THE DEVIL’S HEART
The Devil’s Heart – Chapter 30
(Her possessive devil)
©Goodness Okoye
_____________________________________________
The mansion was quiet again.
But this time, the silence felt… dangerous.
Pispa stood alone on the balcony outside her room, staring at the dark garden below. The wind brushed softly against her hair, but her mind was far from calm.
Everything felt like it was falling apart.
Wayne.
August.
Hazard.
And the strange war she had somehow been dragged into.
She sighed softly.
“Why does everything get worse…”
“Because you’re standing next to the devil.”
Pispa jumped slightly and turned.
Hazard stood behind her.
She frowned.
“You should stop appearing like a ghost.”
Hazard didn’t respond. He simply walked closer and leaned against the balcony rail beside her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Pispa said quietly,
“You shouldn’t have attacked August like that.”
Hazard’s jaw tightened slightly.
“He deserved worse.”
Pispa shook her head.
“He was trying to protect his parents.”
Hazard turned to look at her.
“And what about you?”
Pispa blinked.
“What about me?”
Hazard’s voice dropped lower.
“You keep defending him.”
Pispa crossed her arms.
“I’m defending what’s right.”
Hazard suddenly pushed himself off the railing and stepped closer.
“Do you like him?”
Pispa froze.
“What?”
Hazard’s eyes locked onto hers.
“Answer the question.”
Pispa frowned.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
Hazard moved even closer.
His voice became rough.
“Am I?”
Pispa could feel her heartbeat speeding up.
“You’re overthinking things.”
Hazard’s gaze darkened.
“The way he looks at you.”
Pispa rolled her eyes.
“Not this again.”
But Hazard suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her slightly closer.
Pispa gasped.
“H-Hazard—”
His voice dropped into a whisper.
“Tell me the truth.”
Pispa stared at him.
“I don’t like him like that.”
Hazard’s grip loosened slightly.
But his eyes didn’t leave her face.
“Then why do you protect him?”
Pispa sighed.
“Because someone has to.”
Hazard studied her expression.
Then suddenly—
He pulled her closer.
Pispa’s breath caught.
Their faces were inches apart.
Her heart began pounding wildly.
“H-Hazard…”
His voice was low and intense.
“You don’t understand what you do to me.”
Pispa blinked.
“What?”
Hazard’s eyes moved slowly across her face.
“You make me lose control.”
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
“That’s not my problem.”
Hazard almost smiled.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“But it is my weakness.”
For a second—
Neither of them moved.
Their breathing mixed in the cold night air.
Hazard leaned slightly closer.
Pispa’s heart slammed in her chest.
Was he about to—
But suddenly—
A loud sound echoed from inside the mansion.
A door slamming.
Both of them stepped apart instantly.
Hazard’s expression hardened again.
Pispa cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Someone’s inside.”
Hazard nodded once.
But neither of them mentioned how close they had just been.
Elsewhere inside the mansion…
Nam quietly slipped into Hazard’s office.
The room was dark.
But he knew exactly where everything was.
He opened Hazard’s desk drawer and pulled out a small flash drive.
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Perfect.”
Cher stood by the door nervously.
“Are you sure this will work?”
Nam nodded calmly.
“Oh yes.”
He plugged the flash drive into Hazard’s computer.
A few seconds later—
Several confidential files copied onto it.
Then Nam placed another flash drive in the computer.
This one contained something very different.
Fake messages.
Fake financial transfers.
Evidence that looked like Pispa had been secretly sending information to Wayne.
Nam leaned back and admired his work.
“When Hazard sees this…”
Cher smirked.
“He’ll think Pispa betrayed him.”
Nam chuckled softly.
“And once he stops trusting her…”
His eyes gleamed.
“…Wayne can destroy her easily.”
Cher crossed her arms happily.
“That girl won’t know what hit her.”
Nam removed the flash drive and slipped out of the office quietly.
The trap had been set.
Across the city…
Inside a large underground room—
Wayne stood in front of a table covered with blueprints.
Several armed men surrounded him.
One of them spoke.
“Boss… we lost half our men last night.”
Wayne didn’t look upset.
Instead, he smiled.
“That was expected.”
The man frowned.
“You planned it?”
Wayne nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
He tapped one of the blueprints.
“This building.”
The men leaned closer.
Wayne continued.
“This is Hazard’s biggest shipping warehouse.”
Another guard looked surprised.
“You want to attack it?”
Wayne’s smile widened.
“No.”
He pointed to a red circle drawn in the center.
“I want to destroy it.”
The men exchanged nervous looks.
“That place is heavily guarded.”
