Chapter 7 The Trap

The next day, Tia accompanied Aaron for a visit to a partner company’s CEO. The CEO seemed somewhat nervous, frequently glancing at Tia unintentionally. At first, Tia did not think much of it, but eventually, she grew uncomfortable with the way he was looking at her. After the discussion concluded, Aaron answered a phone call. He was prepared to return to the country that night. “Shouldn't it be the day after tomorrow?” Tia muttered. If they returned so early, she wondered if Uncle Thalmor would have enough time to gather information about Aaron’s corporation as planned. “What are you thinking?” Aaron appeared annoyed and impatient as he unbuttoned his shirt. “Please maintain professionalism during work.” Tia was about to apologize, but Aaron interrupted her again. “People often have unrealistic ideas, but whether things can succeed depends on their actual abilities. Achieving a small accomplishment and thinking you can do great things is quite laughable and foolish.” Tia sensed what Aaron was insinuating and merely furrowed her brows in displeasure. “Mr. Aaron, I believe there might be a misunderstanding.” Tia poured a cup of coffee. “Yesterday was just a misunderstanding.” Tia’s words inadvertently reminded Aaron. He had almost forgotten about the previous night. He only recalled someone visiting his room, and there was some physical contact involved. He had not expected that person to be Tia. Indeed, she was a ruthless woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. “Was it you last night?” Aaron’s expression turned to disgust and hatred. “Why did you come to my room?” Tia was somewhat speechless. “It was you who asked me to deliver the alcohol to your room yesterday, Mr. Aaron. You were completely drunk and even offended me.” Aaron’s face turned quite ugly. As soon as the plane landed, a group of police officers surrounded them. “Are you Ms. Tia Celeste?” Tia was puzzled. “Yes, what’s the matter?” “You’re suspected of stealing trade secrets. Please cooperate with our investigation.” “What?” Tia’s eyes widened in disbelief. She instinctively turned to look at Aaron, who had a smug expression on his face. “Is all of this your doing?” Tia glared at Aaron angrily. Chuckling, Aaron gazed at Tia with icy indifference. “Did you really think your little tricks could fool me? From the beginning, I had control over all your actions.” “You're despicable!” Tia cursed. Her face filled with anger as the police took her away. A few days later, a twist of events occurred. Aaron withdrew the report against Tia, and she was released. “What’s the meaning of this?” Tia stared daggers at the person in front of her, her eyes burning with hatred. “It’s nothing. I just find it amusing.” Aaron elegantly gestured with his hand while sitting in his chair. Amusing? Was it amusing to watch her being toyed with like a monkey? “Don’t be disheartened. I have more interesting news to share with you.” Aaron sneered and waved his hand, signaling someone outside to enter. “Uncle Thalmor?” Tia could hardly believe her eyes. “You... You and Aaron had planned this all along?” It turned out that this was all a premeditated trap. She had been so foolish! Thalmor removed his hat and looked at Tia expressionlessly. Aaron was in high spirits, casually toying with the ring on his finger. “I originally intended to get rid of you in prison, but I didn’t expect you to be so capable. Since you’ve come out alive, why don’t we find a different way to have some fun?” “You…” Tia was about to say something when Thalmor took a stack of documents out of his bag and placed them on the table. “These are…” Tia looked at the documents in her hands in disbelief. “My father’s assets... You... All of you…” “Yes, thanks to you, I was able to smoothly and swiftly take over all of your father’s properties.” Aaron grinned. “Now, you owe me one billion, and if you don’t repay it, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison.” It turned out that Thalmor had colluded with Aaron from the beginning. All the promises of helping her regain her inheritance and the plans were nothing but traps. Even the business trip was orchestrated to allow Thalmor to secretly transfer the assets. She had trusted him so much, yet she had unknowingly sold herself out! “You bunch of bastards!” Tia screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice hoarse. “Even if I die, I won’t let you get away with this!” Aaron watched Tia's agony with great satisfaction. “Heh, not going to let me get away with it?” Aaron tilted his head slightly. “Very well. There’s no fun in it for me if you die so quickly anyway.” Tia had a foreboding feeling. “What else do you want to do?” Aaron laughed. “Isn’t your father still alive? You’re so filial. Are you not concerned about him?” “How…” Tia struggled to find the words. “Wondering how I found out?” Aaron sneered. “I truly did think your father was as good as dead, but it turns out he’s still got some tricks up his sleeve. He cooperated with that bastard Sorian to deceive me!” “But I still found out about it in the end,” Aaron gloated. “All your struggles are in vain in front of me. I will make them pay for deceiving me!” At this moment, Aaron’s expression was sinister and chilling. Tia felt as if the sky had fallen on her. “Aaron Caius! What else do you want to do to my father and Sorian? You’ve already almost killed him, and now he lies on a hospital bed, barely clinging to life with the help of medical equipment. Why won’t you let him go?!” “Let him go? Hahaha, how naive!” Aaron’s gaze grew even more malevolent. “He hasn’t paid for his sins yet. How can I just let him off so easily? I want him to live in torment for the rest of his life, in the shadow of his guilt!” “No!” Tia knelt down heavily, her voice choked with tears. “It’s all my fault. Please spare my father, considering his age... You can do whatever you want to me! Please..." Aaron watched the tearful Tia before him, feeling a twisted sense of delight. “Alright, then show me your sincerity.” Aaron stood up slowly. He walked over to Tia, bent down, and pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Starting today, you'll atone for your father. As long as I haven’t given you permission to leave, you'll spend your life by my side. You must become my lifelong prisoner!” Tia closed her eyes in agony as she sat on the ground like a deflated balloon.