Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AT RIA ROBERT COUTURECòntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

FLASH FORWARD

“So have you listened to the tape?” Ethan asked Chad.

“Yes…” Detective Chad took out the envelope and gave it to Ria. Ian collected it and handed it to her. “Speedy sent this to you.” He added.

“Can we listen to the tape first?” Ria asked.

“Sure.” Detective Chad took out the device and pressed the button.

Dane Julio, Speedy.

‘My name is Dane Julio but my gang called me speedy. I used to be a member of the money make life gang. Actually I was second in command in the gang because I was the closest to the boss. Wow, what a life I have lived. I am making this recording as an evidence to be used against Frederick Robert in court because I am certain nemesis will catch up with him soon. He is a bad man. Frederick used us for dirty jobs. He ordered us to kill people and it was mostly anyone who tried to get in his way. Eight years ago, Frederick came to my boss named Lucas and told him to get rid of his step brother Nathan Robert. He gave us paper works which contained the transfer of inheritance to his name. He told Lucas to get Nathan to sign those papers and we should kill him and his family so no one would ever find out the truth. The inheritance was a lot of money, it was about twenty million dollars and Frederick offered to give Lucas two percent of the money aside the payment of the job. We killed Nathan and his wife but Lucas took Ria away because he couldn’t control his sexual urge after seeing her. He was a pedophile.’

Ian held Ria’s hands and gave it a small squeeze.

‘Lucas took her to our den but lied to Frederick that he had fun with her in his car and she died and he threw her body off a cliff. Frederick believed him and left that day. He thought it was over until they declared Ria missing. He came back to the den and yelled at Lucas for not killing her in their home so the cops wouldn’t have to look for her body. Then Lucas helped him devise a plan, the perfect plan to make everyone believe that Ria was dead. Frederick paid the assistant chief of police to fire the detective in charge of the case because he found the truth and was determined to put him behind bars. He got connections in the police force and manipulated the whole case. Some of the cops were paid to present the false body of Ria Robert and those who didn’t want to lose their job were threatened to stay quiet. To prove that Ria was dead, a mannequin was customized to make it look like she was really dead. It was made by the toy industry in Idaho. They designed it to look like the real Ria Robert back then and that was why there wasn’t much cops at the place they found Ria’s so-called body. It was just the cops the assistant chief of police assigned to the woods. And when a witness showed up and said she saw us that night and everyone suspected us that we did it, Lucas sent out Kelly who was the only female in our gang to meet the woman. He asked her to go to the witness. She was a single mother of two and so Kelly threatened to kill her sons. And she ordered her to change her words whenever the press came around. And she complied and admitted that the men they found are ones she saw that night. The truth was Frederick paid two thugs to act as the killers giving them the assurance that he would fly them out of the country after the case was closed. And they confessed that they killed Nathan and his wife because he refused to pay the money he borrowed from them and that they also killed Ria in the woods. It was the manipulation Lucas and Frederick planned. Actually, we killed those men after they closed the case. Lucas was willing to protect Ria from her uncle because he was in love with her but my boss couldn’t tell her. And in a long run, we went for an operation in a bank but someone called the cops on us. They killed Lucas and two other members. I was apprehended and the last member that was shot, treated and locked up didn’t make it in custody. Python died few days later leaving just me to face the wrath of the law. Frederick couldn’t get me out of cell. I was sentenced to life imprisonment but that bastard promised to get me out of jail when I threatened to expose his secrets. Eight years passed now he didn’t do anything. He came to jail weeks back and asked me to tell him the truth about Ria. He claimed that she was alive and I told him the truth after seeing the pictures he gave to me. Then I told him to turn himself in to the police before he left that day. I knew Frederick won’t spare me for saying that to him. He was so confident that Ria won’t do anything to him. And I sensed that my end was near and I was glad. It was better to die than stay in jail for life. I am recording this just in case Frederick orders someone to get rid of me just to conceal the truth. I don’t want Frederick to get away with his crimes. And I am the only evidence Ria has to put him in jail. Detective Derrick, I am sure you are listening to me, you are the only one I can trust with this because I saw how determined you were back then to find the killers. Mr Derrick, find Ria Robert. She is in Chicago and now a famous clothe designer. Find her and help her get justice for her parents death.”