Wayne’s eyes gleamed.
“That’s why it will hurt him.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“And when Hazard comes running to stop me…”
His smile turned dark.
“…I’ll be waiting.”
Back at the mansion…
Later that night, Hazard walked into his office.
He sat down at his computer.
Then he noticed something.
A new file.
He frowned slightly and opened it.
His expression slowly changed.
The screen showed several documents.
Financial transfers.
Messages.
And a name repeated again and again.
Pispa.
Hazard’s eyes darkened.
The files suggested something impossible.
That Pispa had been secretly sending information about him…
To Wayne.
Hazard stared at the screen silently.
His jaw tightened.
“No…”
But the evidence looked real.
Too real.
And outside the room—
Nam watched from the hallway with a quiet smile.
The devil had just been given a reason…
To doubt the one person he was starting to trust.
**
The night inside the mansion had grown heavy.
Hazard sat in his office, staring at the computer screen.
The evidence was still there.
Transfer records.
Messages.
Documents showing information about his businesses being sent to Wayne.
And the name attached to all of it—
Pispa.
Hazard leaned back slowly in his chair.
His jaw tightened.
“No…”
He whispered under his breath.
It didn’t make sense.
Pispa didn’t seem like the type of person who would betray him.
But the files looked real.
Too real.
His hand clenched into a fist.
Just then—
A soft knock came on the door.
Hazard’s voice turned cold.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly.
Pispa stepped inside.
She noticed the strange look on his face immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
Hazard didn’t answer.
He simply turned the laptop screen toward her.
“Explain this.”
Pispa frowned and stepped closer.
Her eyes scanned the screen.
Then widened.
“What?”
Her face filled with confusion.
“I didn’t do this.”
Hazard’s eyes hardened.
“The evidence says otherwise.”
Pispa looked back at him quickly.
“H-Hazard, I swear—”
“Don’t lie to me.”
His voice was low.
Dangerous.
Pispa felt her chest tighten.
“I’m not lying!”
Hazard stood up slowly from his chair.
“You expect me to believe someone hacked my system and planted all this?”
Pispa shook her head desperately.
“I don’t know how it got there!”
Hazard stepped closer.
His eyes dark.
“You met August secretly.”
Pispa froze.
“You talked to Wayne.”
“That was because he kidnapped Mel!”
Hazard’s voice rose slightly.
“And now this shows you sending him information!”
Pispa’s eyes filled with anger.
“So you think I betrayed you?”
Hazard didn’t answer.
But his silence was enough.
Pispa felt something inside her break.
Her voice trembled.
“After everything that happened… you really believe that?”
Hazard looked away for a second.
That small hesitation hurt even more.
Pispa laughed bitterly.
“Wow.”
She stepped back slowly.
“You don’t trust me at all.”
Hazard’s voice softened slightly.
“This isn’t about trust. It’s about facts.”
Pispa shook her head.
“No. This is about you never believing in anyone.”
Hazard’s expression hardened again.
“You’re avoiding the question.”
Pispa’s eyes burned with tears now.
“I didn’t do it!”
Hazard slammed his hand against the desk suddenly.
“THEN WHO DID?!”
The room fell silent.
Pispa flinched.
Her heart was pounding painfully.
She whispered,
“I don’t know…”
But Hazard wasn’t convinced.
His voice turned cold again.
“Until I find out the truth…”
He paused.
Pispa waited.
Then the words came.
“You’re not leaving the mansion.”
Pispa stared at him in disbelief.
“What?”
“You’ll stay here.”
Her voice rose.
“So now I’m a prisoner?”
“It’s for your own safety.”
Pispa shook her head.
“No.”
Hazard frowned.
“What?”
“I’m not staying here.”
Pispa turned toward the door.
Hazard grabbed her wrist.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Pispa yanked her hand away.
“Don’t touch me!”
Hazard froze.
Pispa’s voice cracked.
“I trusted you.”
Her tears finally fell.
“But you looked at a bunch of files and believed them over me.”
Hazard stayed silent.
Pispa wiped her tears angrily.
“You know what? Fine.”
She walked to the door.
“If you think I’m a traitor…”
She turned back briefly.
“Then I don’t belong here.”
Hazard’s chest tightened.
But he didn’t stop her.
Pispa walked straight out of the office.
Her heart breaking with every step.
Twenty minutes later…
Pispa dragged a small suitcase down the mansion hallway.
Her eyes were red.
But she refused to cry again.
“I don’t need this place…”
She muttered.
“I don’t need him…”
Just as she reached the front door—
A voice stopped her.
“Leaving already?”
Pispa turned.
