The Billionaire's Abused Bride

CHOOSE

CHAPTER 15:

The light did not fade away.

It went into my mind.

It was deep. It would not stop.

It was relentless. It was unforgiving.

I could not close my eyes.

I could not look away.

The light was everywhere.

It was inside me.

Then the memories came back to me.

They came at once.

They were not missing pieces.

They were whole and clear and sharp.

Someone said to me "You are running out of time Amara."

I said "I know."

The person said "If they find you"

I said "They will not."

A screen appeared in front of me.

It was full of lines of code and encrypted files and names and locations.

This was all the information that Blackwood had tried to hide.

This was all the information that they never wanted anyone to find.

My breath came quickly.

I whispered "I have it."

The person said " get out now."

I said "I will."

I saw another memory.

It was raining. I was holding a small device.

My heart was beating fast. There were footsteps behind me.

Someone was shouting "Stop her."

I ran fast as I could.

I was desperate.

There was a car waiting for me. The door was open.

Ethan was there. He said "You are late."

I said "Drive."

The car sped away. My chest was heaving.

I said "I did it."

Ethan said "I know. They know too."

I felt fear. I said "What?"

Ethan said "You were seen and we do not have time."

I saw another memory.

It was a room and it was dark and safe.

Ethan said "You cannot keep it on you."

I said "I am not."

He said " where"

I touched my head and said "Here."

He looked at me with an expression and said "You are serious?"

I said "They can take everything except this."

He said "That is dangerous."

I said "So is letting them win."

There was silence. Then Ethan said "Alright then we protect you."

The words "protect me" kept echoing in my mind.

Then the memory changed and a new voice appeared.

It was smooth and cold and familiar.

Kieran said "You always were reckless."

He was standing there watching me.

He was calm and dangerous.

I said "You followed me?"

He said "You left me no choice."

I said "This is not about you."

He said "It never is."

I felt anger. I said "I am exposing them and all of it."

Kieran said "And you are getting yourself killed in the process."

I said "I do not care."

He said "I do."

His words hit me hard.

I did not stop and I said "Then stay out of my way."

Kieran said "You do not understand what you are dealing with."

I said "I understand enough."

He said "No you do not."

His eyes became darker. He said "They do not just destroy their enemies they erase them."

I felt a chill. I said "I know."

He said " stop."

I said "I cannot."

He said "Then I will stop you."

The words kept echoing in my mind. Everything became blurry.

The memory. I was back in the room.

I was back in the chair. I was back in reality.

My breath came in gasps and my body was trembling.

I whispered "I remember."

The man in black. Said "Good."

Ethan stared at me with concern and fear and understanding.

He said "Amara stay with me."

I was not fully there yet.

The memories kept coming stronger.

I saw another flash. It was a message.

It was. Encrypted and hidden.

My breath caught. I said "No..."

I realized that I did not just hide the data.

I sent it to someone outside Blackwood.

Someone safe and it was a lifeline and a backup and hope.

Relief. It did not last.

The man in black. Said "And now we see what you choose."

My heart. I looked at him and then at Ethan.

He was still on his knees. Still watching me and still trusting me.

I said "You want the data."

He said "Yes."

I said "And you think I will just give it to you?"

He said "No I think you will trade it."

I said "For what?"

He gestured toward Ethan. Said "For him."

There was silence. It was heavy and crushing.

The man said "You give us what we want and he walks out of here alive."

I said ". If I do not?"

He said "Then he does not."

My heart was pounding violently. This was it.

This was the moment and the choice.

Ethan shook his head. Said "No do not do it."

I said "I cannot let them kill you."

He said "You are not they are."

I said "Amara listen to me if you give them that data everything ends."

He said "You end."

There was silence. His words sank deep.

Because I knew he was right.

If Blackwood got that information back they would not just cover it up.

They would bury it forever. All the lives tied to it and all the truth would be gone.

If I did not give it to them then Ethan would die.

My hands were shaking. I could not breathe.

I said "I... ". My voice broke.

I said "I do not know what to do."

The man in black said softly "Yes you do."

His eyes locked onto mine. They were cold and calculating.

He said "Choose."

The word echoed loudly and finally.

Ethan said "Do not choose me."

My heart. I said "I have to."

He said "No you do not."

Tears blurred my vision. I said "I cannot lose you."

He said "You will not."

He said "But if you do this you lose yourself."

His words hit deep because they were true.

Painfully true.

I closed my eyes for a second.

I tried to breathe. I tried to think.

Then I saw it.

It was not a memory or a flash.

It was a realization. It was clear and sharp and dangerous.

They needed me alive and cooperative and aware.

Which meant I still had power.

I opened my eyes slowly. Looked at the man in black.

I said "You are right."

Ethan looked at me. Said "Amara"

I said "I will give you what you want."

The man. Said "I knew you would make the right choice."

Ethan looked at me with pain in his eyes.

I did not look at him.

Not yet.

Because this was not over.

Not even close.

I said "There is one condition."

The man tilted his head and said "Which is?"

I looked at him hard. Said "You let him go first."

There was a pause. Then the man said "Done."

It was too easy. It should have scared me.

I did not react.

The man ordered "Untie him."

One of the guards. Cut the restraints.

Ethan stood slowly. His eyes locked onto mine.

He was confused and hurt and searching.

He said "Amara..."

I held his gaze. I hoped he would see it and understand and trust me.

I said "Go."

He said "I am not leaving you here."

I said "You have to."

There was silence. Then Ethan nodded slowly.

He nodded reluctantly and painfully.

Because he trusted me now.

After what I just said.

He. Started walking toward the door.

Every step felt heavier, than the last.

My heart was pounding faster and louder and closer.

Wait for it.

Wait.

The moment he reached the door I moved.

I moved fast and sharp and decisively.

I shouted "Now!"

Everything fell apart into chaos.

The lights in the room started to flicker on and off.

The system that I remembered started to work.

The one that I had triggered was now working.

It had been activated.

Alarms started to sound, loud and piercing.

The room was filled with flashing lights.

The man suddenly shouted at me "What did you do?"

I smiled for the time it was a cold smile.

I was certain about what I was doing.

I said to him "You really thought I would choose?"

His face changed instantly it became very dark.

He said, "Stop her ". It was too late.

Ethan turned around he realized what was happening.

He said, "

Amara,". I shouted at him to "Run."

The guards started to move forward it was complete chaos.

But I did not stop I kept going.

Because now I remembered the system I remembered everything.

I was not the same girl that they had tried to break.

I was the one who had almost destroyed them before.

This time I was not going to run away.

I was going to finish what I started.