LOGIN“Two miles,” Jessica whispered. “She’s practically watching our front door.”Christian was already moving, pulling out his phone to alert security. “Full lockdown. Nobody in or out without confirmation.”“What building?” Arnold asked, leaning toward Felix’s screen.“An office space,” Felix said. “Registered under a shell company, but the lease traces back through three layers to Marissa’s real name.”“Can we get authorities there tonight?” Christian asked.“I already contacted the same federal team that handled Sarah’s case,” Felix said. “They’re moving now, but it’ll take time to secure a proper warrant.”“We don’t have time,” Jessica said, fear sharp in her voice. “She’s already proven she moves fast.”Christian’s phone buzzed. He glanced down, his jaw tightening.“It’s Daniel,” he said, answering quickly and putting it on speaker.“Christian, someone just tried breaking into my office,” Daniel said, breathless. “Security caught them on camera before they ran.”“Did you get a look a
“A sister,” Jessica repeated, her voice barely steady. “That’s not possible. Sarah never mentioned any siblings.”“She wouldn’t,” Felix said through the phone. “Not if she was trying to protect her from being connected to any of this.”“Or trying to keep her hidden as a backup plan,” Christian said grimly. “In case everything fell apart.”Daniel stood frozen near the table, still processing everything unfolding around him. “I don’t understand. Who is this woman?”“Someone who wants to finish what her sister started,” Christian said. “Which apparently now includes you.”“Me?” Daniel asked, alarm crossing his face. “Why would she target me?”“Because you’re useful,” Jessica said slowly, pieces connecting painfully. “A convenient way to create chaos in my marriage without doing anything illegal herself.”Felix’s voice cut through the tense silence. “Her name is Marissa Chen. Younger by six years. Public records show she’s lived quietly overseas for the past decade, completely separate fr
Jessica dressed carefully, not for Daniel, but simply because getting ready felt like the only thing keeping her hands from shaking.Christian stood in the doorway, watching her with an expression she couldn’t quite read.“Security’s already positioned near the restaurant,” he said. “Two cars, discreet, watching every angle.”“Thank you,” Jessica said quietly.“I still don’t like this,” Christian added.“I know,” she said. “But we need answers.”He crossed the room, gently taking her hands in his own. “Be careful. Please.”“I will,” Jessica said, softening slightly despite the tension between them.The restaurant Daniel had chosen sat quiet and elegant downtown, soft lighting and low music creating an atmosphere that felt intimate in a way Jessica hadn’t quite expected.Daniel stood as she approached the table, his smile warm and genuine.“You look wonderful,” he said.“Thank you,” Jessica said, sitting across from him carefully.They ordered quickly, easy conversation flowing at firs
Felix arrived within the hour, laptop already open before he even sat down.“Show me the messages,” he said.Christian handed over his phone. Felix scrolled through carefully, his expression tightening with each new text.“This number’s been routed through three different servers,” he said. “Whoever sent these knew exactly how to hide their tracks.”“Can you trace it at all?” Christian asked.“Give me time,” Felix said. “But this isn’t amateur work. Someone professional set this up.”Jessica sat on the couch, arms wrapped around herself despite the warm afternoon sun streaming through the window.“Could it be someone connected to Sarah?” she asked. “One of her old associates, still holding a grudge?”“Possible,” Felix said. “But Sarah’s entire network was dismantled. Every associate arrested or under surveillance.”“Then who?” Christian asked, frustration sharp in his voice.Felix continued typing, pulling up different search windows. “I need access to your phone too, Jessica. If some
“A stranger,” Jessica said quietly. “You sound like a complete stranger right now.”“I sound like someone protecting his family,” Christian said.“You sound like someone trying to control me,” Jessica shot back. “There’s a difference.”Christian’s phone buzzed again. Another message from the same unknown number.He read it silently, his face going tighter with every word.“What now?” Jessica asked.He turned the screen toward her, though this time his hand shook slightly.He’s already planning dinner for tomorrow night. Somewhere private. Ask her yourself if you don’t believe me.“I haven’t spoken to him since the coffee shop,” Jessica said firmly. “I don’t know who’s sending these, but they’re lying.”“Are they?” Christian asked, something raw and wounded cutting through his usual control. “Because you seemed pretty comfortable with him this afternoon.”“We talked for an hour,” Jessica said. “About old times. That’s it.”“That’s never it,” Christian said. “Not with someone who’s carr
“You’ve been distant for weeks,” Jessica said, setting down her coffee cup harder than she meant to.Christian didn’t look up from his laptop. “I’m handling the Singapore deal. It’s complicated.”“Everything’s complicated with you lately,” Jessica said. “Meetings running past midnight. Phone calls you take in another room.”“That’s called running a company, Jessica.”“That’s called avoiding me,” she snapped.Christian finally looked up, his jaw tight. “I don’t have time for this right now.”Jessica stood, grabbing her jacket off the chair. “Then I won’t take up any more of your precious time.”She walked out before he could respond, frustration burning hot in her chest as she climbed into her car.Grace was at Eleanor’s for the afternoon. Jessica had nowhere urgent to be, which somehow made the fight feel worse.She drove without a real destination, eventually parking outside a small coffee shop downtown, the kind of place she used to visit years ago before her entire life became boar







