Chapter 244 Dangerous Encounter
Fiona could tell David was having second thoughts. She walked over, took his hand, and locked eyes with him, full of determination. "David, I know you're feeling unsure, but I believe our love can get through anything. I'm ready to marry you and face whatever comes our way. Will you?"
David stared back at her, silent. The whole banquet hall seemed to hold its breath.
After a long time, David slowly nodded, his voice a bit rough as he said, "I will."
That "I will" was like the end of a wild ride. The guests were stunned for a moment, then burst into applause, showering the couple with blessings. The tense vibe vanished, and the wedding got back on track.
Fiona's face lit up with a big smile. She spoke clearly and passionately, "Now, I invite everyone here to witness our wedding!"
She handed the mic to the host with a graceful gesture.
The host, still a bit shaken from the earlier chaos, grabbed the mic and started stumbling through the ceremony.
I stood there, eyes wide in shock.
Just yesterday, Fiona had confidently told me she had no romantic ties with David. Yet here she was, in a stunning gown, standing beside David on the brightly lit stage, looking into each other's eyes.
I couldn't help but sigh. This was what those shrewd businesspeople were like. They could easily set aside personal feelings for the sake of their family's interests.
I glanced up at David on the stage. He stood tall, looking at Fiona with what seemed like deep affection. But I noticed his eyes held no passionate love, just detachment and gratitude.
Suddenly, it felt like an invisible barrier muffled the sounds around me. The host's words became indistinct, like the buzzing of flies.
While Lila and the others were still caught up in the wedding's celebratory atmosphere, I couldn't stand the oppressive feeling any longer and wanted to leave.
Just a few steps out of the banquet hall, a familiar voice broke the silence, "Diana!"
My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly turned around to see Aria standing there. Her hair was a mess, strands falling over her forehead and cheeks; her scarf was askew, completely lacking her usual elegance and poise.
I couldn't imagine how she had managed to get past security and appear here so suddenly. I frowned slightly, full of confusion, and was about to ask her what she wanted when a sweet orange scent filled the air.
The scent quietly invaded my senses, and I started to feel dizzy. My vision blurred, and moments later, my legs gave way. Just before losing consciousness, I vaguely saw a strange smile on Aria's face, and a sense of foreboding washed over me.
I wanted to struggle, but my body wouldn't respond. When I came to, I realized my hands and feet were tied up with ropes, and there was a cloth stuffed in my mouth. Panic set in as I tried to make sense of what was happening.
I was in the back seat of a car, and Aria was behind the wheel. I nervously glanced out the window and saw we were far from the city, heading towards the river.
Where was she taking me? What did she want?
I tried to stay calm, moving as quietly as possible to avoid drawing Aria's attention. My fingers worked at the knots behind my back, while my eyes stayed fixed on Aria. Luckily, she wasn't great at tying knots, and after some effort, I managed to free my hands. But the lingering effects of the drug left me too weak to untie my feet.
I discreetly took out my phone, using my body to shield it as I quickly sent a distress message to Lila, including my location and a brief description of the situation. Then I put the phone on silent.
I felt a bit relieved, but my nerves were still on edge. I listened intently to the sounds outside the car, my eyes never leaving Aria, fearing she might notice my actions and put me in even greater danger.
Meanwhile, the wedding was still in full swing. Luckily, my friends soon realized something was wrong after I left. They searched the banquet hall anxiously, calling my name but finding no trace of me.
Lila was frantic, sweat dripping from her forehead as she hurried through the crowd, occasionally stopping to check if someone was me.
Their behavior quickly caught Edward's attention.
He rushed over, his expression tense, and grabbed Lila's arm, asking, "What's going on? Who are you looking for?"
Lila, on the verge of tears, replied urgently, "Diana is missing. We can't find her anywhere!"
Edward's face turned pale, his hands trembling slightly as he muttered, "How could this happen?"
Just then, Lila's phone chimed with a message.
She quickly checked it, her breath coming in short gasps as she read the details. Her voice shook as she told Edward, "I have news! Diana's been kidnapped by Aria. She's in danger!"
Edward's eyes flashed with anger, and he gritted his teeth, "Aria dares to do this? She's asking for trouble!"
He snatched Lila's phone, carefully checking the location.
He silently cursed himself for not paying more attention to my situation earlier. Now, as he knew I had been taken by Aria, his face darkened with determination. Using the wedding venue's surveillance footage and the location I provided, they finally tracked Aria's car and set off in pursuit.
Aria drove recklessly, kicking up clouds of dust behind her. She didn't glance back at me, but her eyes in the rearview mirror showed a nearly manic glee.
The scenery outside flew by like lightning, the wind howling past the windows, creating an eerie soundtrack for this wild chase. The consequences of her actions seemed far from her mind.