BOUNDED BY THE CEO'S DECEPTION

chapter 4

MIRABELLA’S POV

“What are we going to do now? We’re surrounded,” I whispered, just loud enough for Ana to hear.

“We’ll be fine, Mira. Stay calm, show no fear,” Ana replied. She stepped forward, heading straight for Aiden and his men.

“What’s the meaning of this? Who are you, and why are you chasing us?” she asked, feigning confusion.

“You all better quit chasing us, or I’ll have you arrested for harassment,” Ana said, her voice firm.

The words had barely left her mouth when Aiden flicked his hand. His men grabbed Ana, dragging her away.

“Let her go! Who are you? What do you want from us?” My voice trembled.

Aiden kept walking toward me, each step making my fear grow. The closer he got, the harder it was to stay still. “Your little friend isn’t my concern. She’ll come back to you—depending on how this conversation goes.”

“Outcome? What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice shaky. “You’ve got the wrong person. I don’t even know you.” I twisted my face into what I hoped looked like confusion.

Aiden’s face tightened, his eyes narrowing. “Really? You don’t know me at all?” He took a step closer, his jaw clenched. “So, you’re not the crazy woman who almost ended my life?” His voice was laced with anger.

He flicked his hand again, and I stiffened, bracing to be dragged away like Ana. But instead, one of his men handed me a phone.

The screen lit up. A video began to play. My feet froze, heavy as stone, the shock pinning me in place. I couldn’t move.

“Isn’t that you, Mirabella Jones? Running out of the hotel room after committing an unforgivable crime?” he asked, his face contorted with an angry expression.

“It was never my intention to hurt you. This is all a misunderstanding. Please, forgive me,” I said, my voice trembling.

“A misunderstanding?” Aiden’s voice sliced through the air, suddenly cold and harsh. His fists clenched at his sides. “What part is a misunderstanding?” he continued, his tone thick with frustration. “The part where you drugged me, took advantage of me, hit me on the head—” He stopped, his chest rising with each breath, his face reddening. “Or the part where you ran off with my shirt!” he shouted, his voice cracking with rage, as if the shirt was the one thing that mattered above all else.

“I didn’t mean to do any of that to you, please believe me. I mistook you for someone else,” I said, my voice pleading, hoping to convince him.

“Confused me? I’m Aiden Hayes. Do you think I look like everyone else?” His tone dripped with mockery. “Or maybe you thought getting close to me would lead you to a free pot of gold.”

That mocking smirk flipped a switch in me. Consequences no longer mattered.

“Enough!” My voice rose, sharp with anger. “I’ve explained the situation, I even asked for your forgiveness, but clearly, you’re not here to listen. I’m leaving.”

I turned to leave , but his hand shot out, gripping mine, stopping me in my tracks.

“I’m the victim here, not you,” he snapped, his jaw tight and eyes hard. He took a step closer, his voice low but unwavering. “So you’ll do exactly what I say, or you’ll face the consequences of your terrible actions.”

Aiden’s words barely registered as my attention shifted to the way he was holding my hands, his grip tight but unsettlingly gentle. His other hand moved over his own body, fingers brushing over his clothes, searching for something. Confusion spread through me. What was he doing? Was he possessed? The thought lingered, making my skin prickle with unease.

“Hello? Miss Drug Dealer? What are you thinking about?” he said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Drug dealer? What nonsense!” I shot back, my voice firm. “How could you call me that? My name is Mirabella, and I don’t appreciate being called such a name.”

“I don’t give a damn what you care about or what pleases you. Just listen carefully, accept my condition, and everything will be settled between us,” Aiden said, his voice hard, his expression unyielding.

“What condition? I’ll do anything, as long as it gets rid of you faster,” I shot back, my tone firm.

“Marry me!” he said, his words crashing into me like a sudden wave. I blinked, my breath catching as disbelief settled in.

“What are you even saying?” I shot back, my voice cutting through the air. “Why would I marry you? I don’t even know you!” My gaze swept over him, his demeanor sending a shiver down my spine. “And the way you act—it’s unsettling. Absolutely not.”

My chest tightened with anger, and I turned on my heel, my steps quick and deliberate as I left, the absurdity of his proposal twisting uncomfortably in my stomach.

“Your mother is bedridden and needs urgent surgery to regain her health,” Aiden said loudly. His words froze me mid-step, my heart pounding at the mention of my mother.

“How do you know about my mother being sick?” I asked, confusion tightening my voice.

He smirked, his gaze sharp and condescending. “How I found out doesn’t matter. You’re just a small fish in the pond. Getting information about you is child’s play.” His smug expression ignited a flare of anger in my chest.

“You have two options,” he continued, his tone steady and unyielding. “Marry me, and I’ll make sure your mother gets the best treatment. Her recovery will be quick and certain.”

“I don’t need your help to get my mother treated. I can take care of her myself,” I said, my voice steady and cutting through his words. “I won’t marry you or have anything to do with you.” My resolve was firm, refusing to hear what his second option might be.

“If you reject my condition, there will be consequences,” he said, his tone sharp and unyielding. “I’ll make you disappear from the city within 24 hours without a trace.” His words hit me like a punch, leaving me frozen in disbelief.

“Make me disappear?” I asked, my voice trembling, fear creeping into my chest.

“Yes, disappear within 24 hours,” he repeated, his smirk cold and wicked. “So, you have two choices. Marry me and save your poor mother’s life, or refuse me and lose everything—your freedom, your mother. You’ll never see her again.” His words were firm, his gaze locked on mine like a trap I couldn’t escape.

“Please, don’t do this to me. Just give me some time to think,” I said, my voice trembling as I clung to the hope of buying time to figure out my next move.

“No!” His words sliced through the silence, hard and final. “I am Aiden Hayes. I don’t have all day to wait for an answer." His eyes locked onto mine, steady and intense. “So, I ask again—will you marry me, Mirabella Jones?”