BLACKMAILED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 45: Shattered Bonds, Unyielding Hop

 

Chapter 46: Shattered Bonds, Unyielding Hop

Harry

No, this can't be the end. That call... it wasn't Bella speaking, not really. It had to be Sean, manipulating her, forcing her words. The pain of the revelation about the bid—I understand its sting, its betrayal. I can't fathom why I ever let that happen, why I thought it was a good idea in the first place. The business deal I secured through that reckless wager with Ben? I've told him I don't want it. It means nothing to me now, and it should have meant nothing then. Why did I make that bet? Was it jealousy seeing Bella laugh at Sean's jokes, their easy camaraderie during the card game that night? Maybe, deep down, it was a misguided attempt to prove to myself, or worse, to Sean, that Bella was mine, that no one could take her from me.

Reflecting on it, every moment I spent near Bella, every interaction—none of it was for the sake of that damn bet. My feelings for her were raw, genuine, long before the bet ever came into play. Even my taunts, my playful banter, it was all because I was drawn to her in a way I couldn't express outright. I was too caught up in the fear that she might never see me the way I saw her. Taunting her, in my foolishness, seemed like the only way to bridge the distance between us, to hide the depth of my desire under the guise of lighthearted jest. If only I had known she'd give me a chance, I would have poured my heart out to her, asked her to marry me right then and there. That's how deeply, how desperately I wanted her in my life.

And now, to hear her say it's over, that she's chosen Sean over me... No, that can't be her truth. It's Sean's coercion, it has to be. The thought of giving up, of letting her go without a fight, it's inconceivable. I won't—I can't—believe that's what she wants, not when we've shared so much, not when I know the love between us is real, palpable.

I can't stop now, not when Bella's out there, possibly in danger, her voice echoing with words she doesn't mean. And Sean... the thought of what I might do when I find him sends a shiver down my spine. The betrayal cuts deeper than anything I've ever known, to be wounded so grievously by someone I considered a brother. The idea that our confrontation could end in violence, in a final, irreversible act, torments me. Yet, the pain he's inflicted, using Bella—the most important person in my life—as a pawn in his twisted game, it's unforgivable.

Losing a friend is a heartache in itself, but to contemplate taking his life, to reach a point where that feels like the only option, is a darkness I never thought I'd face. But for Bella, I'll walk through that darkness, I'll face whatever comes. Because giving up on us, on the love I have for her, isn't an option. It never was.

As I sat there, numb from the aftermath of that devastating call, my phone buzzed with an incoming message from my security team. A glimmer of hope, faint but persistent, began to flicker within the void of my despair. The message was concise, yet its contents sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through me. They'd found something—a piece of the puzzle that had eluded us until now. Security footage had been uncovered, footage that reasonably depicted Sean in a context that was impossible to dismiss. The figure in the video, moving with a purpose that now seemed sinister, bore an unmistakable resemblance to Sean.

For the first time since this nightmare began, we had something concrete. My team felt confident in their assertion—it was Sean. The realization that my friend, someone I had trusted implicitly, could orchestrate such a scheme was a bitter pill to swallow. Yet, this revelation also solidified a belief I'd been clinging to desperately: Bella's words, her declaration that it was over between us, were not her own. Sean was manipulating her, forcing her into a role in his malevolent plot.

Armed with this knowledge, my resolve hardened. "He's behind this. He's been playing us from the start," I whispered to myself, a mix of anger and determination setting in. My team had traced potential locations, places Sean might be hiding, holding Bella against her will. They laid out their findings, their strategy for moving forward. But this... this was something I needed to handle personally. "I'll take it from here," I told them, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside. "I need to face Sean myself."

The weight of what that confrontation might entail hung over me like a dark cloud. The thought of coming face-to-face with Sean, of potentially crossing a line from which there could be no return, was daunting. In the depths of my heart, the prospect of ending Sean's life was a specter that haunted my every step. This was a man I had once called brother, shared laughs and dreams with. Yet now, the path before me seemed to veer inexorably towards violence.

I prepared myself, gathering the information on Sean's possible location, the resolve to rescue Bella fueling my actions. The drive over was a blur, my mind a whirlwind of scenarios, of confrontations both hoped for and dreaded. I prayed for a resolution that wouldn't require bloodshed, yet the stark reality of our situation left little room for such hopes. Sean had crossed a line, putting Bella's life in danger, and I couldn't—wouldn't—let that stand.

"Please, let there be another way," I found myself whispering, a plea to the universe, to any power that might be listening. But deep down, I knew the truth: I was ready to do what was necessary, to face Sean, to save Bella, even if it meant walking through fire. The love I had for her, the bond we shared, it was worth any sacrifice, any trial. And as I parked the car, stepping out into the unknown, I steeled myself for the confrontation ahead, for the chance to reclaim the love that had been so cruelly snatched away from us.