One Night With A Mysterious Billionaire (The Heiress's Revenge)-Chapter 32: The trap II

The phone rang endlessly.

Lena clutched it so tightly her knuckles turned white, her breaths coming out in short, broken gasps. Ring... ring... ring... Each unanswered tone felt like another nail hammered into her chest. Her vision blurred, the world tilting dangerously as heat scorched through her veins.

Her legs weakened, and she slid down against the cold tiled wall of the bathroom.

Just as her consciousness began to fade, the sharp sound of heels clicking against the floor reached her ears.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Lena forced her eyes open. And

Ashley stood right in front of her, arms crossed, lips curled into a victorious smile. In that instant, everything fell into place.

Ashley laughed, a triumphant, mocking sound that echoed off the bathroom walls. "What a fool," she said lightly.

"You never learn, Lena. Still falling for the same trick over and over again."

Lena swallowed hard, her throat dry, her body burning. "You... you did this to me?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes." Ashley tilted her head, admiring her own slender fingers as if she had just completed a masterpiece.

"And your father was in on it too. All he had to do was help give you the spiked wine. He didn’t hesitate for a second."

Her laughter rang out again, sharp and cruel.

Lena’s heart shattered at the words, but her face remained eerily calm.

"Your body is on fire," Ashley continued gleefully.

"Soon your mind will be clouded. Any man who walks in here, you’ll jump on him without thinking twice."

Lena rested her head against the wall, forcing herself to stay conscious. She studied Ashley carefully, her mind racing despite the haze. She would rather die than let them use her again for their sick game.

Ashley was telling the truth, she could feel it. Her skin burned, her thoughts slipping dangerously.

She needed to buy time.

"It’s not my fault you’re an orphan, Ashley," Lena said weakly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "And that you have to use vile means to get what you want. What a pity."

Ashley’s face twisted instantly. "Shut up, bitch," she snapped, stepping forward. "I’m warning you."

Lena chuckled softly. "You wiped your college life clean, didn’t you?"

Ashley froze. Her eyes widened.

"We were friends," Lena continued calmly. "I chose to keep your secret. That doesn’t mean I don’t know. If you do anything to me today, I’ll make sure he knows exactly who you are, and how you used to dance in street clubs and sleep with rich men for money."

"You—" Ashley stammered, momentarily at a loss for words.

"If you try to ruin me," Lena said, voice firm despite her shaking body, "I’ll drag you down with me. We both know Evans likes his women innocent. And you? You’re anything but...."

"You wouldn’t dare!" Ashley screamed. "And even if you did, he wouldn’t believe you!"

"Oh, even if he doesn’t," Lena replied softly, "he’ll still use it as leverage to discard you. Do you really think he’ll keep you after using you to do his dirty work? Don’t be gullible, Ashley. No man wants a filthy woman."

"You’re lying!" Ashley shouted hysterically. "Evans loves me! Once we take the company from you, we’ll get married!"

"Then why isn’t he here?" Lena asked quietly.

"Why is he letting you do his dirty deeds? If you get caught and arrested, he’ll deny you completely. He was never here, but you were. Have you no sense at all?"

Ashley began fidgeting, her confidence cracking as doubt crept into her eyes. There was truth in Lena’s words, and she hated it.

Seizing the moment, Lena pushed herself up and bolted for the door.

Too late.

Ashley caught her by the hair and yanked her back. "Nice try, bitch."

Slap!

The impact sent Lena’s head spinning. She nearly collapsed, barely managing to steady herself against the sink. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Come in and pin her down!" Ashley barked.

Two men who had been waiting outside hesitated briefly before stepping into the women’s restroom. Emboldened by the command, they grabbed Lena and forced her down.

"When I’m done with her," Ashley sneered, pulling out a knife, "she’ll sign the company over to Evans, and then she’ll disappear from York City forever."

Lena struggled desperately as the blade glinted under the harsh lights. Ashley’s laughter echoed through the corridor, manic and cruel.

She has to act now, Lena’s thought, she cannot allow Ashley to disfigure her. Her mind worked so fast but she was drawing blank.

_

Raymond was already on his way to the fundraiser.

He had no intention of attending, but he’d promised his kitten he would be there. Finishing his business quickly, he headed straight for the venue. He was browsing the auction items when his phone began ringing.

Once. Twice.

Annoyed, he ignored it, until he saw the caller ID. Lena.

He answered immediately.

What he heard wasn’t just Lena’s strained breathing, but Ashley’s voice. He heard their discussion and in that instant, Raymond understood everything.

The temperature inside the car seemed to drop to zero. Liam, seated at the front , didn’t dare look at him . Even the driver began trembling.

"Drive faster," Raymond ordered coldly. "Starlight Hotel. Five minutes."

The driver wanted to protest about traffic, but didn’t dare.

They arrived in record time.

Raymond stepped out, his presence alone suffocating. He strode into the hall, his aura dark and lethal. Liam had already called Sullivan immediately they got to the venue to come assist them.

The call was never disconnected in the ride to the venue so he and the driver heard everything..

The entire room fell silent as Raymond entered.

His sharp eyes scanned the crowd. No Lena.

He spotted Sylvia and beckoned her over.

"Where is Lena?" he demanded.

"She went to the restroom," Ashley answered quickly, forcing a smile that failed to reach her eyes.

Raymond didn’t respond. He turned and walked straight toward the restroom, ignoring the stares behind him. Sylvia followed anxiously, calling Lena’s phone, only to reach voicemail.

Inside the restroom, Ashley’s voice rang out sharply as they got close to the restroom.

"Stay still, bitch. Why rush? I’ve always wondered what you’d look like without this pretty face of yours."

That was the scene Raymond walked into