From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 230: Rescue

Devin tightened his hold on Riley and quickened his pace toward the parking lot just ahead. His van was tucked away in the farthest corner, right where he'd left it.

But just as he closed in on the vehicle, a sudden, bone-deep chill shot through him—the kind of primal dread that comes from crossing paths with something at the top of the food chain. It stopped him dead in his tracks.

He looked up, startled, and there stood a man directly in front of him, silent and still. Devin hadn't heard him approach, hadn't seen him move. The guy was just... there.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he stood tall and unwavering, like an old-growth tree. Under the dim glow of the streetlamp, he seemed wrapped in a cloak of shadow, dark and impenetrable.

He wasn't doing anything, just standing there, yet his presence alone made the air feel heavy and thin, hard to breathe.

And when the man's eyes landed on Riley, slung over Devin's shoulder, that icy gaze flashed with something raw and dangerous—undisguised intent to kill.

"Where do you think you're taking her?"

Devin's legs almost buckled then and there.

In all his life, he'd never been around anyone who radiated such pure threat. One look from this stranger made him feel like prey in the sights of a predator—seconds from being torn apart.

Every instinct told him this man was not someone you messed with.

Terror glued his tongue to the roof of his mouth, but he forced the words out, stammering, "Sh-she's... she's family. Had too much to drink. I'm just... getting her home."

"Family?"

Sebastian let out a low, humorless sound from deep in his throat.

He didn't bother wasting another word on the man. A slight lift of his hand was all it took.

From the surrounding shadows, several figures emerged—quiet, efficient, moving like they were part of the night itself. They surrounded Devin without a sound.

Devin's mind went blank with panic. He'd never seen anything like this. Riley started to slip from his shoulder, and he fumbled to keep hold of her.

But before he could even cry out, the sharp wail of police sirens cut through the quiet small-town night, growing louder by the second. Flashing red and blue lights lit up the scene from down the street, throwing Devin's terrified face into stark relief.

Cops... why were the cops here?

Something in Devin's mind snapped. He dropped to his knees with a heavy thud, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.

It was over. He was done.

*****

The sound of sirens closing in from every direction froze Sophia in her tracks. She'd been following at a distance, but now she stood completely still, mind racing.

Why were the police here?

Everything had gone so smoothly—the deal with Devin, slipping the drugs into the drinks, watching Riley and the others drift into unconsciousness. It had all fallen into place almost too easily, and she'd let herself feel a flush of satisfaction. She'd planned every step, covered every angle.

So where did it all go wrong?

Did that idiot Devin leave something behind? Or...

No. That wasn't possible.

Riley was completely out cold. There was no way she could've called for help.

A cold wave of fear hit Sophia, squeezing the air from her lungs.

She didn't dare take another step toward the parking lot now—didn't dare see who was there or what was happening.

All her earlier obsession—watching Riley get what she deserved, finally claiming her own victory—vanished in an instant.

Now, the only thing that mattered was saving herself.

Face pale, Sophia turned and melted into the darkness behind her, moving quickly in the opposite direction.

As she hurried away, she dug her phone out of her pocket and tapped Harvey's number.

"It's bad," she hissed, her voice tight and urgent, all traces of earlier confidence gone. "The cops are here. Change of plans—you need to hurt yourself. Make something up. Just make sure they can't connect you to any of this. You understand?"

She was giving orders, but really, she was buying herself a way out.

Harvey was the only one who'd actually carried out the dirty work. If he could keep his mouth shut and his story straight, she might still have room to maneuver.

She hung up without waiting for a reply and kept moving, not looking back. Within moments, she was swallowed up by the deep, thick night.

*****

Back in the parking lot, even Sebastian was mildly surprised by the arrival of the police.

He usually preferred to handle things... privately. Official channels weren't his style, and he rarely needed them.

But as the spinning red and blue lights washed over Devin's crumpled, defeated form, he didn't interfere.

Instead, he bent down and carefully gathered Riley into his arms.

The moment her warm, limp weight settled against him, something tight in his chest finally loosened.

He held her close, one arm supporting her back, the other beneath her knees.

Just then, several police officers approached briskly. The one in front—clearly in charge—paused for a split second when he recognized Sebastian's sharp, commanding presence, but he kept his tone professional.

"Evening. We got a call reporting a possible abduction at this location..."

He didn't even finish before his eyes fell on Riley, unconscious in Sebastian's arms.

Sebastian's cold stare shifted to Devin, now cuffed and slumped on the pavement. His voice was low and steady. "That's correct. This is the man who attempted to kidnap her. He's all yours."

"Understood," the lead officer replied with a firm nod. Then he added, almost admiringly, "You know, we've got that young woman to thank for quick thinking. The call we received—it was cut short, only a few words—but it definitely came from her own cell."