Mag-log inI stared at the final message until the words blurred.But I can.Whoever was behind the messages wasn't simply watching me anymore. They were trying to make me believe they were the only person capable of protecting me.Jake looked at my phone again, his expression hardening.“Block the number.”I hesitated.“Why?”“Because whoever this is wants you to be scared.”I nodded and blocked it.For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.Then Jake looked at me.“Are you staying alone tonight?”“I'll be fine.”“Emma.”“I'll be fine.”He sighed.“I know you're trying to be strong, but you don't have to do everything alone.”I looked at him.“Stay?”His expression softened.“Of course.”We sat in the living room while my mother remained upstairs. She had barely spoken since Jake arrived.I leaned against the couch, watching the clock.“Do you ever feel like our lives changed overnight?” I asked.Jake smiled faintly.“Mine did.”“How?”He looked at me.“When you asked me to fake-date you.”I smile
For several seconds, nobody spoke.My mother's words hung in the room like a warning.Richard is dead.I looked at the photograph in my hand again, suddenly seeing it differently. The smiling family picture no longer looked harmless. The man standing behind us wasn't simply a stranger anymore. He was someone connected to a secret that had followed my family for years.“Mom,” I whispered, “when did Richard die?”She looked away.“Three years ago.”“Three years?”“Yes.”“Then why did you say you thought everything was over?”“Because after his death, the threats stopped.”Ethan stepped closer.“Who was threatening you?”My mother shook her head.“I never knew.”“But someone knew about Richard,” Ethan said. “Someone knew about the money.”She nodded.“Your father was involved?”“My husband knew there was a problem with the company, but he didn't know who was responsible. Richard was the one who discovered the missing money.”Ethan's expression hardened.“And my father?”“Your father was
I stared at Ethan, unable to move.Someone close to my family.The words felt heavier than they should have.“What do you mean, someone close to my family?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Ethan stepped inside my room and closed the door behind him. His expression was unusually serious, and for the first time since everything had started, I could tell he wasn't trying to protect himself or make excuses.“I don't know who it is,” he admitted. “But I found something that might help us figure it out.”He pulled an old envelope from his jacket and handed it to me.I looked at my name written across the front.My stomach tightened.“Where did you get this?”“It was sent to my house.”I opened it carefully, pulling out several printed messages. The first one was dated two weeks before my breakup with Ethan.End the relationship, or she will find out the truth.My fingers trembled as I read the next one.Do not involve the police. Do not tell Emma. Do not trust anyone.I looked at
I left the library with Ethan's words ringing in my ears.Jake agreed to help me.I couldn't make sense of it.Jake had told me he noticed me before the breakup.He had told me he cared about me.He had told me he loved me.But now I was wondering how much of our story had really been mine.I found him outside the school gates.The moment he saw my face, his smile disappeared.“Emma?”I stopped in front of him.“Did you help Ethan break up with me?”He froze.That was all the answer I needed.“You did.”“Emma, listen to me.”“No.”I held up the photograph.“Explain this.”He looked at it.His face went pale.“Where did you get that?”“Chloe.”He closed his eyes.“Of course.”“So it's true?”“Yes.”My heart cracked.“You lied to me again.”“I didn't lie.”“You hid it!”“I was going to tell you.”“When?”He had no answer.I laughed bitterly.“That's what everyone says.”“Emma, please.”“No. You promised me there would be no more secrets.”“I know.”“Then why?”He stepped closer.“Becaus
I couldn't forget Chloe's smile.It followed me all the way home.It wasn't the smile of someone who had just lost.It was the smile of someone who knew a secret.And that scared me more than her anger ever had.I sat on my bed, staring at my phone.No new messages.For once, there was silence.I should have been relieved.Instead, I felt uneasy.My phone buzzed.Jake: Did you get home safely?I smiled.Me: Yes.A second message appeared.Jake: Good. I was worried.I typed a reply.Me: You worry too much.His response came immediately.Jake: Only about you.I smiled at the screen.Then another message appeared.Unknown: Enjoy him while you can.My smile vanished.I stared at the message.Before I could respond, another arrived.Unknown: Tomorrow. Library. Come alone.My heart started pounding.I should have ignored it.I knew that.But curiosity won.I replied.Me: Who are you?Three dots appeared.Then disappeared.No answer.I locked my phone.Whatever was happening, I was tired of
I barely slept.The message kept replaying in my head.Ask him about the night he first saw you.I had already asked Jake about the party.He had admitted that he'd noticed me before we officially met.But apparently, there was more.And now I needed to know what it was.The next morning, I found Jake waiting near the school entrance.He smiled when he saw me.“Good morning.”“Morning.”He reached for my hand.I let him take it.But he immediately noticed something was wrong.“What happened?”I looked at him.“Did you get another message?”He shook his head.“No.”“Someone sent me one last night.”His expression changed.“What did they say?”I showed him my phone.He read the message carefully.His jaw tightened.“Someone is watching us.”“I know.”“I'm sorry.”“You didn't do this.”“I know, but—”I interrupted him.“Jake, I need you to answer one question.”“Okay.”“When did you first notice me?”He stared at me.“Before the party.”“I know.”“No. I mean before that.”I frowned.“Wha







