The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 173: Ivy’s demand

Bella stood paralyzed with fear, her breath catching as she felt the cold steel against her skin. Her eyes darted around the room, searching desperately for help. But all she saw were faces filled with the same terror she felt, each person too afraid to act.

Ivy’s grip was tight, her eyes wild and desperate as she held Bella hostage. The knife gleamed menacingly in her hand, poised to end Bella’s life at the slightest provocation.

Zack froze in place, his mind reeling with fear and helplessness. His thoughts raced, desperately searching for a way to defuse the situation.

"Please, Ivy, don’t do this," Zack pleaded, his voice strained with panic. "Let her go." He moved forward.

Ivy’s expression was filled with unyielding determination, her desperation driving her to the brink. "Stop right there!" she yelled, pressing the blade harder against Bella’s neck, just enough to break the skin.

A thin line of blood appeared, trickling down Bella’s throat. Bella winced, her face contorted in pain, and Zack’s heart plummeted, his stomach churning with dread. He immediately stopped in his tracks, raising his hands in a frantic attempt to calm Ivy. "Wait! Don’t hurt her," he begged, stepping back slowly.

Ivy’s eyes blazed with anger and madness as she glared at the crowd. "If anyone dares to come closer, she dies right away!" she threatened.

The room recoiled as one, everyone stepping back, their fear palpable. The tension in the air was suffocating, every breath heavy with the weight of the situation.

Willow, standing nearby, had been watching the scene unfold with mounting horror. Her mind raced as she realized how precarious the situation was. Keeping her movements discreet, she pulled out her phone and quickly typed a message to her brother, her fingers trembling.

’Bella is in danger. Ivy has her at knifepoint.’

She hit send as she prayed for a swift response. The air was thick with fear and uncertainty, as they all waited for what would happen next.

Theodore had just arrived at Brico when his phone chimed with an incoming message. He glanced at the screen, and his heart nearly stopped when he saw Willow’s urgent words.

A cold dread settled in his veins as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had feared Ivy might try to harm Bella, which was why he had rushed over to bring her home safely. But he never imagined Ivy would go so far as to infiltrate the office and create such a dangerous situation.

"Tristan, Ivy is here," he said with a grave tone.

"What?" Tristan’s eyes widened in shock, his furrowed brow reflecting his disbelief. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Call the cops," Theodore ordered. "And follow me. We need to approach this strategically." Without wasting another second, he hurried into the building.

Tristan quickly followed, his hands trembling as he dialed the police, trying to stay calm despite the panic rising in his chest.

Inside the hall...

Everyone remained rooted in place, as if they had turned to stone, too terrified to move or speak.

"What do you want, Ivy?" Zack’s voice rang out through the hall with desperation and anger.

Ivy sneered with malice. "I really want to kill her," she spat. "She ruined my life. First, she stole my boyfriend, and then she put me in jail. I hate her." With a vicious tug, she yanked Bella’s hair, forcing her to bend her neck painfully.

"Uh!" Bella cried out, her scalp stinging from the sharp pull.

"I hate you too," Ivy hissed, turning her furious gaze on Zack. "You chose her over me just because she looks like your precious, dead love. I gave you everything—I supported you when you had no one, and my family helped you build your business. And now, when my family is in trouble, you’ve abandoned me."

Her face twisted with rage and bitterness. "It’s all because of this face," she snarled, pressing the tip of the knife against Bella’s cheek, the cold metal biting into her skin.

Bella’s eyes widened in terror as she stared at the gleaming blade, her heart sinking. The threat was clear, and the fear of what Ivy might do next gripped her like a vice.

"How about I ruin her face?" Ivy scoffed with scorn. "Will you still love her then?"

From just outside the hall, Theodore listened intently, every word stoking the fire of his fury. Hearing Ivy’s threats and seeing the knife pressed to Bella’s cheek made his blood boil.

His instinct screamed at him to rush in and break Ivy’s hands, to tear her away from Bella. But he knew he couldn’t afford to act on impulse. One wrong move and Bella could be in even greater danger.

He signaled to Tristan with a quick gesture, directing him to move to the left while he silently crept to the right side of the hall. Using the crowd as cover, they carefully inched closer to Ivy and Bella.

"I am willing to do everything you say," Zack said, his tone pleading. "Just let her go. Tell me, what do you want?"

Ivy’s lips curled into a disdainful sneer. "I want to leave the country, safe and sound. And you’re going to help me."

"Alright," Zack agreed quickly, eager to defuse the situation. "I’ll help you. Just let her go."

"Do you think I’m a fool?" Ivy spat her grip on the knife tightening as she pressed it more firmly against Bella’s cheek.

"Mm..." Bella whimpered as the blade bit into her skin, a thin line of blood appearing as tears welled in her eyes.

Theodore watched from his hidden position, his heart clenching at the sight. His rage simmered just beneath the surface, but he forced himself to stay focused, carefully edging closer.

As he moved, a woman in the crowd caught sight of him and gasped in surprise. Theodore quickly raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay quiet. She nodded and pressed her lips together, keeping silent.

"As soon as I release her, you’ll catch me and send me back to jail," Ivy hissed, her eyes darting between Zack and the surrounding crowd. "She stays with me until I’m out of here."

Straightening her posture, Ivy made her demands clear. "I need fifty million. You will take me out of here safely, or she dies. You have half an hour."