Then the device beeped.

“That’s all?” Ethan said in a low tone.

Detective Chad nodded. “We can arrest Frederick with these evidences.” He said.

“Yes and the transfer of case is in process.” Attorney Ava added.

“Mr Chad, do the necessary things.” Ian gritted.

“Sure I will turn in the evidences to my boss today and make a report. Attorney Ava, please I will like you to come with me to the station to talk to my boss about your trip to Idaho.” Detective Chad covered the box.

“Okay.” Attorney Ava agreed.

They both stood up. “Please kindly drop by at the station to make a statement.” Detective Chad said to Ria.

“Should I bring the letter along?” Ria asked.

“No, it is yours… and whatever is in there must be personal.” Detective Chad replied.

“Okay.”

Attorney Ava and Detective Chad exited the room.

“I think… I will take my leave too. See you later, Ria.” Ethan said and walked out of the office.

Ma’am Elise went to Ria. “Don’t worry everything will be fine. Mr Ian, I will leave her with you.” She said.

Ian nodded as he looked at Ria who was trying so hard to blink back tears. Ma’am Elise exited the room.

“Ria.” Ian called as he squeezed her hands gently. “I promise you that he won’t get away this time.”

Ria nodded as she picked the letter.

“Ria… you know that you can read the letter some other time.” Ian muttered.

“No… I will read now.” She sniffed.

“Are you sure about it?”

“Yes Ian. Please read it to me.”

“Okay.” And he read it to her.

Dane Julio; Speedy.

Dear Ria,

I am glad to hear that you are alive and also doing fine in Chicago. I heard that you are now a famous clothe designer. It is such a relief. To be sincere, Ria, you deserve the best after everything you went through in Lucas’s den. I am so sorry for what I tried to do to you. My greatest regret in life is trying to force myself on you because I still dream of that day each time I sleep. It has haunted me for years. Ria, find a place in your heart to forgive me for trying to force myself on you. I am using this medium to ask for your forgiveness for getting you into trouble with Lucas. I felt guilt for what Lucas and his men did to you. I wish we could meet again so I can apologize properly but I know that I am the last person you want to see. I know I deserve death and I will gladly accept it. Please Ria, once again forgive me and the money make life gang for killing your parents and for causing you so much pain. It is only your forgiveness that can make us rest in peace. Please forgive us. Thanks in advance! And I wish you all the best in life, Ria Robert.

Tears dropped down Ria’s cheeks. “He knew he was going to die.” She stood up and walked to her desk.

“Ria.” Ian went to her and pulled her into his arms tightly. “Please don’t cry.”

It didn’t work. Ria lasted two minutes in tears and she couldn’t stop them from flowing. “And even after everything… he shouldn’t have died!” She sobbed.

Ria should be happy that Speedy was dead but she was heartbroken. She felt bad that he was dead.

Ian held on to her. “Ria, that’s enough.” He whispered.

“Everyone deserve a second chance… you know no one deserves to die. He was bad though, but he thought of doing something that would help me. Now I feel bad that he possibly died because of me. And if he hadn’t confessed the truth then he would still be alive and-” Her voice trailed off.

“No. Ria.. don’t blame yourself.” He shushed her.

“I can’t believe that he gave up so easily. I forgive him… I forgive them. All of these wouldn’t have happened if Frederick didn’t approach them.” She muttered.

That was the best thing she could do to repay Dane Julio for preparing that evidence. Forgiveness was the only option left to take away the guilt she was feeling. And Ria promised that she would do everything in her power to make sure that Frederick Robert pays for all his crimes.