Marry Me, Miss Villainess - Chapter 84：TAKEN... AGAIN 4

“You said you have her. But I still don’t see Arianna anywhere. Just tell me the truth if you don’t have her. I promise I won’t be angry.” Belle told Howard Finn during breakfast. It’s already the third day since she moved in to her so called father’s villa. But she hadn’t heard anything about Arianna yet. It’s good if the old Finn was just bluffing. She wasn’t sure what this man planned anyway. Arianna being blind is horrible enough. What would happen to her if she’s taken by this madman?

“Don’t worry. She’s on her way. We’re just having some difficulty smuggling her into this country. But she’ll be here soon.” the man replied.

Arabella froze. She dropped her cutlery and stared at the man eating nonchalantly across her. He looked confident. Was he telling that truth? He really abducted Arianna Reid? But that’s crazy!

“Then…. what are you planning to do with her?”, she asked. She was anxious but tried hard to hide it.

The man lifted his head and glanced at his daughter. “I told you… I’m giving her to you as a gift! I know you wanted to get back at her. She’s all yours!”, he answered.

“What made you think I hate her?”,Belle then asked. Well, she did hated her. But this is too extreme.

Howard Finn laughed. “I’m not a stranger. Of course I know my own daughter. Even Carl himself know how much you and the Reid girl despise each other. I know what she’ve done to you. And I know what you’ve done to her. You’re the reason why she’s blind now, aren’t you?”

Those words startled Belle. He knew Arianna’s condition. So there’s a very big possibility he really holds her captive. He knew about her life too. Was he stalking her?

“If you knew she was bullying me, then why did you only come to me now? Why not take me away back then? I didn’t have a place in that family and I didn’t even know it!”, she yelled, her tears threatening to fall. She didn’t know when exactly Carl find out she wasn’t his daughter, but she had a hunch it was around the time he started treating her indifferently. It was some time after Arianna and her mother moved in with them so she thought it was because Arianna schemed to steal her father’s affection.

Howard Finn sighed. His expression became solemn as he struggled to explain things. “My life is very complicated. I had no choice. I hated it too that I have to leave when Jane and you needed me the most…. but it was out of my control.” He then proceeded to tell her how while he was dating her mother, he got injured in a gang war. He was taken in by Phantom Eagle and had to recuperate under its wing. He had no knowledge of the outside world. He only found out later that his girlfriend eloped with Carl Reid and so he was very very furious for being cheated on. “I loved your mother dearly. I can’t accept the fact that she married another man so I planned on taking revenge on them. But I realise I still wants her… I couldn’t let her go.”

“I became an official member of Phantom Eagle and made my way up little by little.” Finn continued. “While working for Reid, I worked for Phantom Eagle, too. But just as my plans were being carried out, some people in the organization secretly had me assassinated. I survived, but I had a hard time and went into hiding…. until I was able to become a council member of Phantom Eagle and regained power to get rid of my enemies. And now, I’ve become the president of the group. I have the ultimate power now more than ever, after the decline of Rojo. I can now take care of you without risking your life.” he told her.

So, this man is still concerned about her? The words he said are good, but it won’t move Belle. It might be odd, but she doesn’t feel a bit of affection for this so called father. When she looks at him, she can feel vex, fear, disdain, but nothing more. There wasn’t the feeling of familiarity she expected to feel. Maybe because deep in her heart, Carl Reid remains to be her father, and before her was the man who wanted to destroy him.

“Are you the one who poisoned my stepmother?” Belle probed. Little by little, she’s becoming more confident that this man won’t hurt her. She dared to probe further as Howard Finn became more comfortable with her.

“Yes.” he admitted. “She deserved it for killing your mother.” he answered. Deep hatred was evident in his face. Arabella’s eyes widened with the sudden revelation. Was it true? Did Dianna really caused her mother’s death?

“My mother died a natural way.” Belle argued.

Howard Finn just sneered. “That’s what they thought about Dianna Evans death too!” he remarked. “Didn’t you suspect she was killed even once? Dianna married Carl just a year after Jane’s death! I’m sure she planned it all.”

Did she ever suspect foul play on her mother’s death? No. During that time, Carl’s parents were always nagging him to divorce Jane and marry Dianna instead. They have never liked Jane and eversince she could remember, they’ve always despised them. So when Jane died, the elderlies persuaded Carl that he it’s about time he make it up to his other daughter: Arianna, and provide her with a complete family. Unlike Arianna who was fierce and cold, Dianna was a gentle, warm, and cheerful woman. She looked so pure and kind. How could she suspect her? She would suspect her grandparents much more! Should she believe this man when he says Dianna had her mom killed? But his mind was twisted! How could she trust such a person!

“Well… what are your plans then?” she probed.

“Nothing much right now. I’m still looking into things. I was planning to drive Carl’s company into bankruptcy but… it seemed like there’s no need for me to lift a finger. His company is already experiencing huge losses.” he stated chuckling.

The more Howard Finn tells her the things he know, the more Belle became worried. Arianna is blind. Carl was about to go bankrupt. Do they deserve this? No… It was her family that’s causing them all this.

“What about you, sweetie? What are your plans? I heard about your entanglement with both Roy Vander and Jayden Bates!”, he asked. Arabella snapped out of her dazed when she heard those names. Jayden? Roy? What about them?

“Jayden already dumped me…. and Roy…. didn’t you already made me leave him? What’s there to ask?” Arabella picked up her spoon once more and continued her breakfast.

“If you want, I can destroy Bates for you.” he offered. “And about that Vander lad, if he really likes you, then he can come to me and ask for your hand. That’s….. if he has the guts to.”

Arabella shook her head. Roy sure is gutsy. But why would he go through all the trouble to look for her? She’s just a nobody anyway.

Belle tasted something bitter in her heart. Why does she feel so embittered by that realization? Did she actually want him to find her?

***

Arianna opened her eyes and was greeted by darkness. Oh, right! She was blind. She forgot about that. But something wasn’t right when she woke up just now. She realized she was sleeping on a moving vehicle. She can hear the sound of the engine and feel the jerking movement of the cold surface where she lay. Moreover, both her hands and feet were bound, and her mouth was stuffed with something. What’s going on? Where is she? If it’s a nightmare, it’s a very long one….