A new life awaited her as the beautiful daylight shine upon her. Nate suddenly stopped at one part of the bridge. Ria was puzzled. They were stopping here? She couldn't fathom. 

Then up ahead, she saw a tall lean figure waiting for her at the side of the bridge, overlooking the vast and long river that flowed around the majestic city. She looked at Nate with a puzzled expression and he gestured for her to step out of the car. Nate helped her out of the car and Ria walked slowly towards the figure. 

Her eyes widen when she recognized the person and the object he was holding. What was he doing her? Wasn't he supposed to meet her at the house? 

-------

"Is it ready?" A person staring out the floor to ceiling windows asked. The assistant behind nodded. The person's voice was so cold and chilly that the assistant couldn't help but shiver. 

"It's ready," Henry, the assistant kept his head low, staring at the ground. He dared not to stare into this person's eyes. Those dark orbs were simply ruthless and void of emotions. It was like the abyss, mercilessly pulling those in who dared to overstep their boundaries.

"Good. Did she take the bait?" The person asked again. The cold voice and murderous aura made the assistant shivered in fear. How he wished that he could get this over and run out of the room. His life was at stake, standing behind this devil in a disguise as a person. 

"She did. What else should we do?" The assistant replied. He had to control himself from quivering before the powerful and menacing figure. 

"Let them fall into it," the person let out a low chuckle. Henry could feel the goosebumps creeping up his skin.