Nam leaned casually against the wall.
A small smirk on his face.
“Not your business.”
Nam chuckled.
“You know…”
He walked closer slowly.
“You leaving might actually make things easier.”
Pispa frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Nam shrugged.
“My brother gets obsessed with things.”
His eyes studied her carefully.
“But once they disappear…”
He smiled slightly.
“…he forgets them.”
Pispa clenched her fists.
“Good.”
She turned back to the door.
But before she could open it—
Another voice echoed behind her.
“Stop.”
Pispa froze.
Hazard stood at the top of the staircase.
His eyes locked onto the suitcase.
The entire hallway fell silent.
Pispa didn’t turn around.
Hazard walked down the stairs slowly.
Each step heavy.
“Put the suitcase down.”
Pispa’s voice trembled slightly.
“No.”
Hazard stopped a few steps away.
“You’re not leaving.”
Pispa finally turned.
Her eyes were filled with hurt.
“You already think I betrayed you.”
Hazard didn’t reply.
Pispa continued,
“So why should I stay?”
Hazard’s jaw tightened.
“You’re safer here.”
Pispa laughed bitterly.
“Safer with someone who doesn’t trust me?”
Hazard stepped closer.
His voice lowered.
“I didn’t say I believed it.”
Pispa frowned.
“But you didn’t defend me either.”
Hazard looked at her silently.
For the first time—
He looked conflicted.
Pispa shook her head slowly.
“I can’t stay here like this.”
She reached for the door handle.
Hazard moved instantly.
His hand slammed against the door above her head.
BANG.
Pispa gasped.
She was trapped between him and the door now.
Hazard’s voice was rough.
“You’re not leaving because you’re angry.”
Pispa’s heart pounded.
“You don’t get to decide that!”
Hazard leaned closer.
His eyes intense.
“Yes I do.”
Pispa glared at him.
“Why?”
Hazard’s voice dropped into a whisper.
“Because the moment you walk out that door…”
His breath brushed her cheek.
“…I might not find you again.”
Pispa froze.
Hazard’s gaze softened slightly.
“And that’s not something I’m willing to risk.”
Pispa stared at him.
Her heart racing again.
But she whispered softly,
“You should’ve trusted me.”
Hazard didn’t answer.
And somewhere upstairs—
Nam watched everything with a quiet smile.
Because his trap…
Had worked perfectly.
**
The hallway was silent.
Hazard’s arm was still pressed against the door above Pispa’s head.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Pispa’s breathing was uneven.
“You should’ve trusted me,” she whispered again.
Hazard’s eyes darkened.
For a moment he looked like he wanted to say something—
But suddenly—
BEEP. BEEP.
Hazard’s phone vibrated.
The sound broke the moment.
He stepped back slightly and answered the call.
“Victor.”
Victor’s voice came through quickly.
“Boss… I think you should see something.”
Hazard frowned.
“What is it?”
Victor lowered his voice.
“It’s about the files you found.”
Hazard’s eyes flicked toward Pispa.
“What about them?”
Victor hesitated.
“They might be fake.”
The air in the hallway froze.
Pispa’s heart skipped.
“What?” Hazard asked slowly.
Victor continued.
“I checked the system logs.”
His tone was serious now.
“The files were uploaded from inside the mansion… but not from Pispa’s device.”
Hazard’s expression hardened.
“Then whose?”
Victor replied quietly.
“There’s only one person who accessed the system at that time.”
Hazard’s eyes darkened instantly.
“Who?”
Victor said the name.
“Nam.”
Silence followed.
Hazard’s grip on the phone tightened.
“I’ll be there.”
The call ended.
Pispa looked at him carefully.
“What did he say?”
Hazard’s voice was low.
“The files were planted.”
Pispa’s eyes widened.
“I told you!”
Hazard didn’t respond.
But something inside him shifted.
His mind replayed everything.
Nam watching from the hallway earlier.
Nam’s strange behavior.
His quiet smile.
Hazard’s jaw tightened.
“So it was him…”
Pispa frowned.
“Nam?”
Hazard nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Pispa shook her head in disbelief.
“Why would he do that?”
Hazard’s voice became cold.
“Because he enjoys chaos.”
Pispa sighed softly.
“So now you believe me?”
Hazard looked at her.
There was guilt in his eyes.
“Yes.”
Pispa crossed her arms.
“That was quick.”
Hazard stepped closer again.
“I should’ve believed you from the beginning.”
Pispa didn’t answer.
But the hurt was still visible in her eyes.
Hazard sighed quietly.
“I’ll deal with Nam.”
