Chapter Six: 4:43 pm

I watched her from the side, my eyes narrowing with every uneasy shift she made. A few minutes ago, in the café, Raven had been glowing. Laughing. Reconnecting like we'd never missed a beat. She held my hands like she never wanted to let go. Her smile had lit up the whole space, loud enough to make strangers glance our way.

But the moment we stepped out into the street, something shifted. Her posture changed. Her smile faded into something almost ghostly. What happened between that glass door and now? I told myself not to ask again. She'd already said she was fine, blaming it on hormones. But that didn't sit right with me.

This wasn't a pregnant woman waddling with mood swings. This was someone scanning her surroundings like she owed someone money. Or worse—like she was being hunted. Her eyes flicked to every shadow that passed us. Every car that drove by made her flinch just a little. Her steps weren't confident anymore. They were unsure, hesitant.

I bit my bottom lip, trying hard to let it go. But the more I looked at her, the harder it became. This wasn't Raven. Not the girl I used to sneak out with after dark. Not the girl who'd climb over gates with me just to dance barefoot under the streetlights. No. This version of her felt caged, watched.

Screw it. I stepped in front of her, stopping us both. She blinked and halted, clearly not expecting the move. I placed my hands gently but firmly on her shoulders and leaned in, meeting her eyes.

"Raven," I said quietly, "what's going on?"

She tried to look away. I tilted my head, blocking her line of sight.

"Please don't say it's hormones again. That excuse expired five minutes ago. Talk to me. Is everything alright? Is there something you want to tell me?"

Her lips parted slightly. Her eyes glistened. For a moment, I thought she'd finally spill whatever she was hiding. She swallowed hard, and her breath caught like it got stuck in her chest. But then... she smiled. Quick. Weak.

"I'm fine, Mia. It's really nothing. Just the baby. You know how these things go."

I didn't believe her. Not for a second. But I saw the wall come up behind her eyes. That invisible wall people build when they don't want to talk. Still, I wasn't giving up completely.

"You know I can help, right?" I said, softening my voice. "We're best friends. We promised no secrets."

She looked at me for a long second. The air between us thickened. Then she nodded.

"And I haven't forgotten that," she whispered. "I'm just really fine, Mia. I promise."

She shifted gears fast, like she couldn't wait to change the topic.

"Walk me to the junction? I'll grab a cab from there. Home's just twenty-five minutes away."

"Sure," I replied, still watching her like she'd vanish the moment I blinked.

She lived in Greenfield Estate—a peaceful gated community a little off campus. It was the kind of place where kids rode bicycles on clean pavements and neighbors waved from trimmed hedges. Quiet. Safe. Ideal.

It was 4:43 pm, and the sun was leaning low in the sky, painting the sidewalk gold. The breeze was light, curling strands of my hair into my eyes. We walked side by side, our steps quiet, but my thoughts loud.

Something had rattled her. Something big. And I had a feeling I'd only seen the surface.

As we neared the junction where cabs usually waited, I felt the buzz before I heard it. A deep rumble, like thunder wrapped in metal. I turned my head. A black SUV came barreling toward us, fast, reckless, its tires screaming against the road as it screeched to a halt inches away.

My body jerked back in reflex, heart slamming against my ribs.

"What the—" Before I could even find the words, I felt Raven move. She slid behind me, trembling. Her grip clutched my wrist like a lifeline.

I turned slowly, eyes wide. The driver's door flung open. Out stepped a tall man, maybe early thirties. His skin fair, his jaw sharp, and his clothes too neat to have just driven like that. Rolled-up sleeves. Expensive watch. Designer shoes. Yet everything about him screamed control... and danger.

The moment his eyes landed on Raven, his whole face changed. His voice, though pleasant on the surface, carried a chill beneath.

"Raven, darling! I've been looking everywhere for you."

Darling? My body stiffened. My fingers instinctively curled around Raven's wrist, pulling her slightly behind me.

She didn't say a word. Didn't move an inch forward. The man took a step toward us, unfazed. He smiled like he knew something I didn't.

I tilted my chin and stepped between them. "Who are you?" I asked, my tone calm but firm.

He paused. His eyes met mine. His smile dipped, just a notch.

"I'm her husband."

My breath caught in my throat. Raven's fingers trembled harder.

What?