Blind Billionaire Bride

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AT RIA ROBERT COUTURE

THRE DAYS LATER

Ria stood outside of the store waiting for Ian to come and drive her to school as promised. She was anxious. And she was beginning to lose patience. Ria had left her office and decided to wait for him outside. The time was now 10:30 a. m, passed the usual time and Ian was never late for their coffee mornings plus he always calls if he couldn’t make it down here due to emergency at work.

But today was different, he didn’t show up and no call. Ria was worried when she called his line and Ian didn’t pick up. She was disturbed and started to feel that something was wrong.

The transferring of case from Idaho to Chicago was approved the day before yesterday. And Detective Chad had gone out with his men to apprehend Frederick but no one was home except the maids. Detective Chad called Derrick to inform him that Frederick wasn’t home and the an old woman at his home said that Frederick left home some days ago. Chad was quick to calculate the date the woman gave him and it happened to be that the day Frederick left home was the same day Ava turned in the letter of reinvestigation.

Frederick Robert left town! Someone must have told him about the official letter. Coward! This made Derrick to join the justice team. He was now determined to find Frederick. And very soon they will declare him wanted.

“Miss Ria.. Miss Ria… Miss Ria!”

She heard ma’am Elise voice behind her. Ria turned to face her. She looked troubled.

“What’s wrong?” Ria asked.

“Please come in… and watch the news.” Ma’am Elise said shakily.

“The news?” Ria repeated.

Ma’am Elise nodded impatiently. Ria followed her back inside to the large television in the room. Her workers gathered around to watch the news too. Ria saw Lint Corporation textile factory on the screen and her eyes scrolled down to the breaking news; LINT CORPORATION TEXTILE FACTORY ON FIRE

The news captured the building on fire.

‘SEVERAL WORKERS INJURED AND CEO IAN BRYANT COLLAPSED IN FIRE.’ The reporter stated.

Ria’s eyes widened in shock and her heart skipped beats when she saw the medical team pushing Ian out on a stretcher with oxygen on his nose into the ambulance.

“No… no… no….” Ria muttered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Ma’am Elise held her hand tightly. “He will be fine.”

Ria looked up at the big screen again. Firemen were trying to put out of the fire. What could have happened? She wondered.

“The victims are being rushed to the nearest hospital which is Ainsley Hospital.” The reporter continued.

“Ainsley hospital? I need to see him.” Ria murmured.

“I will help you change your bag.” Ma’am Loretta offered as she collected the school bag from Ria and rushed to the office.

Ria waited impatiently for her return. “I am coming with you.” Ma’am Elise said.

“No. I will be fine… please… just stay at the store.” Ria stammered.

“Okay.” Ma’am Elise replied reluctantly.

The two bodyguards named Brian and Bret that Ian had hired followed Ria closely.

“I don’t need you guys following me around!” Ria yelled at them and they stepped backward.

To Ria it was so annoying having bodyguards to protect her. At school they almost followed her into the toilet and scared off the ladies. They never left her side even in classes. And Ria already told Ian that she doesn’t need any bodyguard following her around but he wouldn’t let her have her way.

Ria dialed Mrs Perla number and she picked up immediately.

‘Hello?’

It wasn’t her voice.

‘Hello. Please can I talk Mrs Perla?’ Ria requested politely.

‘Ria is that you?’ The soft voice asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Oh Ria… it is me. Lauren.’

Ian’s second big sister. They have met before when she wanted to get a dress for her daughter Mia. She celebrated her 10th birthday two weeks ago.

‘I just watched the news now… and I am on my way to Ainsley hospital.’ Ria rushed out her words.

‘Okay.’ Lauren mumbled.

‘What about Mrs Perla?’

Lauren heaved a loud sigh. ‘My mom fainted after she received the news that Ian collapsed in the fire.’

‘How is she?’

‘She is fine now. The doctors already attended to her.’

‘Okay. I will be there soon.’

Lauren hummed a positive response before disconnecting the call.

“What’s going on? Oh my God! Let Ian be fine.” Ria said the prayer over and over again.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

*******

IDAHO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AT SANDERS MANSION

Alexis went to the door when she heard the doorbell. “Good afternoon. Please how may I help you?”

