Gwen’s Pov
Chapter 11 – Plotting Over Relaxing
I stared at the news headlines and watched as Jack made a fool of himself on nationa television. He was yelling, unhinged, spiraling… and it made me happy.
I’m glad you were able to get the video,” I said, crossing my legs as I took a sip of wine. Ryder smirked, lounging across from me with a half–buttoned shirt and eyes that glittered with danger.
“I can get you anything you want, Darling. All you have to do is ask.”
He stood, offering me his hand, and led me upstairs.
The bedroom he gave me was twice the size of what I used to have in Jack’s house. There was a walk–in closet filled with outfits in my size, perfumes I used to love, even a faint scent of lilac in the air. Everything had been tailored for me–like he’d always known I would return.
I walked to the balcony, pushed open the glass doors, and inhaled deeply. For the first time in three years, the air didn’t feel like poison.
It felt like freedom.
I turned back to Ryder, my eyes misty but clear.
“Thank you.”
He shook his head. “No, Gwen. If you didn’t save me that night, we wouldn’t be here. I owe you my life. This is only the beginning of paying it back.”
“Rest up. I’ll come get you at dinner,” he added, then disappeared down the hallway.
The room fell silent, just the sound of the sea breeze against the balcony glass.
I took a shower in a hot bubble bath and sighed softly. I could get used to a luxury like this. When I was done bathing I stood before a mirror and I looked at my body. I saw the scar below my abdomen, it was like a painful reminder of what I’ve lost.
Holding back the anger rising in my chest, I got dressed and went to meet Ryder.
He was sitting in the garden wearing an unbuttoned shirt. The breeze was blowing around him, fluttering his shirt and hair.
I paused in the doorway, breath, catching in my throat. He was barefoot, shirt half–open, the breeze playing in his hair like it belonged there. He looked like sin sculpted into a man. “You’re outside? I told you to rest,” he said.
I gulped softly, swallowing the drool I had gotten upon seeing him like that.
“I couldn’t sleep. Not when I haven’t finalized the plan on how to deal with Jack next,” I answered.
“Darling, we have all the time to strike, right now you need to rest,” he said to me.
I shook my head, “I can’t rest. I need to start working on how to get rid of him. He’s ruined
1/2
67.5%
23:45 Wed, 30 Jul
“What’s the update on Jack’s company?” I asked.
60%
“His company would have almost gone bankrupt but he forced his board members not to sell any shares and now Cara’s parents are backing him,” Ryder answered.
“Cara’s parents helped him?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Ryder nodded, “Yeah but the company isn’t completely secured yet.”
“I want to buy all the shares in his company, I want to own the major shares so I can secretly be the major shareholder and CEO,” I stated.
“I can get that done. We just need to pay a visit to the board members and coax them to give up their shares,” Ryder said.
I smiled, “Thank you so much, Ryder, I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“Darling, stop thanking me. I’d do anything for you,” Ryder said to me.
Just then a man arrived and whispered something in Ryder’s ears.
The man was the same man who had picked me up from the airport.
Ryder frowned when he heard what the man had to say. Then he waved him off.
When the man left I turned to Ryder with a frown.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“It seems that it may require a lot more persistence to get the shares we want,” Ryder answered.
“Why?” I asked.
I didn’t have patience. I wanted the power to deal with Jack.
“Cara’s parents seem to have struck a deal with a Chinese investor who is willing to pour in millions of dollars into Jack’s company,” Ryder replied.
I frowned tanning my chin when …
23:45 Wed, 30 Jul
3 Wed, 30 Jul ei
“What’s the update on Jack’s company?” I asked.
“His company would have almost gone bankrupt but he forced his board members not to sell any shares and now Cara’s parents are backing him,” Ryder answered.
“Cara’s parents helped him?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Ryder nodded, “Yeah but the company isn’t completely secured yet.”
“I want to buy all the shares in his company, I want to own the major shares so I can secretly be the major shareholder and CEO,” I stated.
“I can get that done. We just need to pay a visit to the board members and coax them to give up their shares,” Ryder said.
I smiled, “Thank you so much, Ryder, I don’t know what I would have done without you.” “Darling, stop thanking me. I’d do anything for you,” Ryder said to me. Just then a man arrived and whispered something in Ryder’s ears.
The man was the same man who had picked me up from the airport.
Ryder frowned when he heard what the man had to say. Then he waved him off.
When the man left I turned to Ryder with a frown.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“It seems that it may require a lot more persistence to get the shares we want,” Ryder answered.
“Why?” I asked.
I didn’t have patience. I wanted the power to deal with Jack.
“Cara’s parents seem to have struck a deal with a Chinese investor who is willing to pour in millions of dollars into Jack’s company,” Ryder replied.
I frowned, tapping my chin when suddenly an idea popped in my head and I smiled widely. “I have an idea, Ryder, and it will require a trip to China,” I grinned.
Cara’s Pov
I watched as my father and Jack discussed business and an eerie calmness washed over me. He was finally mine after years of plotting.
My phone rang and I stepped outside to pick the call. It was a private investigator I had hired to find Gwen.
“Miss Cara,” his smooth voice filled the phone.
“Give me good news, Calvin,” I stressed.
“I can’t find her, Miss. It’s like she’s vanished into thin air. There’s nothing that traces back to her,” he answered.
I snarled softly, “That bitch commented on my fucking post. Trace her IP address!”
“We traced it but the last known location of the phone was in Melbourne Airport, Australia,” Calvin answered.
I frowned, “Australia? Why would she go to Australia? She doesn’t know anyone and has no money.”
“Yes, there are no bank record transactions in her name and we can’t find her name on any flight record,” Calvin answered.
“It doesn’t make sense. I pay you to do a good job, so find that whore so I can end her miserable life for good!” I snapped.
I hung up the phone and exhaled softly as my son came running toward me.
“Mommy, are you upset?” he asked.
“No, David, go play with your grandma,” l’answered.
I went back to my Facebook post and stared at the comment Gwen had made before she blocked me.
Her comment didn’t even show she was upset despite the fact that she saw me wearing her ring.
“Fucking bitch!” I muttered.
My phone beeped and I realized today is my hospital checkup.
I was too upset to go anywhere. I went back inside the and poured myself a glass of
wine but before I could drink it my mom grabbed it from me.
“Why are you drinking wine, Cara, are you trying to kill the baby?” she asked in a shocked
tone.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair, “It’s just a sip, Mom, I’m just so tired.”
“What’s got you so worked up, love?” she asked me.
I shrugged, “It’s just I don’t know, Jack has proposed but he didn’t seem so keen about it and he’s not asked me to make any plans concerning the wedding.”
He Let Our Daughter Die. Now I’ll Ruin Him
1/2 69.2%
Cara’s Pov
