His Contract Wife

Chapter 12: Kidnapped

That night, Adrian couldn’t sleep.

Ever since Victor Kessler was arrested, he should have been calm. He should have been able to breathe easy.

But his instincts said something was wrong.

Not all of Victor’s phones were confiscated. There was one burner phone the police didn’t find.

And that number had just gone active again at 2 AM.

Adrian got out of bed, careful not to wake Aria, who was sleeping soundly beside him with Alya in her arms.

He went to his office, opened his laptop, checked every security system.

Nothing seemed off. CCTV was fine. Motion sensors were fine. The guard outside their room reported “all clear, Sir.”

But Adrian still couldn’t relax.

At 3 AM, the house phone rang.

Private number. No name.

Adrian picked up.

“Hello.”

A hoarse voice on the other end chuckled softly.

“Miss me, Adrian?”

Adrian stood up straight.

“Victor?!”

“No,” the voice said. “I’m Victor’s guy. He said if he got caught, I’d continue his work.”

Adrian clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white.

“If you touch my family, I’ll hunt you down to hell.”

“Relax, Mr. Blackwood,” the man said casually. “I didn’t touch them. I took them.”

_CLICK._

The call ended.

Adrian ran to the bedroom.

“Aria! Alya!”

The bed was empty.

The blankets were messy.

The window was wide open.

Aria and Alya were gone.

Adrian almost lost it.

He yelled for the guards. He searched the entire penthouse. He checked the CCTV—only to find the system had been hacked 10 minutes ago.

One recording came through: two men in black entered through the balcony, injected Aria and Alya with sedatives, then carried them out through the emergency stairs.

Adrian slammed the table.

“DAMN IT!”

He called everyone immediately. The police. His security team. The former intelligence agent he’d hired.

“Alya and Aria were kidnapped! Find them now!”

But he knew. A phone call wouldn’t be enough.

At 4 AM, a message came to his phone.

A 10-second video.

Aria was tied to a chair, mouth taped. Alya was in her lap, still asleep from the drugs.

Behind them, red spray paint on the wall: _COME ALONE. WEST PORT WAREHOUSE. 6 AM. IF POLICE COME, THEY DIE._

Adrian stared at the video until his eyes burned.

He couldn’t think. He could only feel one thing: the fear of losing them.

At 5 AM, Adrian was in the car. Alone.

He didn’t bring a gun. He didn’t bring the police.

Because if he made one wrong move, Alya would pay for it.

The streets were empty, but it felt like it took 100 years to reach the port.

He remembered what Aria said before: _“I’m not scared when you’re beside me.”_

Now it was his turn to be that person.

At 5:55 AM, he arrived at West Port Warehouse.

Old, rusted, smelling of sea and oil.

The door was half open.

Adrian walked in slowly.

“Aria? Alya?”

The lights turned on suddenly.

In the middle of the room, Aria was tied to a chair. Alya was still in her lap, her face pale from the sedative.

In front of them, three men in black. One of them was the guy from the call last night.

“Finally here,” the man grinned. “Thought I was bluffing?”

Adrian didn’t answer. His eyes never left Aria and Alya.

“Let them go.”

The man laughed.

“Easy. Give me 50 million dollars, then transfer all Blackwood assets to this account.”

He threw a flash drive on the floor.

Adrian looked at him coldly.

“Money’s not a problem. But if you touch them, no amount of money can save you.”

The man walked over to Aria, tugged her hair lightly.

“Is that so? Shame if this pretty face gets ruined.”

Aria struggled, tears in her eyes. She couldn’t speak because of the tape.

Adrian couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward.

_BANG!_

One of the men shot the floor.

“Stop right there!”

Adrian stopped. But his brain was running a thousand miles a second.

He had to make them lower their guard. He had to get closer to Aria.

“Why are you doing this?” Adrian asked quietly. “How much did Victor pay you?”

The man laughed.

“Money’s a bonus, Mr. Blackwood. We hate rich people like you. Acting like you control everyone’s life.”

Adrian nodded slowly.

“So this is class revenge? Good. Let’s make it fair.”

He started walking slowly to the side, pretending to give up.

“If that’s the case, kill me. Not them.”

The men looked confused.

“Boss, what do we do?”

The leader thought for a second.

“No. We need you alive. To transfer the money.”

That was Adrian’s chance.

He suddenly kicked the gun out of one man’s hand, rolled, grabbed the gun, and shot the overhead light.

_CRASH!_

The warehouse went dark.

Shouts. Gunshots. Chaos.

