Chapter 8

What did you mean?” Henry finally asked, his voice low but urgent.

Sara looked at him, her hands trembling slightly. “I… I didn’t want to worry you, but…” She took a shaky breath. “I got a head injury, and I… I kind of forget things sometimes. The accident I told you about it ruined me. My brain… it’s not the same.”

Henry’s eyes widened, a mix of relief and concern flooding his expression. “Oh my God… you should have told me,” he said, drawing himself closer. “I’m sorry I thought it wasn’t that serious.”

Sara shook her head slightly, tears threatening to spill because she knew she was lying . “No… it was serious. And I haven’t been attending properly because of it. I know you didn’t know, since you’re new here too, but… that’s how it is.”

Henry’s hand gently brushed hers. “You don’t have to face this alone,” he whispered, his voice full of care. “I’m here now. I’ll help you.”

“And you could have told me! We talk and text every day!” Henry’s voice was a mix of frustration and concern.

Sara swallowed, her throat tight. “Uh… I just didn’t want to worry you. And about the file… just forget it.”

Henry’s eyes softened, worry etched across his face. “Cara… are you okay?”

Sara’s heart skipped .

Just then, the driver arrived, stepping out and opening the car door for her. Sara slid in, her palms sweaty, her mind racing. The lie had worked. He had believed her. And, in a way, it wasn’t completely false Cara really was struggling with her brain injury.

Henry leaned closer before she closed the door, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Get well soon, my love,” he said, his smile soft and sweet.

Sara felt a strange pang of guilt. He was a kind, sincere man and she was lying to him.

As the car drove off, her anxiety returned in full force. Every passing mile made her stomach twist. She needed to get home, to Cara, to finally get answers.

The moment Sara reached home, she went straight to Cara’s room. Cara was lounging in her wheelchair, headphones on, lost in music.

Then, she noticed Sara standing there. “There you are,” she said, a smile lighting her face. “How was today?”

Sara let out a long sigh. “Horrible… strange things happened. Being you is a lot harder than I expected.”

Cara’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “What happened? Fill me in. By the way… I met Henry.”

Sara’s gaze dropped. Cara’s eyes instantly changed, sharp and wary. “I told you to stay away from him.”

“Cara, don’t you see?” Sara said, frustration and worry mixing in her tone. “If I’m distant, it’ll only make him suspicious.”

Cara paused, then sighed, as if Sara had a point. “.”

Sara hesitated for a moment before adding . “He asked me why I’m not wearing the bangle…”

Cara’s expression softened, a hint of guilt in her eyes. “Oh… I completely forgot about that. You know we have a couple of bangles, and I wear mine most of the time. When I got the accident, I took it off and… I forgot to give it to you.”

Sara exhaled, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. “Wait here. I’ll go get it.”

Rolling her wheelchair forward, Cara held out her hand. “Give it here.”

Sara paused, unsure, and Cara added gently, “Do you want him to get suspicious? You say things and forget immediately.”

Sara nodded, finally taking the bangle, feeling the small weight of her sister’s trust and the responsibility she carried.

Henry had also mentioned the surprise… the file Sara had signed.

“Oh God,” Cara groaned, running a hand through her hair. “I completely forgot about that.”

Sara’s curiosity piqued. “What about the file?”

Cara looked at her, hesitation in her eyes. “The file… Mum doesn’t know I’m dating him. I met him at a shoot. He's a model too. Mum doesn’t want me dating anyone right now. I told him, and I… I was going to give him Mum’s secret file to blackmail her, just to make her let us date.”

Sara’s mouth went dry. Who even thinks to do that to their own mother? But she kept her expression calm.

“So… does he still want it?” she asked.

“No, it’s okay,” Sara replied, shrugging.

“Did he know what’s in the file?”

Cara smiled faintly. “No, he didn’t.”

Sara nodded. “Okay… I’m going to freshen up.”

Suddenly, she remembered something. “Oh! I forgot to give you something. I found this in your locker… it shocked me.” She pulled out the paper, the words written in dark red: I KNOW WHAT YOU DID, CARA JOHNSON.

Cara froze. Her hands trembled. “What… how did you get that?”

Sara approached carefully, kneeling beside her. Then she said with a trembling voice “Don’t mind these,” she whispered, holding Sara close. “They only do this because I am on top.”

Cara shivered in her arms, the reality of everything hitting her harder than Sara had expected.

“You can go now,” Cara said finally, her voice weak.

Sara hesitated but left, not wanting to push further or make the situation more awkward.

No sooner had Sara stepped out than Margaret entered the room. She froze, taking in Cara’s trembling form.

“I heard everything,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around her daughter.

Mum… someone knows about Kate,” Cara whispered, panic creeping into her voice. “What if someone finds out about her death?”

Margaret’s face mirrored her worry.