Threat returns

Fiona’s POV

For a moment, the world narrowed to a single point.

The noisy crowd of students at the school entrance and their cheers made me extremely nervous; the flashing phones and excited whispers blurred into white noise. All I could see was Jalen.

He stood a few yards away, holding an absurdly large bouquet of red roses, wearing that half-smile that had once undone me completely. His eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my knees weak.

I had replayed this scene in my head a thousand times. The daydreams. The late-night silent prayers in my heart, and now that he was actually here, I didn’t know what was real anymore.

Jalen started walking toward me. Each step sent my heart slamming against my ribs. When he finally stopped in front of me, close enough that I could smell the familiar notes of his cologne, my throat closed.

He handed me the bouquet and Paris quickly took it from me. I couldn’t even bring myself to smell or admire it. My eyes were glued to his, my lips were parted, and my heart wondered if it was really him standing in front of me. He pulled me into his arms and held me like a man drowning.

His embrace was fierce, almost desperate. I felt the tremor running through his body. For several long seconds, I stood frozen, overwhelmed. Then instinct took over. My arms wrapped around him, fingers clutching the back of his shirt.

The crowd erupted into louder cheers, but I barely heard them.

“I missed you,” he whispered against my hair, voice rough. “God, Fiona… I missed you so much.”

I closed my eyes, torn between melting into him and shattering apart. The words hurt more than they healed.

Eventually, he pulled back just enough to look at me, his striking eyes searching mine with a vulnerability I’d rarely seen in him.

“Bunny…” His voice cracked on the same nickname he is only allowed to call me.

My throat tightened painfully.

“Can we talk?” he asked. “Please.”

The raw desperation in his tone surprised me. After everything, he still had the power to do that, to make my knees weak without even trying.

I hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Okay.”

He smiled and nodded back with relief lurking over his face.

---

An hour later we sat across from each other in one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city. Crystal chandeliers cast soft golden light over linen tablecloths. A pianist played gently in the background. It should have been romantic but the elegance and ambience felt suffocating.

Jalen looked… nervous. Actually, he was nervous. He kept turning his water glass in slow circles, jaw tight as he stared at me without a word.

Neither of us had touched our food.

Finally, he exhaled. “I owe you an explanation.”

“You do,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.

Pain flickered across his features. “I left because I thought it was the right thing to do.”

A bitter laugh escaped me—I bit my lower lip, ignoring his gaze. “The right thing?”

“Fiona—”

“You disappeared without a word. You sold your house, and I literally went there to look for you. You left me thinking I’d done something wrong.”

His jaw clenched. “I know.”

The silence stretched, heavy and sharp but he exhaled loudly.

“When you were in the hospital,” he continued quietly, “your father and I had a conversation. I promised him that once you recovered, I would leave.”

My eyes narrowed. “So you chose his happiness over mine?”

“No.” His answer was immediate. “I chose your safety. You went through enough because of me, because of us, i wanted no more for you,” he paused. “You almost died, Fiona.” His voice broke. “I sat there watching machines breathe for you, counting every heartbeat, I was terrified I’d lost you forever. I couldn’t… I couldn’t risk putting you in danger again. Not after what happened, I won't be able to forgive myself if anything happens to you.”

I looked away, the memories rushing back—cold, and terrifying. Tears silently slipped down my face.

“I thought leaving was the only way to protect you,” he finished softly.

The restaurant suddenly felt too small and quiet.

“Then why come back now?” I asked.

A sad smile touched his lips. “Because your father called me.”

My head snapped up. “What?” I chuckled painfully and scoffed.

“He told me he’d never seen you so unhappy. That you weren’t living anymore—you were just surviving. He said he wanted his daughter to be happy again.” Jalen’s eyes were glistening. “He gave me his blessing, Fiona. Trust me—I didn't wait one more day.”

Tears burned behind my eyes. For a heartbeat, I almost forgave him.

Almost.

Then the nights I’d cried myself to sleep came flooding back. The unanswered messages. The silence. The way he’d chosen for both of us without giving me a voice.

I pushed my chair back slowly.

“Fiona?” Jalen frowned.

I stood on unsteady legs. “I can’t do this anymore.”

His expression shifted from confusion to fear. “What?”

“I’m tired, Jalen.” My voice trembled. “I’m tired of being hidden. Tired of fighting for someone who keeps choosing to leave me behind.”