Adrian felt around in the dark, searching for Aria’s voice.

“Aria! I’m here!”

“A- Adrian…” Aria’s voice was hoarse behind the tape.

Adrian found her, cut her bonds with the small knife he always kept in his shoe.

“Get the tape off! Take Alya and get out!”

Aria nodded, pulled the tape off, and picked up Alya, who was still half-conscious.

But before they reached the door, the lights came back on.

The leader stood in front of them, gun pointed at Alya’s head.

“Stop! Or the kid dies!”

Adrian raised his hands.

“Don’t. Take me. Let them go.”

The man smiled in satisfaction.

“Finally you get it.”

He pulled the trigger.

_BANG!_

But it wasn’t Adrian who got hit.

Aria shoved Alya aside and stepped in front of Adrian.

The bullet hit her shoulder.

“Aria!” Adrian shouted.

Aria fell into Adrian’s arms, blood starting to spill from her shoulder.

“I’m… fine,” she whispered. “Save Alya first.”

Adrian was furious. He didn’t care anymore.

He lunged, tackled the man, took his gun, and beat him until he passed out.

The police who’d been staking out the place rushed in.

Paramedics followed.

Alya was crying. Adrian held her with one arm while holding Aria, who was starting to faint.

“Ambulance! Now!” Adrian shouted.

In the ambulance, Aria weakly gripped Adrian’s hand.

“I’m scared, Adrian…”

Adrian kissed her forehead.

“Don’t be scared. I’m here. We’re safe.”

Aria nodded weakly, her eyes starting to close.

“Alya… take care of Alya…”

“I promise.”

Three-hour surgery.

The bullet missed vital organs, but Aria lost a lot of blood.

Adrian sat outside the operating room, holding Alya, who was awake and crying for her mom.

He didn’t cry. But his eyes were empty.

When the doctor came out, Adrian stood up immediately.

“How is she?”

The doctor gave a tired smile.

“Surgery was successful. Mrs. Blackwood is strong. She’ll be fine.”

Adrian let out a long breath. It felt like a 100-ton weight lifted off his chest.

He went into the ICU. Aria was still asleep, pale, but breathing steadily.

Adrian sat beside her, holding her hand.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” he said quietly. “Pushing Alya away, then using yourself as a shield for me?”

Aria didn’t answer. She was still unconscious.

Adrian kissed her hand.

“But that’s why I love you.”

Two days later, Aria woke up.

The first thing she saw was Adrian asleep in the chair beside her bed, head bowed, still holding her hand.

Alya was asleep in Adrian’s lap, safe.

Aria smiled weakly.

“Adrian…”

Adrian woke up immediately. His eyes were red, but he smiled.

“You’re awake.”

Aria nodded.

“Alya?”

“Safe. She’s been here the whole time,” Adrian said, nodding at Alya.

Aria cried.

“I was scared I’d never see you two again.”

Adrian sat on the edge of the bed, caressing her cheek.

“It won’t happen. I won’t let it.”

Aria gripped his shirt.

“I’m sorry… I became a burden.”

Adrian shook his head hard.

“You’re not a burden. You’re my life, Aria. If anything happened to you, I’d die too.”

Aria looked at him for a long time, then whispered.

“I love you.”

Adrian froze. Those words… he’d waited two years to hear them.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead softly.

“I love you too, Aria. More than my own life.”

Three days later, all of Victor’s men were arrested.

Including the guy who called Adrian that night. His name was Reza. A former mercenary.

During interrogation, Reza confessed everything. Victor had given orders from prison through a corrupt lawyer.

Now Victor was in solitary confinement. No contact with the outside world.

Aria was discharged from the hospital a week later.

They went home to the penthouse. But this time, it was different.

No fear. No coercion.

Just a feeling of safety. Because they protected each other.

That night, they sat on the balcony. Alya was asleep inside.

Aria leaned against Adrian’s chest.

“If I hadn’t woken up that night, what would you have done?”

Adrian hugged her tightly.

“I don’t want to think about that.”

Aria nodded.

“Me neither.”

They were quiet for a while.

Then Aria whispered.

“Adrian?”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s get married again. For real this time. No contract. No force.”

Adrian turned, surprised.

“Serious?”

Aria nodded.

“Serious. This time because I want to.”

Adrian smiled wide for the first time in a week.

“Alright. Whenever you want.”

Aria chuckled softly.

“Next month. On the beach. Just us, Alya, and Dad.”

Adrian nodded.

“Deal.”

They kissed under the night sky, with Jakarta city as their witness.

No more threats.

No more contracts.

Just family.