Jane's POVMy heart dropped. This wasn’t just a warning. It was a threat. If I kept digging something bad would happen.Fear gripped me but I tried to stay calm. I had to think clearly. Marisol was hidden and safe—at least I hoped so. A piece of the file had already been uploaded. I had sent my message. Now I just had to wait and plan my next move.I left the hotel’s business center and walked back to my room. My thoughts were all over the place. I needed something to protect myself with—not just my brain. Then I remembered the small knife Nate gave me after Mae had kidnapped me. It was in the drawer next to my bed.When I returned to my room I locked the door and put on the chain. My hands were shaking as I pulled the knife out. It felt strange and cold. I wasn’t someone who hurt people but I would protect myself if I had to.My phone buzzed. It was Nate calling. I hesitated then picked up.“Jane? Are you okay? I've been trying to reach you.” he said sounding worried.“I'm fine Nat
Jane's POVMy thoughts went wild. Killing… who? Talked about what? “Marisol who is killing who? What are you saying?” I reached out and felt something wet and sticky on her sleeve. Blood. My stomach twisted.She pulled away from my touch. Her eyes were wide and kept jumping from corner to corner like she thought someone—or something—was hiding nearby. “The man… the one from the garden. He found me. He knows… he knows what I told you.”“Slow down. Breathe.” I helped her sit on the edge of the bed. “Tell me everything. Who hurt you? Where?”She was breathing fast and hard. “Near my apartment… I was getting out of a cab. He came from nowhere… really fast. He knew my name. He said… he said I should’ve stayed quiet.”I felt ice in my veins. This wasn’t just someone robbing her. This was because she gave me the USB Ledger… the Banker. It was all connected. “Did you see his face? What did he look like?”She shook her head tears in her eyes. “It was dark… he had a hat on… but his eyes… w
Jane's POVThe red lipstick on the mirror felt like a punch to the gut. “Next time it’s Nate…” The words were hard to read but full of hate. I couldn’t sleep. I spent the whole night on the sofa jumping at every sound in the hotel. I waited for the morning like it was my only hope.The sunlight came through the curtains so bright compared to the fear in my mind. I picked up my phone and looked at Nate’s name in my contacts. Should I tell him everything? Warn him? The message was meant to scare me and it was working. I decided to wait. I needed to understand it first before putting it on him.After a quick shower, I called room service. I ordered a cup of coffee and a lot of pastries. I needed something to comfort me. It wasn’t much but I had to feel normal. While I waited, I thought about the fundraiser again—every moment, every hidden warning. Rachel’s fake smile, Mae’s harsh words, Damien’s desperate begging. They were all suspicious. But this felt bigger. This “Banker.” is this
Jane's POVThe fundraiser felt fake and made me uncomfortable. Everyone was pretending to be nice but it didn’t feel real. Nate’s hand on my back was the only thing keeping me calm.“Ready?” he whispered in my ear.“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said trying to smile even though it didn’t feel real. I stood up straight and forced a smile like the fake one Rachel always wore.And then she came toward us—Rachel my stepmother. She wore a fancy dress that probably cost more than my old apartment.“Jane darling!” she said sweetly but her eyes were cold. She gave me a quick hug that didn’t feel warm at all. “It’s so nice to see you back. I was surprised though. What made you come back after all this time?”I looked at her straight and smiled in a way that wasn’t really friendly. “Rachel, how could I miss a Lawson family event? It’s been too long. I just had to catch up.”She smiled but I saw a flash of irritation. “Of course. Enjoy yourself. But remember family has limits.” She paused befor
Jane's POVA relative sense of calm settled on my conference room as I stood at the head of the table. Nate was next to me. He didn’t say much, but having him there made me feel stronger.“Good morning, everyone,” I said in a calm and steady voice. “We’re here today to talk about something very serious, and it’s about the Lawson Charity.”I saw some people shift in their seats. A few exchanged worried looks. They could tell something big was coming, but they didn’t know how big.“We’re starting an audit,” I said. “We’re going to check all the money and records of the Lawson Charity.”No one said anything as they still wanted more elaboration.“Nate, would you explain the details?” I asked.Nate stepped forward and looked around the room. “We’ll check every donation, every expense, and every account from the very beginning. Nothing will be hidden. We’ll check everything to be sure.”“Be sure of what?” Someone muttered.But then the door opened.Rachel Lawson walked in like she owned t
Jane's POVThe notebook felt cold in my shaking hands. Each note inside was like a ghost from my mother’s life and sudden death. It was time to bring out the truth and face it. This time I would not hide. I would not let myself be a victim.Marisol. She used to help my mother. She was the key—the only one who might know what I needed to find out. It had been many years, but I still remembered her kindly and hoped she would be willing to help me.I set up the meeting as a secret one at a small café hidden in a quiet corner. I remembered that place from when I was a kid, when life felt easier before the pain and lies began.The afternoon sun made long shadows on the ground while I waited. I heard the sounds of dishes and quiet talking, but inside me, everything felt loud and stormy. Marisol was late. I was getting more nervous by the second.At last, I saw her. Her hair was now gray in parts, her face lined with age, but I still knew her. She looked around the café, then saw me and rush