Chapter 33: Face-to-Face

The voice drifted through the hallway like smoke.

Smooth. Calm.

Almost polite.

“Lena…”
“Don’t be afraid.”

Lena’s entire body froze.

Mrs. Ward’s grip on her wrist tightened so hard it almost hurt.

“Stay behind me,” she whispered.

But Lena couldn’t breathe, much less move.

The intruder’s footsteps echoed softly — slow and deliberate, like they wanted her to hear every step, to feel their presence inching closer.

Mrs. Ward ushered Lena back into the surveillance room and pressed a silent button beneath the desk. A steel panel slid across the doorway… halfway. It stopped with an abrupt clang, stuck.

Lena’s heart plunged. “It’s jammed!”

Mrs. Ward cursed under her breath — the first time Lena had ever heard her do it. She grabbed Lena’s hand again.

“We run,” she whispered.

But before they could move—

A shadow appeared inside the partially open doorway.

Tall. Hooded.

Standing completely still.

The air went thin.

Lena cried out and stumbled backwards, colliding with a desk as the hooded figure slowly stepped closer, only half of their face visible in the dim light.

Mrs. Ward stepped in front of Lena, like a shield.

“Stay where you are,” she demanded, voice steady despite the tremor in her hand.

The intruder tilted their head, examining her calmly.

“No need to shout,” he said softly. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

His voice.

The same voice from the hallway.

The same tone used in the text messages.

Lena felt sick. “W… who are you?”

The intruder lifted both hands slowly and pulled back his hood.

Lena’s breath left her body.

It wasn’t Marcus.

It wasn’t anyone from Knight Enterprises.

It was someone much closer.

Someone she recognized immediately.

Dylan.

From the 12th floor.

The man who blackmailed Alexander on the rooftop.

The man who smirked every time he spoke to her.

He smiled faintly. “Hi, Lena.”

Lena stumbled backwards, hitting the edge of the wall. “Y-you?! How— Why—”

Mrs. Ward stepped forward, furious. “You arrogant child. Do you have any idea where you are? What you’ve done?”

Dylan ignored her completely, his eyes fixed on Lena — calm, almost gentle.

“I told you,” he said, “you were on the wrong floor.”

Lena felt the room spin. “You followed me? You broke into my office? Into my apartment?”

Dylan shrugged lightly. “I needed to keep an eye on you.”

Mrs. Ward grabbed a metal poker from beside the fireplace and raised it. “Get out of this house before Alexander comes back.”

Dylan laughed under his breath. “Oh, he’s already looking for me. I wanted a moment alone with Lena first.”

Lena’s voice cracked. “Why? What do you want from me?”

Dylan stepped closer. Mrs. Ward moved to swing, but Dylan lifted a hand casually.

“If you hit me,” he said coldly, “I’ll stop being polite.”

His voice dropped into something darker.

“And I’m only here to talk.”

Mrs. Ward breathed hard, poker trembling in her hands.

Dylan returned his gaze to Lena. “You think Alexander is the only one with enemies?”

Lena blinked. “What are you talking about?”

Dylan smiled slightly. “Your mother.”

Lena went still.

He continued, “She wasn’t just connected to the Split Circle. She was important. People trusted her. People followed her.”

Lena’s voice barely escaped her lips. “My mother had nothing to do with you.”

Dylan chuckled. “Lena… you don’t know anything yet.”

Mrs. Ward stepped forward fiercely. “She owes you nothing. Leave now.”

Dylan ignored her again.

He looked right at Lena.

“I didn’t follow you because of Alexander,” he said softly. “I followed you because of her.”

Lena felt her skin crawl. “My mother is dead.”

“I know,” Dylan said. “But her debt isn’t.”

The words sliced through her.

“Debt?” Lena whispered. “What debt?”

Dylan glanced around the room, then lowered his voice.

“Your mother tried to expose something,” he said. “Something inside the Split Circle. Something so big that she disappeared before she ever got the chance.”

Lena’s blood ran cold.

Mrs. Ward shook her head violently. “Don’t listen to him, Lena. He’s manipulating you.”

But Dylan kept talking, stepping closer.

“Your mother left something behind. Something the Circle desperately wants.” He pointed at Lena’s necklace on the table. “And you’re the key to finding it.”

Lena’s heart hammered painfully. “I don’t understand.”

“You don’t have to,” Dylan replied calmly. “All you need to know is… Alexander isn’t the only one keeping secrets from you.”

Mrs. Ward raised the poker again, voice shaking with fury. “I said LEAVE—”

But Dylan moved faster than either of them expected.

He grabbed her wrist, twisted it, and flung the poker aside. Mrs. Ward cried out as it clattered across the floor.

“DON’T TOUCH HER!” Lena screamed.

Dylan stepped back, hands up. “Relax. I’m not here to hurt her.”

His eyes softened.

“I’m here to warn you.”

Lena’s voice was barely a breath. “Warn me about what?”

Dylan leaned in — close enough that she could see the seriousness in his expression, the intensity in his eyes.

“Alexander is lying to you,” he whispered.
“Your mother didn’t die because of the Split Circle.”
“She died because of him.”

Lena’s world shattered.

Mrs. Ward froze.

Lena’s knees buckled.

The room spun.

But before anyone could speak—

A voice roared from the doorway.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!”

Alexander.

Covered in sweat.

Breath ragged.

Weapon raised.

And eyes full of murder.