Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 78: Fired Up! II

Back home that evening, Gianna sat cross-legged on her bed, papers spread around her like fallen leaves, samples carefully arranged beside her.

Her tablet was propped against a pillow, Vance’s face occupying the screen as he talked her through a final adjustment, his voice calm, though his eyes, sometimes, were anything but.

Like her fellow work colleagues, he worried for her mind, for her wellbeing. Moreso, because unlike the others, he suspected that she had also been kidnapped the same last night.

How she had escaped unscathed, and still dropped at the company this morning, was quite bizarre to him. Worse, she wasn’t scared in the least, didn’t look bothered, nor did she sound bothered.

She was the usual Miss Gianna. Vance was worried.

However, he kept his observations to himself, and continued listing off what was required of him.

Gianna, meanwhile, nodded as she listened, pen tapping absently against her knee, mind half on his words and half on the faint ache that still lived beneath her ribs, on the possible implication of her win tomorrow.

Somehow, she was excited; she couldn’t wait!

The door burst open then without warning.

"Gianna!"

Areso and Chelsea rushed in at the same time, still in their work clothes, hair disheveled, eyes glossy. Chelsea’s handbag slid off her shoulder and hit the floor with a soft thud, forgotten as she crossed the room in three strides.

"Oh my God," Chelsea breathed, hands already on Gianna’s shoulders. "You scared us to death."

Areso followed, arms wrapping around Gianna from the other side, holding her like she might vanish if one let go.

Gianna blinked, startled, then laughed softly despite herself.

"Hey," she said gently, reaching out to steady the tablet before it tipped. "Guys—"

"Sorry," Areso muttered, sniffing, wiping her face with the heel of her palm. "We just... we needed to see you."

Gianna turned the tablet toward her friends. "Vance, we’ll continue tomorrow, okay?"

Vance’s gaze flicked to the scene, understanding softening his expression. "Of course, miss Gianna. Get some rest."

She ended the call and set the tablet aside, then hugged them back properly, arms tight around their shoulders.

Chelsea buried her face briefly in Gianna’s neck, breathing her in like proof.

They fussed immediately.

"How are you feeling?"

"Are you sure you’re okay?"

"Did anything hurt?"

"Did you sleep at all?"

Gianna answered patiently, voice calm, reassuring, repeating that she was fine, that she was safe, that they didn’t need to worry. When she asked about their day at work, both of them waved it off in perfect unison.

"Now is about you," Chelsea said firmly.

Gianna laughed, and let them hug her again even as they dragged her off the bed.

"No more isolating, no more work for now..." Areso declared. "You’re coming to the living room."

Gianna didn’t resist. She let herself be pulled down the corridor, past familiar doors, into the warmth of family and clinking dishes. Dinner was almost ready, the house alive in that gentle, lived-in way that made her chest ache with gratitude.

Later, after dinner, Gianna caught Athena’s eye across the dining table.

It wasn’t obvious to anyone else. Just a look. A slight tilt of Athena’s head. A quiet question hanging between them.

Gianna nodded once.

Goodnights were said. She bent to kiss the children’s foreheads, holding them a second longer than usual, inhaling the clean scent of soap and sleep. When she finally retreated to her room, she closed the door softly behind her.

She didn’t work. Not really.

She sat at her desk, hands folded, staring at designs she already knew by heart, curiosity making her restless.

There was a meeting scheduled for tonight, something about her kidnap, and that’s what she was more interested in. After all, she was ready for the convention.

The samples were complete. The designs were solid. There was nothing more to refine tonight.

She watched the clock. When it struck ten p.m. sharp, she stood up. And after checking the locks, and windows, she slipped on a pair of moccasins and eased out of her room.

She stealthily walked past the quiet living room, into the porch, answering the guards’ greetings with a low smile and a nod as she crossed the compound toward Spider’s cottage.

The door opened to familiar faces. Athena. Ewan. Zane. Sandro. Spider, seated at his workstation.

Chelsea and Areso were conspicuously absent, she noted, realizing that Athena had sidelined them the same way she always did during operations; not wanting to put their lives at risk with too much underground information.

Only that this time, she had to be involved. The war included her, and had started in her field.

After greetings, she took a seat on the sofa, spine straight, hands folded in her lap.

Spider’s living room was exactly what she expected: a bachelor’s pad stripped down to function. A couch. A low table cluttered with cables. Screens glowing softly. No unnecessary decor. No warmth, but no coldness either.

Athena spoke first. "The lawyer reverted. The contract is clean."

Gianna exhaled, tension she wasn’t even aware of, slipping from her shoulders. "Thank God."

Spider cleared his throat, fingers tapping against the desk. "Now...the break-in."

The room quieted.

"The man who broke into your office was part of the crew who kidnapped you," Spider continued. "Timeline suggests he came in around midnight, either during or immediately after they took you."

Gianna’s fingers curled slowly into her palm.

"He likely entered through the front door," Spider said. "Which means someone let him in." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

A chill crept up her spine.

"The security guard?" she asked quietly.

Spider shrugged. "Possible. Or someone else with access. But someone inside helped him."

Her jaw tightened. The enemy wasn’t distant then. It was close. Too close.

Spider shifted screens. Images flashed briefly before her eyes. Three bodies. Still. Lifeless.

Her stomach clenched despite herself. She checked out the second image–a headshot–by the side, wondering what was the connection.

"There’s more," Spider said. "These men usually move as a group, friends somewhat. So I believe the fourth man in their group...."

He pointed at the headshot image. "... is the unknown male we are looking for. Philemon concurs with that too.... Claims he is also looking for the fellow. Goes by the name Xavier."

A pause. "Xavier wasn’t present at the warehouse," he continued. "But the build matches the CCTV footage from your office."

Gianna’s pulse quickened. "What happens now?"

Spider leaned back. "Philemon has the image. He’ll handle the rest. Will torture out the answers we need from the latter, if necessary..."