Chapter 31: The Mark of the Circle

The room felt colder than the night outside.

Alexander’s fingers tightened around Lena’s hand, his eyes locked on the symbol burned into the cloth on the screen. A circle split in half — simple, yet terrifyingly familiar to him.

Mrs. Ward swallowed hard. “Alexander… you don’t truly believe it’s them, do you?”

He didn’t answer.

He couldn’t.

Lena looked between them, confusion and fear twisting violently in her chest. “Someone explain. Please.”

Alexander exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair before turning to her.

“That symbol,” he said quietly, “is from a group my father once worked with. A group he should have stayed away from.”

Lena’s pulse quickened. “A group? What kind of group?”

Mrs. Ward stepped in gently, sensing Alexander’s hesitation.

“They call themselves the Split Circle,” she said. “A network of wealthy, powerful individuals—businessmen, politicians, investors—who operate in the shadows. They trade information, power, and influence. And they do not forgive betrayal.”

Lena’s breath caught. “And your father… he worked with them?”

“He did,” Alexander said, voice low. “For years. Until he didn’t.”

Mrs. Ward continued, “When Alexander’s father tried to leave the Split Circle, they turned on him. They tried to ruin him first—financially, socially. When that failed…”

She trailed off, expression tightening.

Lena felt her stomach drop. “Mrs. Ward… did they… did they kill him?”

Mrs. Ward looked away.

Alexander answered.

“Yes.”

The word hit Lena like a blow.

He continued, voice rough. “His death was ruled a heart attack. But I saw the signs. The threats. The warnings.” His hands curled into fists. “I knew someone killed him. And I knew it was them.”

Lena’s body went cold.

“But why come after you now?” she whispered.

Alexander stepped closer. “Because I inherited everything my father once controlled. The company. The influence. The connections. And I chose not to follow their path.”

“You rejected them,” Mrs. Ward said. “And they never forget rejection.”

Lena stared at the screen again — the dark figure holding her necklace, standing not far from the estate.

“So the person stalking me… is from this Split Circle?”

Alexander shook his head slowly. “Not necessarily. But someone connected to them is involved. And they’re using your fear to weaken me.”

Lena’s voice broke. “Alex… I don’t understand. How could someone from this group even know about me? I’m no one.”

He stepped forward and took her face gently between his hands.

“You’re not no one,” he whispered. “You’re the first real part of my life they can threaten.”

Her heartbeat stuttered.

Before she could respond, the screen flickered again.

The figure outside stepped closer — just enough that their face remained hidden, but their intent clearer:

They weren’t here to warn.

They were here to watch.

Lena shivered violently.

“They know we’re here,” she whispered. “They expected us.”

Mrs. Ward nodded grimly. “Someone must have told them.”

Alexander turned toward the door. “The estate was supposed to be secure. Only a handful of people know this location.”

Lena felt sick. “So someone close to you betrayed you.”

Alexander’s eyes darkened. “Marcus. He’s the only one with enough motivation.”

“No,” Mrs. Ward said quietly. “Marcus is dangerous, yes. But he lacks… subtlety. This is too calculated. Too ritualistic.”

Lena blinked. “Ritualistic?”

Mrs. Ward nodded toward the screen. “The cloth. The burned symbol. That’s not Marcus’s style. That’s the Split Circle announcing their presence.”

Alexander clenched his jaw. “But why involve Lena? She has nothing to do with them.”

Mrs. Ward’s expression softened with sympathy as she turned to Lena.

“Even indirectly… you might.”

Lena frowned. “What does that mean?”

Mrs. Ward hesitated, then said:

“I saw your necklace before it went missing. The one they left outside.”

Lena touched her bare neck instinctively. “It was my mother’s.”

Mrs. Ward nodded slowly. “Look closely at the pendant.”

Alexander retrieved it from the cloth and handed it to Lena.

Her breath stopped.

The pendant wasn’t just a design.

It wasn’t just a decoration.

It was the same circle she’d just seen burned onto the cloth.

Broken in half.

“W-What is this?” Lena whispered, voice cracking.

Mrs. Ward sighed. “Your mother… where did she get this necklace?”

Lena’s hands shook. “She never told me. I thought it was… just jewelry.”

Alexander placed a steady hand on her back. “Lena… this means they’ve known about you longer than either of us realized.”

Her knees weakened. “My mother had this symbol. Why?”

“I don’t know,” Alexander said. “But we’re going to find out.”

Before she could breathe, a loud metallic clang echoed from outside—

The gates.

Mrs. Ward rushed to the surveillance screens.

The figure was gone.

But the gate…

The gate was open.

Alexander swore violently. “They’re inside.”

Lena grabbed his arm. “Alex—”

He turned to her, voice sharp with fear and authority.

“Lena. Stay with Mrs. Ward.

Do not move.

Do not follow me.”

Her heart stopped. “What are you going to do?”

He picked up a weapon from the drawer — something cold and deadly.

“Finish what my father couldn’t,” he said quietly.

Then he disappeared into the darkness outside.