The Devil's Contractual Bride-Chapter 40: Lucian’s plan
Lucian’s POV
It was just past eight the next morning when the discharge nurse finally walked in with her stethoscope and a rather broad smile. Aria sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in the cashmere sweater and joggers I’d bought yesterday. The white roses were tucked carefully into the small overnight bag on her lap. She looked fragile but determined ,her eyes bright with the relief of finally leaving this sterile cage.
I stood beside her, one hand resting lightly on her shoulder while the other was holding the pen the nurse handed me. Aria signed first, her signature was a bit rough due to her shaky hands. I followed, scrawling my name next to hers on every page that required it. The nurse explained the aftercare instructions while I nodded along, already memorizing every word.
"She’ll need assistance getting around for the first few days," the nurse said, handing Aria a lightweight metal clutch—a forearm crutch with a padded grip. "Lean on it, not with your ribs though,or you’ll come back here for bone reassignment" she teased then continued. "And Mr. Voss, keep an eye on her. If there is any sign of shortness of breath, dizziness or increased pain please bring her straight back."
"I’ve got her," I said.
Aria gave a small, tired smile as she fitted the crutch under her right arm. "I feel like an old lady."
"You look beautiful," I told her, meaning every word.
She rolled her eyes"Stop it Lucian"
The nurse walked us to the elevator, wished us well and disappeared down the corridor.
The ride down was quiet. Aria leaned lightly against me,her crutch tapping softly on the floor. When the doors opened to the lobby, a few heads turned ,recognition flickering in the eyes of the reception staff and a couple of waiting visitors but no one approached. The press had finally given up and that made me exceedingly happy. I couldn’t imagine helping Aria through such crowd.
Marcus waited at the curb with the car. He opened the back door with his eyes focused on Aria and his face lightening up as he saw her coming down with me.
"Mrs. Voss," he said with a small nod. "Its good to see you."
Aria gave him a weak smile. "Thank you, Marcus."
I helped her in carefully then got in and sat beside her. Marcus closed the door and pulled away smoothly. The hospital shrank in the rearview mirror until it disappeared behind a curve of palm-lined boulevard.
Aria rested her head against my shoulder, eyes half-closed. I kept one arm around her, the other hand resting on her knee and u thumb tracing small circles over the soft fabric of the joggers. Neither of us spoke as we drove home. There was too much to say and not enough words that would have to be enough to express how we feel.
When we reached the building, Marcus parked in the garage and helped me get Aria out. He grabbed the clutch while I let Aria Leah on me with my hand steady at her waist.
We took where Aria pretended she was okay, trying so hard not to show how much the ride hurt her ribs from the speeding ride.
The doors opened directly into the penthouse foyer.
Finally,we were home.I haven’t been here for a while and neither has Aria.
Everything was exactly as we’d left it.
Aria paused in the doorway, eyes sweeping the space like she hadn’t seen it in years.
"It feels so different here," she whispered.
"It’s the same," I said, guiding her inside. "You’re just seeing it with new eyes after spending days in the hospital."
I helped her to the living room sofa.She sank down with a small sigh of relief, crutch propped beside her. I knelt to slip off her shoes, then lifted her legs gently onto the ottoman.
"Do you need anything else?" I asked, tucking a throw blanket around her lap. "Water? Pain meds?Just sat the world"
She shook her head laughing at how anxious I looked. "I’m okay. Just sit with me for a minute."
I sat beside her, close enough that our thighs touched. She leaned into me, head on my shoulder.
"I can’t help but admit that I missed here ," she murmured. "That hospital was so scary and I always imagined Ethan breaking in."
I kissed the top of her head. "He’s not here okay?You’re safe with me."
She didn’t reply, but her fingers found mine and held on.
After a few minutes, she straightened slightly. "You’re going to work, aren’t you?"
"I have to," I replied. "But I’ll be back before dinner. Clara’s handling most of it remotely. I just need to show my face and make sure everything’s still standing."
She nodded, but her eyes searched mine. "Be careful."
"Always."
I kissed her again gently on her cheek,then stood. "Call me if you need anything or you can call Marcus. He’s downstairs and will come up if you buzz immediately."
