ANMELDEN~Alex~I step outside just as the police drag Sara down the front steps.The entire place has turned into a circus.Cameras flash nonstop. Reporters shove microphones over each other while screaming questions loud enough to make my head pound.“Miss Sara Jane! Did you attempt to murder Linda Frothmoth?”“Are the allegations true?”“Did your company help cover up the crime?”“Did you hide the body?”Officers bark at them to move back, but they keep pushing through. I stay farther away from the chaos, both hands shoved into my pockets as I watch them push Sara toward the patrol car.Her last words keep replaying in my head.You’ve got twelve hours, Alex.If you don’t act… I’ll take your silence as an answer.Sara keeps walking without looking at anybody.But I know her.I know the stiffness in her shoulders.The tightness in her jaw.The way her cuffed hands clench slightly when she’s trying not to lose control.She is cooking something in that head of hers and whatever it is. It is go
~Sara~Chairs push backward, heels strike against the marble floor, and within seconds, Maybelline and my PA step out of the office, leaving Alex and me alone.“So,” Alex says with a shrug, “you gonna start talking, or are we waiting for the cops to get here?”I step closer until there’s barely a few inches between us, then cross my arms tight over my chest. "Ok. I need your help.”“Sorry, what?” He tilts his head towards me, amused.I grunt, rolling my eyes at myself because I still can’t believe I’m actually doing this.“I said I need your help.”He cups a hand over his mouth. “Wow. So Sara Jane finally admits she needs help. What changed, exactly?”Oh, for the love of God.“A lot changed, Alex. Obviously.”"Lemme guess." He taps a finger against his chin like he’s deep in thought. “Your latest viral video changed your mind.”I let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh. “Which one are you talking about? The anniversary video? Or the one where I apparently murdered your wife?”He nods slowly,
~Sara~The best way to kill a snake is to cut off its head.Well… unless the snake is a hydra.Linda and Celine definitely cooked this whole thing up to destroy me.They thought dropping the video right after the anniversary disaster would finally bury me for good, but they forgot one important thing.The truth.And the truth always finds a way to crawl back to the surface.I scoff under my breath. “Who would’ve thought such an annoying phrase would actually comfort me one day?”Maybelline and my PA exchange concerned looks, probably because I’ve spent the last ten minutes pacing around the office muttering to myself and randomly grinning like a lunatic.Maybelline shakes her head before adjusting the phone clipped to the tripod. She steps back and gives it one final inspection.“You ready, ma’am?” she asks brightly, sounding exactly like one of those overenthusiastic moms sending their eight-year-olds onto a peewee football field for the first time.I straighten my blazer and nod onc
~Sara~My heels strike the marble floor hard as I storm through the doors leading into my office reception.“What the hell is going on?” I snap at my PA and secretary.Both women flinch.My PA straightens quickly, trying to recover. “A video of you flipping the middle finger at the guests at the Fords’ anniversary party is blowing up online. Every major media outlet in the country is running it, and…” Her voice trails off as she slowly lifts her eyes to me.I narrow my eyes, my jaw tightening so hard it hurts. “Spit it out already.”“What people are saying about you isn’t good.”I purse my lips. “What exactly are they saying?”She shifts her weight nervously. “They’re calling you the bitter ex who caused a scene at the anniversary on purpose.”"That's old news." I fold my arms and lean against the wall, unimpressed. “They couldn’t come up with something more original?”My PA and Maybelline—my secretary, exchange a quick look.“That’s not all, ma’am,” my PA says carefully.I slowly pus
~Sara♡~Go to hell?I scoff.More like he should go to hell.“You know this is like the thousandth time you’ve scoffed, mumbled something, or glared at the road like you’re about to murder someone since we left the hotel,” Jeremy says from behind the wheel, steering us down the dimly lit road.I lean back against the passenger seat, resting my head on the headrest as I cross my arms over my chest. “Unless you enjoy getting ganged up on by your ex-boyfriend’s wife at their anniversary party, then being vexed is pretty normal.”He chuckles.“But you seemed fine after that dramatic speech ending." He says. "Not many people stay pissed after giving the middle finger.”“Well, I am.” I shoot him an irritated look, my lips flattening into a hard line. “It’s just so infuriating.”“Mmh-hmm.” Both his brows lift mischievously. “Why do I have this feeling you’re not really angry at the guests, but at someone else?”I jerk my head toward him sharply. “Someone else?”“Yeah.” He glances at me from
~Sara♡~Choas erupts.The crowd yells at me, screaming unprintable names but I don't stay to hear them.I shove past Jeremy and step off the stage, moving fast, like if I slow down everything will catch up with me. Don’t stop. Just get out. Breathe later. Break later. “Sara!” Alex’s voice follows me as I storm out the hall. “Sara!” He yells louder. I keep moving.“Sara, wait—”I tighten my grip around my purse as I push through the double doors into the hallway. He follows me out. "Sara!" I keep walking. Fast.“Hey—Sara—” His hand brushes my arm as he reaches me.I yank away instantly, like I’ve been burned.“Don’t touch me,” I snap, not even turning.Behind me, his breath catches slightly before he tries again. “Sara, just listen to me.”I almost keep walking.Almost.But my steps falters, just a fraction. “Listen to you?” I bark, twirling at his direction so fast that he steps back."You want me to listen to you now? After watching them tear me apart?" “You left before I could
~SARA~“What is going on here?” Khlan repeats, his voice dripping with something dangerous.I swallow and take a step back, a cold dread creeping through the air. I feel the guard’s hand stiffen in mine. Khlan sees our hands locked together; the guard sees that he does and pulls his hand from mine
13 Hours Till Anniversary...~ALEX~We are stationed a few kilometers away from Khlan’s hideout.I stand near the edge of the temporary camp, eyes fixed on the dark outline of the hills ahead. Somewhere beyond them, Khlan is breathing. Walking. Doing to Sara things I can't even bring myself to thin
~ALEX~36 Hours Till Anniversary…____Thirty-six hours till the anniversary.That's all I have.That's all Sara has.Our helicopter hovers above the thick, dense trees masking the island below—the Night Shifters’ base.Jake and I sit at the back of the helicopter, the pilot up front, with headsets
~SARA~I watch as the woman pull the fabric from the bed and step closer. Her hands are gentle but firm as she guides me into it, sliding the fabric over my shoulders. The night dress feels cool against my skin, but it does nothing to calm the heat rising in my chest.Khlan— after our 'conversation







