Chapter 12: Hidden Eyes

Suddenly, a bright flash came from the far end of the hallway. Like the click of a camera or a phone flashlight going off. We both froze. Someone was there. Watching. Taking pictures.

I pushed Mark back hard, my palms pressing firmly against his chest. My heart was hammering so loud I could hear it in my ears. I quickly adjusted my dress, pulling the fabric down and smoothing out any wrinkles with trembling hands. I fixed my hair too, making sure nothing looked out of place. Mark’s face changed from surprise to pure anger in a second. He didn’t waste time talking to me. He turned sharply and ran after the person, his shoes echoing loudly down the hallway.

I stood there alone for a moment, trying to steady my breathing. My mind was spinning. Who could it be? A guest who wandered off? One of the waiters? Someone who knew too much about me and Mark? Or was that the blackmailer? The questions kept coming, but I had no answers. I took one last deep breath, forced my legs to move, and walked back into the main party area like nothing had happened. The music was still playing. People were laughing and chatting. I pasted a small smile on my face and moved through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces.

The rest of the party carried on in a normal way. I helped my team quietly with small tasks, straightening a tablecloth here, checking the drinks there. Alex tried to approach me a few times, but I kept busy enough to avoid long conversations. Mum looked so happy dancing with Mark. Seeing her smile like that made the knot in my stomach even tighter. I couldn’t ruin this night for her.

By evening, guests started leaving slowly. One by one, they came to say goodbye. Elegant dresses swished as women hugged Mum warmly.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening,” an older lady said. “The food was excellent and the decorations were just beautiful. Congratulations again to both of you.”

Mum beamed. “Thank you so much for coming. It means a lot.”

Mark shook hands with several men, smiling politely. “Safe journey home,” he told them.

I stayed until most people had gone. When the hall grew quieter, I walked over to Mum. “Mum, I think I should head home now. It’s been a really long day and I’m quite tired.”

She took both my hands, her eyes still bright from the celebration. “Oh no, darling. Stay the night. The house is big and empty without you. We can sit and talk in the morning over coffee. Please?”

I shook my head gently. “I wish I could, but I have some urgent plans back home. There are work things I need to handle quickly before tomorrow. I don’t want to fall behind, remember I told you I was very busy when you called the other day to help with today's event.”

Mum sighed but finally gave in. “Alright, if you must go. But promise you’ll come visit soon. Drive carefully, my love. Text me when you get home.”

“I will,” I said, hugging her tightly.

Mark stood a short distance away, watching the exchange quietly. He knew the real reason Evie didn’t want to stay. But he kept his expression neutral. After she drove off, he walked over to Evie’s mum and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Was it really necessary for Evie to leave tonight?” he asked in a calm, caring voice. “She doesn’t live very far away. Why not stay here with us in this big house instead of going back to an empty place alone?”

Evie’s mum paused, thinking about his words. “But honey, you know she’s a grown woman now. She needs her independence. She has her own life, her company to run. I don’t want to crowd her.”

Mark’s face tightened for a brief second before he softened it again. He pulled her closer. “That might be part of the problem, you know. She’s been single for so long because she’s always alone, always working late. Having family around could be good for her. We could have meals together, support each other. Now that we’re building a family, it makes sense for her to stay here more often. I want us all to feel close. Don’t you think it would be better?”

He spoke gently, like a concerned future husband, but his real plan was much more selfish. If Evie stayed in the house, he could find moments with her whenever he wanted. Late nights, early mornings, times when her mum was out. He could keep her close, push their secret further, and make it harder for her to escape him. He smiled at his wife-to-be, hiding everything behind kind words.

The drive home felt longer than usual. My head was full of worries. When I finally got inside my apartment, I locked the door and headed straight to the bathroom. I turned on the shower and stood under the hot water for a long time, letting it wash over my face and body. It helped a little. The steam cleared some of the tension from the night, but my mind kept replaying that flash in the hallway.

I stepped out, dried myself, and wrapped a towel around my body. My phone was on the bed where I had left it. As I walked over to pick it up, it buzzed with a new message.

I opened it and my stomach dropped. The picture was clear and damaging. It showed me and Mark in the hallway. His hand was firmly on my ass. Our faces were close. The angle made everything look even worse than it was. Below the photo, the text read:

Nice time you were having there with your father. I wonder what the internet would think about this.

My legs felt weak. I sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the screen. The threat hung in the air like a dark cloud. Who was doing this? What do they really want? And how far were they willing to go to destroy my life?