Chapter 15

ZADE’S POV

I was in my office when Charlotte arrived at the estate that afternoon, and I knew something was wrong before she even reached my desk. She usually walked into the room with more confidence, even when she was upset, but this time she barely looked at me after closing the door behind her. Her shoulders were tense, her face was pale, and she kept gripping the strap of her bag as though she needed something solid to hold.

“Charlotte, what happened?” I asked as I stood from my chair, studying her carefully while she remained near the door instead of coming closer. “You look like someone followed you here.”

“Lucas followed me,” she answered as she walked toward the desk and dropped her bag onto the chair, her voice shaking slightly despite her attempt to control it. “He stopped me after class, and this time he wasn't asking me to take him back.”

I felt something tighten in my chest, but I kept my expression calm.f*

“What did he want?” I asked as I moved around the desk, watching her reach into her bag. “Tell me exactly what happened, because I don't want you leaving anything out.”

Charlotte pulled out her phone and held it toward me.

“He showed me this,” she explained as she unlocked the screen and brought up a photograph, her fingers trembling slightly as she handed it over. “It's a picture of me entering your estate, and I have no idea who took it.”

I stared at the photograph, keeping my expression controlled even as anger began building beneath the surface. The picture had been taken from a distance, but it was clear enough to identify Charlotte, my gates and the exact moment she had arrived.

Someone had been watching her.

Someone had been watching my home.

“Did Lucas tell you where he got this?” I asked as I studied the photograph again, my voice deliberately calm while my mind worked through the possibilities. “And did he say whether anyone else has seen it?”

“He said nobody had seen it yet,” Charlotte replied as she watched my face carefully. “But he made it clear that he could show it to whoever he wanted if I refused to go back to him.”

My jaw tightened.

“What exactly did he threaten you with?” I asked as I placed the phone on the desk, my voice becoming firmer. “I want his exact words, Charlotte.”

“He said he could destroy you,” she admitted as she lowered her eyes. “He said one photograph could ruin your reputation, your career and your position at the university, and he wanted me to understand that before I chose you over him.”

I stared at her for a moment before slowly exhaling.

“Lucas made a serious mistake,” I said as I picked up the phone to see the photograph again, my voice controlled despite the anger underneath. “He thinks this is about a breakup, but the moment he started threatening you and using my career to control you, he turned it into something else.”

Charlotte shook her head as she stepped closer.

“You're acting like this isn't dangerous,” she replied as she watched me. “You're still my professor, Zade, and I'm still your student. If this photograph gets out, the university could investigate us, and I don't know what they would decide.”

She was right, and I hated that she was right.

“I know,” I admitted as I looked at the photograph again, my expression becoming more serious. “The university could investigate, and I won't pretend there wouldn't be consequences if this became public.”

Charlotte looked surprised by my answer.

“Then why are you so calm?” she asked as she folded her arms, frustration replacing some of the fear in her voice. “Your career could be affected, and you're standing here like Lucas just sent you an annoying email.”

I gave her a faint smile.

“Because my position at the university isn't the most important thing in my life,” I explained as I placed the photograph down and met her eyes. “Teaching is something I chose, Charlotte. It wasn't something my family needed me to do, and it wasn't the reason I walked away from the life they expected me to live.”

Her expression changed at the mention of my family.

“Your family,” she repeated as she studied me. “This is the second time you've said something that makes it sound like your family is much more complicated than you've told me.”

I hesitated, and she noticed.

“Jasmine told me your family is wealthy,” Charlotte continued as she stepped closer to the desk. “She made it sound like there is a lot more behind your life than you let people see. So tell me, Zade, what exactly have I gotten myself involved in?”

“There are things about my family that I haven't explained to you yet,” I admitted as I held her gaze. “I'll tell you when the time is right, but right now, the person threatening you is a bigger problem than my family history.”

Charlotte's frustration was obvious.

“That isn't fair,” she replied as she shook her head. “You're asking me to trust you while keeping things from me, and now someone is using your secrets against both of us.”

“I know,” I said as I moved around the desk. “And I'm not asking you to pretend that's easy. I'm telling you I'll explain everything when I know I can do it without putting you in more danger.”

I picked up my phone and called my security chief to come.

“I need you to identify whoever took this photograph,” I instructed as I placed the phone on the desk. “Find out where it was taken, how long they were watching the estate, and whether Lucas has received any other photographs or information about me.”

After giving him further instructions about checking the estate cameras and surrounding roads, I turned back toward Charlotte.

We waited nearly an hour before the security chief returned with a tablet and a serious expression.

“We found the vehicle used to take the photograph,” he reported as he placed the tablet on my desk. “The person inside avoided the estate cameras, but we've confirmed the vehicle was watching the property.”

I studied the information.

“Does Lucas have the photograph?” I asked as I looked up. “And has he shared it with anyone?”

“Not yet,” the security chief replied as he checked another report. “But Lucas has been searching for information about you.”

Charlotte immediately looked at me.

“What kind of information?” she asked as she stepped closer.

“Your university records, your family and several older references connected to your background,” the security chief explained as he scrolled through the report. “He's trying to understand who you are beyond what people know publicly.”

My expression hardened.

“He isn't trying to get Charlotte back anymore,” I said as I looked at the search history. “He's investigating me.”

The security chief nodded before leaving, and Charlotte remained beside the desk.

“What are we going to do?” she asked as she looked at me. “Because if he's digging into your background, this isn't going to stop with one photograph.”

“You're not meeting Lucas alone again,” I told her firmly. “If he contacts you, tell me. If he follows you, tell me. And if he threatens you again, don't handle it yourself.”

Charlotte hesitated before nodding.

“Okay,” she agreed as she picked up her bag. “But I still feel like you're not telling me everything.”

“I know,” I admitted as I watched her move toward the door. “And when the time comes, you won't have to ask twice.”

Before she could leave, my phone vibrated against the desk. I looked down and saw a message from an unknown number.

YOU SHOULD CHECK WHO HAS BEEN WATCHING LUCAS.

A second message appeared beneath it.

YOUR PRIVATE IDENTITY WON'T STAY PRIVATE FOR LONG.

I stared at the screen as the warning settled in, realizing that someone else had been tracking Lucas while he investigated me.

Charlotte noticed my expression change.

“Zade, what happened?” she asked as she stopped beside the door, watching me with growing concern.

Before I could answer, my phone began ringing. The number was still unknown, and after a brief hesitation, I accepted the call and held the phone to my ear.

“Zade,” a familiar female voice said from the other end, her tone low and serious. “We need to talk about the girl you've brought into this.