CHAPTER 280: THE DEADLY FIRE

Riya’s eyes flew wide with panic. She tried to jerk up from the chair, but Zara forced her back down.

"Don’t even think about moving," Zara warned. "One twitch, and this pencil goes straight through your throat."

Riya froze instantly, terror locking her in place. "Th-this is a crime," she stammered. "You can’t just attack people."

"Why not?" Zara shot back. "You did. You nearly killed the woman who raised you like her own. You feel no guilt—so why should I? I’m simply delivering justice. That’s not a crime at all."

She pressed the pencil tip harder against Riya’s skin.

Riya’s breath hitched. "You are crazy," she hissed. "You want to become a murderer? The police won’t let you go. And Nathaniel—he’ll never forgive this."

"Nathaniel and I are over," Zara said coldly. "I don’t care what he thinks anymore. As for the cops... I have a dozen ways to prove you attacked me first."

Riya’s body shook. The look in Zara’s eyes was terrifying—steady, fiery, and absolutely capable of doing anything, even killing people. Fear clawed at her, making her desperate.

"I’ll scream," Riya threatened weakly. "I’ll scream for help. Don’t think you can trap me here."

"Try it," Bree’s voice cut in.

She stepped inside and shut the door behind her. "This room is completely soundproof. Scream all you like—no one outside will hear a thing."

The color drained from Riya’s face as she stared at Bree, standing guard with her arms folded across her chest. She was boxed in on all sides, with no one coming to rescue her.

These two women were ready to hurt her. She needed to find a way out before things spiraled beyond control.

"Listen... I can give you anything," Riya pleaded. "Money—any amount you want. Or contacts. The losses you suffered after Nicole canceled the contract? I can fix that. I can help your business grow. Just... let me go."

"I don’t need your help," Zara replied coldly. "And I certainly don’t need your money. Worry less about my business and more about yourself. If I destroy that pretty face of yours, it’ll be worse than death."

She slowly dragged the pencil down Riya’s cheek, making her shudder violently. "With a face like that, who would hire you? Your career would be finished."

"No..." Riya tried to pull away, but Zara pressed the pencil harder into her cheek.

"Ah—" Riya cried, fear and pain twisting together.

"Move again, and you’ll regret it," Zara warned.

Tears welled in Riya’s eyes. "Please... please let me go. I swear I won’t go against you again."

Zara let out a mocking laugh. "The mighty Riya, always arrogant, always threatening others, is now begging? Interesting."

Bree snorted as well. "Honestly, it’s entertaining. I’m curious how she’ll walk around with a ruined face."

Riya’s blood ran cold. "Zara, I’m warning you," she snapped, though fear choked her voice. "Don’t do this. You’ll regret it. You don’t know who is backing me. He’ll kill you in seconds."

Zara didn’t even flinch. "I don’t care," she said flatly. "If I can destroy you, I’m ready for any consequence. You should be thinking about your own future. Will your precious boyfriend still want you once he sees what’s left of your face?"

Zara pressed the pencil sharply into Riya’s skin, breaking it. Blood slid down her cheek.

"Aah," Riya shrieked. Terrified of having her face ruined, she blurted out, "Wait—don’t. I’ll tell you the name of the drug."

Zara halted, eyes narrowing.

A spark of hope flickered in Riya’s eyes. She knew one thing for certain—no matter what Nathaniel had done, Zara would never stop worrying about the Grants.

"I know the drug’s name," Riya rushed on. "If the doctors learn what it is, they’ll figure out the antidote. But you have to let me go first."

"You think I’m stupid?" Zara snapped, digging the pencil deeper, forcing another cry from Riya. "You have lied again and again. Now you expect me to trust you? You’ll say anything to get out of here."

"No—I’m telling the truth," Riya insisted. "I can talk to the doctor. Just let me—"

"Another trick," Zara cut her off. "You’ll use the call to ask for help. Not happening." She lifted the pencil higher, prepared to carve into Riya’s face.

"No," Riya screamed, eyes squeezed shut. "I’m not lying. I know the name—believe me."

Zara’s hand stopped midair. "Then say it."

"I—I can write it down," Riya said quickly, hoping Zara would release her. If she loosened her grip even a little, Riya planned to bolt.

But Zara wasn’t about to fall for it. "Bree. Come here."