Pispa grabbed her suitcase again.
“I’m still leaving.”
Hazard frowned.
“What?”
“I need space.”
Hazard shook his head.
“No.”
Pispa rolled her eyes.
“You don’t get to decide that anymore.”
She pulled the door open.
The cool night air rushed inside.
Hazard ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Pispa—”
But she had already stepped outside. Hazard sighed. He had decided to let her leave, any day she wanted.
He doesn’t want to hurt her anymore.
Outside the mansion…
Pispa walked down the driveway toward the gate.
Her suitcase rolled behind her.
Her mind was still spinning.
“I just need time…”
She whispered to herself.
But suddenly—
A black van stopped beside her.
The door slid open.
Before Pispa could react—
Two masked men jumped out.
“HEY—!”
A cloth covered her mouth.
Pispa struggled violently.
But the men dragged her into the van.
The door slammed shut.
The van sped away into the night.
Inside the mansion…
Hazard stood near the front door.
Something didn’t feel right.
His instincts screamed.
He stepped outside quickly.
“Pispa?”
No answer.
He walked down the driveway.
Then he saw it.
The suitcase.
Lying on the ground.
Empty.
Hazard’s heart dropped.
“Pispa…”
His eyes turned dark.
Victor’s car suddenly pulled into the driveway.
Victor jumped out.
“Boss, about the files—”
Hazard cut him off.
“She’s gone.”
Victor froze.
“What?”
Hazard pointed to the suitcase.
Victor cursed under his breath.
“Damn it…”
Hazard’s voice dropped into something terrifying.
“They took her.”
Victor looked around quickly.
“Wayne?”
Hazard’s jaw tightened.
“Most likely.”
His fists clenched.
For the first time—
Real fear flashed in his eyes.
Because this time…
Pispa was truly gone.
Inside the van…
Pispa slowly regained consciousness.
Her head hurt.
Her hands were tied.
She looked around.
Dark room.
Metal walls.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
“Well well…”
Pispa froze.
Wayne stepped into the light.
“You really thought you could leave the game so easily?”
Pispa glared at him.
“You’re insane.”
Wayne smiled.
“Maybe.”
He leaned closer.
“But your devil will come running again.”
Pispa spat at him.
“You’re pathetic.”
Wayne wiped his cheek slowly.
Then chuckled.
“You know…”
He whispered.
“This time I might actually kill him.”
Pispa’s heart skipped.
“You touch him and—”
Wayne laughed.
“Oh don’t worry.”
He straightened.
“You’ll watch.”
Back at the mansion…
Hazard stood in the garage as engines roared to life.
His men prepared quickly.
Victor stepped beside him.
“We’ll find her.”
Hazard didn’t answer.
But his eyes were burning.
Corey approached cautiously.
“You look like you’re about to destroy the city.”
Hazard’s voice was dangerously quiet.
“If anything happens to her…”
He paused.
“…I will.”
Victor glanced at him.
“Boss… you care about her that much?”
Hazard looked toward the dark road ahead.
His voice finally broke slightly.
“Yes.”
Victor blinked.
Hazard rarely admitted things like that.
Hazard continued quietly.
“I should’ve told her sooner.”
Victor frowned.
“Told her what?”
Hazard whispered.
“That she’s not just someone I protect.”
His eyes hardened again.
“She’s the only person I can’t lose.”
The cars sped out of the mansion gates.
Because tonight—
Hazard wasn’t just fighting Wayne.
He was fighting for Pispa.
And if he lost her…
The devil would truly be unleashed.
**
The convoy of black cars tore through the empty highway like shadows of war.
Inside the first car—
Hazard sat silently.
His fingers tapped slowly against the steering wheel.
But the silence around him was dangerous.
Victor, who sat in the passenger seat, glanced at him.
He had worked with Hazard for years.
But he had never seen this expression before.
Hazard looked calm.
Too calm.
Which meant only one thing.
Someone was about to die.
Victor finally spoke.
“We tracked the van.”
Hazard didn’t look at him.
“Location.”
“Old warehouse near the harbor.”
Hazard’s jaw tightened.
“That’s Wayne’s territory.”
Victor nodded.
“Yes.”
Hazard’s voice dropped into a deadly whisper.
“Good.”
Victor frowned slightly.
“Good?”
Hazard’s eyes turned darker.
“Because tonight…”
He pressed harder on the accelerator.
“…I’m ending this.”
Meanwhile…
Inside the warehouse.
Pispa sat tied to a metal chair.
Her wrists were sore.
Her head still hurt.
Wayne stood a few feet away, casually pouring himself a drink.
