His Regrets, Her Revenge

The Trap

Serena stared at her phone long after the call ended.

Ryan's final words echoed in her mind.

"Come alone... or you'll regret it."

Adrian studied her expression.

"What did he say?"

She took a deep breath.

"He wants to meet me."

"When?"

"Tonight."

"Where?"

She mentioned the address.

Adrian's expression immediately hardened.

"An abandoned warehouse near the old industrial district?"

"You know it?"

He nodded.

"It's been empty for years."

Serena frowned.

"Then why would he ask me to meet him there?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he picked up his phone and dialed James.

"Come to my office."

---

Within minutes, James and Lucas arrived.

Adrian explained the situation.

James frowned.

"I don't like this."

Lucas agreed.

"If Ryan wanted to talk, he could choose a café, a lawyer's office, or anywhere public."

"Not an abandoned warehouse."

Serena folded her arms.

"Maybe he's finally afraid."

"Or maybe," James said quietly, "he wants you to think that."

The room fell silent.

---

"I have to go."

Everyone turned toward Serena.

"If Ryan knows something about who framed me..."

"I can't ignore it."

Adrian shook his head.

"You're not going alone."

"He specifically said—"

"I don't care what he said."

His voice was calm but firm.

"I'm not letting you walk into a dangerous situation by yourself."

Serena looked into his eyes.

There was no arrogance.

No attempt to control her.

Only genuine concern.

She softened slightly.

"Then what do you suggest?"

Adrian looked at James.

"We'll let her go."

Serena looked surprised.

"But she won't be alone."

James nodded.

"My security team will be nearby."

"They'll stay out of sight unless something goes wrong."

After a moment's thought, Serena agreed.

"Alright."

---

Across town, Ryan paced inside the abandoned warehouse.

Bianca stood beside him nervously.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Ryan looked toward the entrance.

"She'll come."

"And then?"

"We scare her."

Bianca frowned.

"That's all?"

Ryan smiled coldly.

"If she keeps digging..."

"Our lives are over."

"So she needs to believe the truth is too dangerous to uncover."

Bianca shifted uneasily.

"I didn't agree to hurt her."

Ryan turned sharply.

"I'm not planning to."

"...Unless she forces my hand."

Bianca suddenly realized she no longer recognized the man she thought she loved.

---

At exactly eight o'clock, Serena's car stopped outside the warehouse.

She stepped out alone.

Hidden in the darkness across the street, James watched through binoculars.

Two security vehicles waited a short distance away.

Adrian sat in one of them.

"I should be in there."

James shook his head.

"If Ryan sees you, he'll disappear before saying anything."

Adrian reluctantly stayed where he was.

---

Inside the warehouse, Serena found Ryan standing near a stack of old shipping containers.

The building echoed with every step.

"You came."

"You sounded desperate."

Ryan laughed softly.

"I sounded concerned."

"Concerned?"

Serena stared at him.

"You destroyed my life."

Ryan sighed.

"You always exaggerate."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You framed me."

"I didn't."

"You expect me to believe that?"

Ryan smiled.

"I expect you to listen."

---

He slowly walked closer.

"Walk away from the investigation."

Serena folded her arms.

"No."

"It won't end well for you."

"I'm already living the worst days of my life."

"You can make them worse."

She stepped even closer until only a few feet separated them.

"I'd rather lose everything than live with a lie."

For the first time...

Ryan's smile disappeared.

---

Hidden behind one of the containers, Bianca listened with growing panic.

She had secretly followed Ryan.

She hadn't expected the conversation to become so serious.

Ryan lowered his voice.

"You think this is about three million dollars?"

Serena frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

Ryan leaned in.

"The money..."

"...is the smallest part of this."

Before he could say another word, the loud screech of tires echoed outside.

James spoke urgently into his radio.

"Multiple vehicles approaching."

Adrian looked toward the warehouse entrance.

"This wasn't part of Ryan's plan."

Black SUVs sped into the compound.

Several armed men jumped out.

Ryan looked genuinely shocked.

"What are they doing here?"

One of the masked men shouted,

"Grab the woman!"

Everything happened at once.

Ryan stepped backward in surprise.

Serena turned toward the entrance.

The masked men rushed into the warehouse.

James's voice thundered through the radio.

"Move! Move! Move!"

Security guards sprinted toward the building.

Adrian threw open the vehicle door and ran inside.

A masked man reached Serena first.

She struggled fiercely, kicking him in the leg.

He stumbled backward.

Another grabbed her arm.

Before he could pull her away—

A powerful punch sent the attacker crashing to the floor.

Adrian.

He stepped between Serena and the attackers.

His eyes were cold with determination.

"Stay behind me."

Serena's heart raced.

The warehouse erupted into chaos as James's team confronted the masked men.

In the confusion, Ryan slipped out through a side door.

No one noticed.

Except Bianca.

She watched him run...

And, for the first time, realized Ryan had been willing to leave everyone else behind—including her.