The Devil's Contractual Bride-Chapter 39: The Real Gamer

Lucian’s POV

I pulled into the same shadowed spot I’d used earlier at the hospital, killed the engine, and sat there for a full minute with my hands still on the wheel. The white roses were still in the passenger seat, wrapped in brown paper ,the petals barely bruised alongside every other thing I got.

My mind kept making images of how best to deal with Ethan and Mia. She might have gotten the best of me once but I wasn’t giving her another second.

I grabbed the bags and flowers, locked the Audi, and took the elevator up leading to Aria’s room.I opened the door gently so as not to startle her,she was sitting upright in bed.

The hospital gown had been replaced with one of the soft pajama tops the staff must have brought up. Her hair was pulled back loosely, and color had returned to her cheeks. She looked up the moment I stepped inside,her eyes were sharp despite the fatigue still clinging to them.

"Where have you been?" she asked immediately.

I closed the door behind me and forced a small smile. "Work."

She studied me closely. "You said you’d be back soon.It’s almost three,I have been bored and alone"

"I know." I crossed to her bedside, set the bags and roses on the tray table, and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I’m sorry. Things... escalated but I’m here now."

She reached for my hand, fingers cool against mine. "You look like you’ve been through hell."

I squeezed her hand. "I’m fine.I should be the one worried about you."

Her eyes flicked to the bags. "What’s all this?"

"Your discharge supplies," I smiled. "Clothes,your lip balm and white roses for my beautiful wife.Couldn’t let you walk out of here looking like you just escaped a war zone."

She let out a small laugh"You’re ridiculous."

"I’m thorough."

She tugged me closer. I sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle the IV line still taped to her arm.

"Lucian..." Her voice softened. "Did you find Mia?"

I hesitated for a second.

"Yes," I said. "I found her."

Her eyes widened. "And?"

"She came to me and slid into my car at the mall parking lot claiming that she wanted to help. Something about my dad’s friend, Victor, having a copy of the USB."

Aria’s grip tightened on my hand. "Did you believe her?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I don’t believe anyone who’s already betrayed you once," I replied. "But she gave me enough to keep moving and that’s all that matters."

She searched my face. "What did she say exactly?"

"Like I said,that Victor made a backup copy of the USB months ago which he locks up in his home.She also mentioned she was sorry but I don’t believe her."

Aria’s expression darkened. "She lured me to Monty Park knowing fully well that Ethan was going to show up.I don’t need her fake apology"

"Exactly."I added

"Did you... hurt her?"She asked concerned

I met her eyes. "No. She walked away but it won’t be long till I find her. Especially after what she did today."

Aria frowned. "What did she do today?"

I opened my mouth to answer, to tell her about Victor and the police raid,then I stopped .Aria didn’t need that weight right now, not while she was still healing.

"Nothing worth repeating," I said instead. "She’s on borrowed time. That’s all you need to know."

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out.

A text from Ethan.

*Your 24hr deadline is almost over. You might have pulled a fast one on the police, but you can’t fool me. Release Victor or face the consequences, Voss.*

My jaw clenched so hard I tasted blood.

Aria noticed. "What is it?"

I turned the screen away from her. "Nothing. Just work."

"Lucian."

"It’s nothing," I repeated with a softer tone. "Its just business,I’ll handle it."

She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push further.

"I need to make a call," I said, standing. "I’ll be right outside in the waiting room."

She nodded slowly. "Don’t be long."

"I won’t."

I stepped into the hallway, pulled the door closed behind me, and walked to the empty waiting area at the end of the corridor. The television was muted, playing the afternoon talk show that was always on repeat for some reason. I sat in the farthest chair and scrolled through my contacts.

I found the name I needed.

Philip Andrews.

Director of the Bureau of Stock and Exchange—an old friend from university.

We hadn’t spoken in over a year, but favors like the one I was about to ask didn’t expire.

I hit call.

He answered after the third ring. "Lucian Voss!!. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Philip," I answered with a low tone. It was a matter of national security and was best if no one heard what I was about to say. "I need a favor. A big one,brother."

He chuckled "As always with you but I’m listening."

"I need you to infiltrate the stock market. Precisely the Voss Enterprises shares. Make them worthless or at least make them look worthless. I want you to crash the price so as to trigger margin calls and panic selling.I want people to think Voss enterprises is going bankrupt."

Silence on the line. Then a low whistle.

"You’re asking me to manipulate the market against your own company."

"I’m asking you to create volatility," I corrected. "Temporary, enough to scare off proxy buyers. I need the stock to tank hard enough that anyone holding large positions gets margin-called into oblivion. Then I bring it back up after a meeting."

Philip exhaled slowly. "That’s... not small, Lucian. Insider trading is felony territory. The Bureau would have my head."

"I know what I’m asking," I said. "I’ll make it worth your while. Ten thousand dollars will be wired to any offshore account of your choice and my legal team will shield you if anything leaks. You have my word."

"Why?" he finally asked. "What’s the play here Lucian?"

"Someone’s trying to take my company," I explained. "Ethan Caldwell. He’s using proxies so I need to make his position so cheap so he can’t do anything with it. I need the board to see the stock in freefall and realize they’re about to lose everything and I’m going to step in as the only savior they’ve got."

Philip was quiet for a long time.

"When?" he asked at last.

"Start tomorrow morning.I want the opening bell to be blood red."

He let out a breath. "You’re asking me to do something that might burn my career for you."

"I’m asking you to save mine," I said. "And I’ll make sure yours is rebuilt twice as strong when this is over."

"Alright then.I’ll see what I can do brother"