CHAPTER 9 The Hidden Messenger

The message came just before midnight.

He knows. Leave town before dawn, or he’ll bury you.

No name. No writing. But I knew the style: sharp, eager, with a touch of contempt. Isabella.

Charles’s separated sister. The one person who hated him as much as I did, yet never enough to risk her neck. Until now.

I stared at the message for a long time, my jaw tightening. If Isabella was reaching out, it meant only one thing Charles had finally drawn blood.

He wasn’t just suspicious anymore. He was planning to destroy me.

And somehow, Ava was caught in the middle.

I called her. Twice. No answer.

I sent one message: Meet me. The usual place. Now.

Ten minutes later, she replied: You have no right to ask me anything.

I clenched my phone, the screen lighting up my face in the dark. I wanted to let her go. I wanted to let all of it burn. But I couldn’t.

Not her. Not now.

When she stepped out of her car in the parking garage, she looked like she’d been crying. Her eyes were red, but her voice was steady when she spoke.

“What do you want, Nathaniel? ”

Her tone was cold, almost scripted.

“You got my message,” I said.

“I shouldn’t have come.” She crossed her arms tightly. “Charles knows, doesn’t he? ”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to.

Her face hardened. “Then you’ve finally won. You’ve ruined everything.”

My stomach twisted. “You think this is a game to me? ”

“Isn’t it? ” Her voice broke. “You used me to get to him. You knew what you were doing from the start.”

I took a slow step forward. “You really believe that? ”

She glared at me, her hands trembling. “You wanted to hurt Charles. It was just the easiest way in.”

I moved closer until her back touched her car door. “You think I planned for you? ” I said quietly.

She refused to look at me.

“You think I sat down one night and decided to destroy you, too? ”

Her voice dropped. “Didn’t you? ”

I reached out before I could stop myself and caught her wrist. She flinched, but I held on not to hurt her, but to make her look at me.

“You ruined my plan,” I said through tight teeth. “The moment you smiled.”

Her eyes met mine, wide and wet. “Stop lying.”

“I wish I was.”

For a few seconds, quiet pressed between us. Then she whispered, “Charles showed me the photo.”

I went cold. “He has it? ”

She nodded. “Someone sent it to him. And to me.”

I cursed under my breath. “Who sent it? ”

“I don’t know,” she said, her voice rising. “But he thinks it was you! ”

“Of course he does,” I mumbled.

“Was it? ” she asked sharply.

My jaw tightened. “No.”

She stared at me, searching my face. “Then who? ”

I paused. “Maybe someone who wants us both gone.”

“Don’t twist this,” she said angrily. “You brought me into your war. You made me your weapon.”

“You’re not my weapon,” I said softly.

“Then what am I? ”

I didn’t answer.

Her eyes filled with tears. “Say it.”

“You’re the one thing I never expected to care about.”

She shook her head, her voice shaking. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s true.”

“It’s manipulation, Nathaniel. That’s what you do. You twist words. You build trust. Then you destroy it.”

I stepped closer again. “If I wanted to destroy you, I would have done it months ago.”

Her lips opened slightly, like she wanted to believe me but couldn’t. “Then why did you come back? ”

“Because you’re not safe,” I said strongly. “Charles has started an investigation. He’s digging into everything, our link, my company, your movements.”

She frowned. “How do you know that? ”

“I have people who tell me things.”

She folded her arms tightly. “Who? ”

“Someone on the inside.”

Her eyes widened. “You mean Isabella.”

I didn’t write.

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re working with his sister? ”

“She warned me.”

Her anger flared. “You mean she’s helping you destroy her own brother! ”

“She’s not innocent in this,” I snapped. “She knows what Charles did. She knows what he’s capable of.”

“You’re both the same,” Ava said coldly. “Always scheming. Always hiding behind power.”

Her words cut deep, but I deserved them.

I took a deep breath. “Ava, listen to me. If Charles finds out you met me tonight, he’ll turn on you. He won’t care what you meant to him. He’ll make you pay.”

She laughed bitterly. “He already did. You think I don’t know what’s coming? ”

I reached for her hand, but she pulled away.

“Stop pretending you care,” she said. “Stop pretending this is about protection.”

“It is about protection,” I said sharply. “You’re in danger because of me.”

“No,” she said quietly. “I’m in danger because I believed you.”

Her voice cracked on the last word.

For a long time, we just stared at each other. Her eyes glimmered with pain, mine with guilt I could no longer hide.

Then, almost in a whisper, she asked, “Did you ever love me? ”

The question hit like a blow.

I could have lied. I could have said no. It would’ve been easy for both of us.

But I didn’t.

“I still do,” I said.

Her breath caught. “Then why does it hurt so much?”

“Because love between us was never meant to be gentle,” I said. “It was built on lies and secrets. But it’s still real.”

Tears rolled down her face. “You’re poison, Nathaniel.”

“Maybe,” I said softly. “But even poison can feel like medicine before it kills.”

Suddenly, my phone vibrated. A new message from the same number as before.

They’re coming.

My pulse quickened.

I looked up. Ava saw my face change instantly.

“What is it?” she asked.

I grabbed her wrist again. “We need to go. Now.”

“Go?” she repeated. “Go where?”

“Anywhere but here.”

“Nathaniel, what are you talking about?”

“Charles’s men,” I said under my breath. “He must have tracked you.”

Her eyes opened in fear. “You mean they’re here?”

I nodded once.

She shook her head, backing away. “No. No, I can’t do this. If he finds us together”

“He already knows enough,” I said sadly. “Running is the only chance we have.”

“I can’t,” she whispered. “If I disappear, it’ll confirm everything.”

“Then stay and die with your pride.”

Her eyes flashed with anger. “You don’t get to say that.”

I stepped closer, dropping my voice. “Ava, please. For once in your life, stop trying to be loyal to someone who’s never been loyal to you.”

Her jaw shook. “You don’t understand”

“I understand perfectly,” I cut in. “You’re scared. But you’re not scared of them. You’re scared of what you feel for me.”