Bree stepped forward.

"Write the name," Zara ordered.

Bree grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper, ready.

Riya’s plan collapsed instantly. She understood she had no choice but to give the name. Reluctantly, she whispered it, and Bree wrote it down. But even after that, Zara didn’t release her. She continued pinning Riya to the chair, the pencil still poised in the air, threatening to ruin her face at any second.

"Let me go," Riya begged. "I already told you."

"What’s the rush?" Zara replied coldly. "Bree, call Liam and give him the name. He is the only one I can trust right now."

"On it."

Zara said the number, and Bree dialed it.

Riya’s eyes gleamed with a silent sneer. ’Zara, you are still an idiot,’ she thought. ’You trust Liam even after all this. Didn’t you notice he had already severed ties with the Grants? He has already joined hands with Nathaniel’s enemy. Why would he ever help Nathaniel’s family?’

Once Bree passed along all the information, she hung up and turned to Zara. "I told him everything. What do we do next?"

"Tie her up," Zara said sharply. "She is not leaving until we confirm the name is genuine."

"Wait—no." Riya shoved Zara away and bolted up, ready to escape.

But Zara moved faster. She grabbed a fistful of Riya’s hair and yanked her back, then slapped her hard.

Riya collapsed to the floor, head spinning. Before she could recover, Bree seized her hands, pulled them behind her, and secured them tightly with a cable tie.

Riya glared up at them. "You’ll regret this."

"We’ll see who regrets it," Zara shot back. "You barged in here without thinking of the consequences. Now you are trapped. Once we get the antidote, I’ll hand you over to the police myself."

"Exactly," Bree agreed. "Jail is where she belongs."

"No," Riya protested, twisting against Bree’s hold. "You can’t do this. I told you everything—just let me go."

"When you chose to hurt others, you should have known this day would come," Zara replied coldly. "Now you’ll face the consequences."

"You are making a huge mistake," Riya hissed, struggling against the restraints. The cable tie cut into her skin, stinging sharply. "My boyfriend won’t spare you. He’ll destroy you."

Just then, the fire alarm erupted throughout the building.

Zara froze. "What’s going on?"

"I have no idea," Bree said, startled. "I’ll go check." She hurried out of the room.

Riya smirked to herself. She was certain Zachary had already taken action. His men were everywhere; the moment Bree contacted Liam, news must have reached Zachary. He must have sent someone to handle Zara. Watching Zara gather her design drafts, distracted by the alarm, Riya sensed a perfect chance to escape.

She pushed herself to her feet and headed toward the door.

"Stop right there," Zara snapped, making Riya freeze. "Trying to run? You won’t get away." She strode forward and grabbed Riya’s arm.

Riya twisted herself violently, yanking her arm free. In a blink, she kicked Zara sharply in the knee.

Zara stumbled, crashing to the ground, her head slamming against the edge of the table. Pain exploded through her skull, her vision dimming. Darkness threatened to swallow her. On the verge of losing consciousness, she noticed Riya approaching.

Riya scoffed at the sight. "You thought you could cage me. Look at you now—completely ruined. Hear that alarm? Someone set fire to your precious company. You’ll die here. Goodbye, Zara."

She grabbed scissors from the table and cut the cable tie that tied her hands behind, then rushed out. She pulled the latch from the outside before bolting.

Smoke flooded the corridor, reducing everything to a blurry haze. Screams echoed around her. Covering her mouth and nose with her arm, she sprinted. No one noticed, she had already escaped.

Bree hurriedly evacuated everyone from the building. "Is everyone okay?" she asked, scanning the shaken faces of her team.

They all nodded, though fear was clear in their eyes as they stared at the blazing structure.

"Where is Zara?" Bree suddenly realized her absence. "Did she not come out?"

The team exchanged confused glances. In their rush to escape, none of them had paid attention to Zara—whether she had gotten out or not.

"Oh no..." Bree felt her heart plunge. The thought that Riya might have harmed Zara struck her hard. "I have to find her." She started running toward the burning building.

"Wait—" someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "The fire is everywhere. Going in now is suicide. Maybe Zara already escaped. Let’s call the fire department first."

Bree wavered. One look at the raging flames made her resolve crumble. All she could do now was hope Zara had made it out safely.

"Call the fire service," she whispered, dazed.