“You should relax,” he said calmly.
Pispa glared at him.
“You’re disgusting.”
Wayne chuckled.
“You know…”
He sipped his drink.
“Your devil is probably on his way right now.”
Pispa said nothing.
Wayne’s smile widened.
“But the funny thing is…”
He leaned closer.
“He has no idea what he’s walking into.”
Pispa frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Wayne laughed softly.
“You’ll see.”
Outside the warehouse…
Hazard’s cars stopped.
The men stepped out quietly.
Weapons ready.
Victor walked beside Hazard.
“Security around the building.”
Hazard cracked his knuckles slowly.
“I don’t care.”
Victor sighed.
“I figured you’d say that.”
Hazard’s voice was cold.
“Anyone in my way dies.”
Victor nodded once.
Then he signaled the men.
“Move.”
Within seconds—
Gunfire erupted.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Chaos exploded around the warehouse.
Men fell.
Glass shattered.
Hazard walked straight through it like a storm.
One man rushed him.
Hazard grabbed him by the collar—
And slammed him against a wall.
The sound echoed brutally.
“Where is she?” Hazard growled.
The man trembled.
“U-upstairs!”
Hazard knocked him unconscious instantly.
Victor watched him silently.
“Devil mode activated…”
Inside the warehouse…
Pispa suddenly heard the gunshots.
Her eyes widened.
“What—?”
Wayne sighed.
“Right on time.”
The door suddenly opened quietly.
Pispa looked up.
A small figure slipped inside.
A boy.
He looked about 14 years old.
Pispa frowned.
“You?”
It was the same mysterious boy who had helped her once before.
The boy quickly ran toward her.
“No time.”
He pulled out a small knife and cut the ropes.
Pispa whispered urgently,
“Why are you helping me?”
The boy shrugged.
“Because someone has to.”
Pispa rubbed her wrists.
“Hazard is here, right?”
The boy nodded.
“Yes.”
Pispa stood quickly.
“Then we need to find him.”
But the boy grabbed her arm.
“No.”
Pispa frowned.
“What?”
The boy’s eyes were serious.
“You don’t understand.”
“What?”
He whispered something shocking.
“Wayne isn’t trying to kill Hazard.”
Pispa blinked.
“Then what does he want?”
The boy’s voice was quiet.
“He wants to expose him.”
Pispa frowned in confusion.
“Expose what?”
Before the boy could answer—
The warehouse door slammed open.
Wayne stood there slowly clapping.
“Well done.”
Pispa’s eyes widened.
Wayne smiled at the boy.
“You were supposed to guard her.”
The boy looked away.
Wayne chuckled.
“Children are so predictable.”
Pispa stepped forward angrily.
“What are you planning?”
Wayne’s eyes turned dark.
“Oh, I’m planning something beautiful.”
At that moment—
The opposite door exploded open.
Hazard walked in.
His clothes slightly torn.
His fists covered in blood.
His eyes were terrifying.
“Wayne.”
Wayne grinned widely.
“Hazard.”
Pispa ran toward him instantly.
“Hazard!”
But Wayne suddenly pulled out a gun.
Everyone froze.
Wayne pointed it at Hazard.
“Don’t move.”
Hazard didn’t flinch.
His voice was ice cold.
“If you shoot me…”
He stepped forward slowly.
“…you die before the bullet hits the ground.”
Wayne laughed loudly.
“Still arrogant.”
Then Wayne said something unexpected.
“Tell me something, Hazard…”
His eyes glowed with amusement.
“Does Pispa know who you really are?”
Pispa frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Hazard’s expression hardened.
Wayne continued.
“Oh right.”
He smirked.
“You never told her.”
Pispa looked between them.
“Told me what?”
Wayne chuckled.
“Your devil here…”
He pointed at Hazard.
“…was once the most dangerous assassin in the underground world.”
Pispa froze.
Wayne’s smile widened.
“Yes.”
He leaned closer.
“Before he became a businessman…”
He whispered.
“He was the man people hired to kill entire families.”
The room fell silent.
Pispa slowly turned to Hazard.
Her voice barely a whisper.
“Is that… true?”
Hazard said nothing.
His silence was the answer.
Pispa’s heart dropped.
Wayne laughed.
“Oh this is perfect.”
He looked at Pispa.
“Now you see what kind of monster you’re protecting.”
Hazard’s eyes turned darker than ever.
His voice was deadly.
“Wayne.”
Wayne tilted his head.
“Yes?”
Hazard stepped forward slowly.
“You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”
The air in the room turned terrifying.
Because now—
The devil wasn’t holding back anymore.
TBC…
