He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 217

Chapter 217

A brief pause followed.

“It’s actually a very good angle, if you ask me.”

I didn’t answer. My hands rose instinctively above my shoulders as I began walking, every careful step down the staircase feeling strangely unreal.

Part of me desperately hoped the caller was Adrian.

The other part prayed it wasn’t.

If it was Adrian…

…he could save me.

If it was Adrian…

…he was walking straight into the trap Aria had been trying to build.

The contradiction twisted painfully inside my chest.

Halfway down the stairs, I passed the man I’d accidentally kneed earlier. He was sitting against the wall now with one arm wrapped protectively around himself, glaring at me with an expression that suggested forgiveness was unlikely.

Before I could even feel guilty-

“Pathetic.”

Aria’s voice cracked through the silence.

She wasn’t looking at me.

She was looking at him.

“You were taken down by an injured girl.”

Disgust dripped from every word.

“I expected better.”

We continued descending.

At the bottom of the staircase, the first man-the one who had crashed into the steps-was back on his feet as well. He looked

considerably worse than before, rubbing one shoulder while trying very hard not to limp.

Aria’s glare shifted to him.

“And you.”

She shook her head once.

“The three of you should be embarrassed.”

Nobody answered.

Nobody dared.

By the time we reached the living room, my ringtone had stopped and silence returned. Aria shoved me forward again until I stopped beside the couch, where my phone rested exactly where I’d left it.

I stood beside it with both hands still raised.

For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Then Aria said, “Pick it.”

I blinked.

“The call already ended.”

“I said…”

Her voice rose sharply.

“…pick up the phone.”

I flinched.

“Okay.”

Slowly I lowered one hand, keeping the other raised, and reached for my phone. My fingers trembled as I picked it up before turning back toward her, waiting for whatever came next.

Aria stared at me for a few silent seconds.

Then suddenly-

“No.”

She began pacing.

“We’re doing this properly.”

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