Derrick who was now working as a detective in Chicago brought out his ID card and showed it to the maid. He came with two other cops.

“We are here to see Mrs Vivian Robert.”

“Alexis, is everything okay?” Serena came into view.

Alexis opened the door wide for Serena to see their visitors. She walked closer to the door. “Are you, Mrs Sanders?” Derrick asked.

“Yes. I am Serena Sanders.” She replied.

Detective Derrick showed her his card. “And Mrs Vivian Robert is here right?”

Mrs Serena nodded. “Is everything okay?” She asked.

“Yes I just want to have a word with you.” Detective Derrick responded.

“Come in.” Mrs Serena invited them in.

“Vivian.” Serena called out.

Mrs Vivian and Bay walked to the sitting room. They stopped on track when their eyes fell on the men in uniforms.

“Detective Derrick from police quarters in Chicago.” He introduced briefly.

“What’s going on, mom?” Bay questioned with a raised eyebrows.

“Presently we are reinvestigating Nathan and Madison Robert case. And-”

“Nathan and Madison?” Mrs Vivian repeated.

“Yes. Mr Nathan was your husband’s step brother and Madison was his wife..” Detective Derrick said.

“They are dead.” Mrs Vivian replied.

“Yes I know.” Detective Derrick cocked his brows. “Where is Mr Frederick Robert?” He asked.

“My husband?” Mrs Vivian shot him a confused look.

“Yes.”

“He is out of town… on a vacation.” She stuttered.

“Where?”

“I don’t know.” Mrs Vivian answered.

“Or you don’t want to disclose his location.”

“My husband didn’t give me a specific country or town? He only warned me not to go Chicago.” Mrs Vivian said with sincerity in her tone.

“Why?”

Mrs Vivian exchanged glances with Serena. “I told him some weeks ago that I would like to visit Ria Robert Couture to buy some dresses but he refused to let me go…” She paused. “Why are you looking for my husband? And why are you reinvestigating a closed case?”

“For justice to prevail. After much investigation we found out that Mr Frederick Robert was deeply involved in the case.” Detective Derrick replied.

All of their jaws dropped in shock. “What do you mean?” Mrs Vivian demanded.

Detective Derrick ignored Vivian’s question. “It is obvious you don’t have an idea of where we can possibly find your husband at the moment. Thanks for your time.”

“Hey…” Bay called out to him but he don’t respond and then he left with his men.

Detective Derrick figured Frederick’s location from his wife’s words. He had warned her not to travel to Chicago so it only means that Frederick is in Chicago! His phone beeped. It was Chad.

‘Hello Chad. I just spoke to Mrs Vivian. She has no idea where her husband traveled to.” He told Chad what he found out.

“Frederick is in Chicago.” He said.

Detective Chad was silent.

“Are you there?” Derrick asked.

“Someone set Lint Corporation textile factory on fire.” Detective Chad said finally.

“What?!” His mouth dropped slightly.

“Yes. And Ian Bryant also collapsed in the fire.”

Frederick is in Chicago, the textile factory was on fire, Ian Collapsed in fire… Derrick thought deeply. Then it struck him almost immediately.

“Chad, I think this is Frederick’s doing.” He muttered.

“Yes I agree with you. Let us just assume that he wants to get rid of Ian Bryant to make Ria powerless. Ian said Frederick called him and he had told Frederick straight that he would put him in jail.” Detective Chad said.

“Now I think we don’t have to work in Idaho anymore.”

“Yes… the search is in Chicago. We have to find him.”

“Yes.”

“Perhaps did to tell his wife about it?” Detective Chad demanded.

“Not directly. I only said Frederick was involved in the case.” Detective Derrick replied.

“Why didn’t you tell her?”

“Well it looked like the poor woman would collapse if I told her Frederick murdered his brother. And I have too much work to do than rushing a woman to the hospital.” Detective Derrick responded.

“She will find out anytime soon

“Yes the press are already storming the police station here trying to find any information.”

“Well drop something for them before moving to Chicago.” Detective Chad instructed him after letting out a light chuckle.

“Sure.”

The line dropped.