"I’ll be fine,you can go," she reassured with a smile.
I hesitated at the door, looking back at her curled on the sofa, looking small against the oversized cushions.
"I love you," I said.
"I love you too."She said it back, and in that moment I felt more fulfilled than I have in a while.
I took the stairs down this time,I needed a moment to reminisce over the butterflies that had made nests in my belly.
I finally got down to the garage,got into my black Mercedes and it was only then did I pull out my phone after I noticed it lit up from a notification.
It had been on silent since morning and when I unlocked it, the notifications flooded the screen like a burst dam.
I had eight missed missed calls from Clats, three texts:
*Mr. Voss, the stock is in freefall. Opening bell was -18%. We’re hemorrhaging value. Where are you sir?*
*Directors are panicking. And I have been receiving multiple calls to my line asking for an emergency board session.*
*Sir,it’s me again. I know you must be busy but pre-market rumors are circulating that Voss enterprises might go bankrupt. Please call me when you can sir*
I scrolled further.
Missed calls from three board members—Margaret Kline and two others whose names I barely registered.
I noticed my Instagram account being tagged so I tapped the app.
The reals were crazy.
#VossCrash trending.
Minority shareholders posting posting in panic:
"Anyone buying $VOSS? I’m down 40% already. Need to sell this shit before it’s zero."
"WTF is happening at Voss Enterprises? Stock tanked 22% in the first hour. Is this bankruptcy?"
"Sell your shares if you’ve got any sense left. Voss is going under the water."
Analyst threads were speculating: "Rumors of hostile takeover gone wrong.Maybe the insider fighting has finally affected the company’s stock."
I stared at the screen, pulse steady now from cold satisfaction curling in my chest.
Philip had come through just like he promised.
I switched to the phone app and dialed my personal bank officer,Daniel Ruiz at First Pacific Trust.
He answered on the second ring. "Mr. Voss. I’ve been trying to reach you. The market—"
"I know," I cut in. "Listen carefully. I want you to start buying up the Voss Enterprise shares. All minority shareholders looking to dump should be bought up immediately. And before I forget,ensure you use an account no one would trace back to me."
He hesitated for a moment "Sir... that’s... the stock is in freefall. We’re talking about massive volume purchasing here . If the SEC sees coordinated buying from our end—"
"They won’t if you do it right. Use the dark pool accounts.I don’t care about the cost right now. Just make sure that every available share is off the market before the close today."
Another pause. "This could trigger regulatory flags Mr.Voss. The company is tanking and you’re suggesting an unknown account spend millions of dollars on a failing company.That’s suspicious —"
"Do it," I interrupted his endless excuses. "Wire whatever you need from the Cayman trust Daniel. I’ll authorize it now.Get to work."
Daniel exhaled. "Alright sir ,if you insist.I’ll need your verbal confirmation on record for compliance."
"Fine, I’ll forward a recorded verbal confirmation now."
I ended the call,made the verbal record and sent to him
The dashboard clock read 9:42 a.m.
The market had been for less than 12 hours and the plan was already working.
I shifted into gear and pulled out of the garage and finally drove out to work. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
My phone buzzed again on the way.Clara was calling
I answered on speaker. "Clara."
"Mr. Voss, finally. Sorry I have been bugging your phone but —"
"Go straight to the point Clara" I cut in
"Okay sir,so firstly,I have sent out the notice and every director has received it physically. I couldn’t get to Victor Hargrove so I gave it to his wife. Then Sir, just like you mentioned ... the stock—"
"I know about the stock," I said. "Keep the meeting locked and make sure no one cancels. If anyone tries, tell them they’ll have to personally get their permit from me.."
"Yes, sir. And... the directors are calling nonstop. They want to know if you’re stepping down."
I smiled thinly. "Tell them I’ll see them in a few days. In the meantime,let’s hope our company doesn’t go bankrupt."
I disconnected the call.
Before I could properly set down my phone to concentrate on driving, it buzzed again.
I had the intention to ignore but when the caller ID showed it was Mike,I had no choice but to answer. The dude held one of my biggest secrets at the moment.
"Boss," he spoke immediately I picked the call "We might have a problem.Victor just collapsed and might need urgent medical care."
