His Last Warning
609 Words
The words on the invitation blurred before Aria’s eyes.
The wedding will happen… even if the bride dies first.
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
“What is this?”
The doctor looked shaken.
“I don’t know. A nurse found it in your father’s hand after he collapsed.”
Aria slowly turned toward Xavier.
“Did you send this?”
His blue eyes remained fixed on her.
“No.”
“My father woke up and the first thing he said was not to marry you.”
The doctor cleared his throat.
“Actually… he didn’t finish.”
Aria looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“He was struggling to breathe. His exact words were…”
The doctor closed his eyes, remembering.
“Don’t… marry… Blackwood… until…”
Aria took a step forward.
“Until what?”
“He lost consciousness before he could finish.”
Silence filled the courtyard.
Her father’s warning echoed inside her mind.
Until…
Until what?
Until she learned the truth?
Until he woke up again?
Or until it was too late?
Xavier finally spoke.
“Take Miss Vale inside.”
“I’m not staying here.”
“You have nowhere else to go.”
“I’ll find somewhere.”
“You won’t survive the night.”
Aria laughed bitterly.
“Is that supposed to scare me?”
“It’s a fact.”
She walked past him.
“I’m leaving.”
The guards looked uncertain.
Xavier didn’t stop her.
He simply watched.
The estate gates slowly opened.
Aria stepped onto the empty road outside.
She had barely walked a few meters when—
Screech!
A black motorcycle sped toward her.
Then another.
Then three more.
Five motorcycles surrounded her within seconds.
Each rider wore black leather jackets.
Each jacket carried the same silver wolf emblem.
The leader removed his helmet.
A long scar ran across his left cheek.
“So…”
He smiled coldly.
“She’s prettier than I expected.”
Aria slowly stepped backward.
“What do you want?”
The man pulled a gun from his jacket.
“We were told not to damage the face.”
Her heart stopped.
Before he could raise the weapon—
Bang!
A single gunshot echoed through the night.
The scar-faced man cried out and dropped his gun, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
The other riders scattered in panic.
Aria turned.
Xavier stood just inside the estate gates.
A pistol hung loosely in his hand.
His face showed no emotion.
“I warned you.”
The remaining riders sped away.
Security guards rushed toward the injured man.
Just as they reached him…
He bit down hard.
Foam appeared at the corners of his mouth.
Within seconds…
He collapsed.
Dead.
One guard checked for a pulse.
“Poison.”
Another searched the motorcycle.
“Sir!”
He ran over carrying a small black envelope.
“It was hidden under the seat.”
Xavier opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
Without a word, he handed it to Aria.
She looked at it.
It was a picture of herself.
Taken earlier that afternoon as she entered Blackwood Tower.
Someone had been watching her.
She turned the photograph over.
Her breath caught.
Written on the back in red ink were the words:
“She is closer than you think.”
Below that…
Another sentence.
“Ask Xavier who Emily is.”
Aria frowned.
“Emily?”
She looked up.
For the first time since she’d met him…
The color drained from Xavier Blackwood’s face.
His hand tightened around the edge of the photograph.
Then he whispered a name he clearly hadn’t spoken in years.
“…Emily.”
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