“That’s not fair—”

“Not fair?” I laughed through the tears now spilling down my cheeks. “You left me. You didn’t even say goodbye.”

The hurt I’d buried for weeks finally clawed its way out.

“I’m done,” I said, the words surprising even me with their finality. “I’m done, I don't want to be confused anymore, I don't want to be your secret. I’ve moved on and you don’t get to come back now that I have.”

The lie tasted like ash on my tongue, but I forced it out anyway.

Jalen looked devastated. “Fiona… please. Please sit down, we can talk about this, I wanna make things right, I will make things right, I promise.”

“I think it would be best if you stayed away from me.”

I turned before I could see the full weight of the pain in his eyes, before I could take it all back, and walked away, leaving him alone at the elegant table.

---

Marian’s POV

I made it out of that hellhole finally. Prison had changed nothing.

If anything, it has sharpened me. Turned my anger into something more lethal in such a short period.

The moment my bail was posted, I went back to what I did best—planning and I didn't waste time.

“Mrs Marian, congratulations,” my lawyer said with a wide grin of accomplishment playing on his lips as he gestured a handshake.

“Thanks Gabriel, this wouldn’t have happened without you,” I answered.

My ride arrived before he could say another word, I waved at him and he bowed.

The cab pulled over at a secluded hotel that I booked, I wanted to keep a low profile for my plans to work. I pushed my room door open and rushed straight to the shower and soaked in a warm bath as thoughts played in my head.

“I hope you’re ready for what I have in store for you, lovers,” I mumbled and raised a wine glass to my lips.

– – – –

For weeks I had Fiona and Jalen followed by a private spy. I watched them from a distance, such a pity they broke up before my arrival, I've always known they wouldn’t last. But the more I learned, the deeper my rage burned.

I lay in bed one evening when Douglas brought some sweet information to me. I had thought I would die of boredom in that room after weeks of living in it.

“Come in,” I answered after he knocked twice.

“Ma’am, I have news that will brighten you,”

“Spill,” I ordered, my eyes glued to my phone.

He handed me a flash drive with the name Hart Dynamics written boldly on it.

“What is this,” I asked.

“I’m sure you will love to open it, ma’am,”

I dismissed him with my finger—as soon as he shut the door, I bolted to my table and grabbed my laptop, I pushed the flash in and opened the document.

A multi-billion-pound technology empire. Owned entirely by Jalen Hart—my ex-husband.

He had spent years pretending to be nothing more than a university lecturer.

“What a liar,” I whispered.

He thought he could hide an empire from me? That I would simply walk away with scraps after everything I’d endured?

I laughed aloud in the empty hotel room.

No. That wasn’t happening.

Under normal circumstances, I would have dragged him through the courts. But Jalen was clever. He would have protected his assets long ago.

I needed leverage.

Real leverage.

And fortunately for me, leverage had a name.

“Fiona,” her name played dangerously on my lips as I rested my back.

Jalen loved her. Deeply, she is my only tool.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across my face as I reached for my phone.

“Gabriel,” I said when he answered. “We need to get Jordan out of there.”

---

Jalen’s POV

The next morning

I froze the second I stepped into my office, a familiar figure was sitting in my chair—Lethally calm.

Marian.

For a split second, I thought I was hallucinating, she was supposed to be in prison. Then she smiled—that same smile that used to deliver hell.

“Good morning, darling.”

My body went rigid. “When were you released?”

She ignored the question, rising gracefully and circling the desk like a predator.

“You look good,” she purred, eyes dragging over me.

“What do you want, Marian?”

She perched on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs. “It’s simple, and now that you’re busy… I wouldn't wanna waste your time. So, I want half of what belongs to you as my divorce claims.”

I almost laughed but stopped at a chuckle. “Absolutely not.”

“I expected you’d say that.” Her smile never faltered. “But I’ve changed, Jalen. You taught me a lot of things, patience inclusive.”

She leaned in closer, voice dropping to a chilling whisper.

“If I can’t have you or what is rightfully mine…” Her eyes glittered with pure malice. “Then I’ll take what you love most. You know what I can do,” My stomach dropped. She tilted her head, almost playful. “I’m going to kill Fiona.”

The blood drained from my face, and I felt real fear—cold, paralyzing fear—gripping me.

Marian saw right through me and her smile widened, she was satisfied.

“Tick tock, darling,” she added as she walked out the door, leaving me in utter darkness in my head.