Chapter 14 — The Mysterious Stalker

“Finally, that Alligator is gone,” Jeslyn sighed, collapsing onto her bed. She stared at the ceiling of her apartment room, her mind filled with swirling thoughts.

“How do I get rid of that Alligator?” Jeslyn murmured to herself, finding no answer. She regretted her foolish mistake—entering the wrong room and getting entangled with her future brother-in-law, who turned out to be dangerous and utterly annoying.

She picked up her phone and tried to call Jefran. After several attempts, there was still no answer.

“Where is he, anyway?” Jeslyn frowned at her screen.

Letting out a long breath, she tossed the phone gently onto the pillow. Her gaze returned to the ceiling as she bit her lower lip. Her thoughts were a tangled mess—frustration, confusion, and a touch of panic all mixed together.

“Jefran… you shouldn’t just disappear like this,” she whispered.

Her eyes shifted to the large suitcase Leonel had dragged into her room earlier—the only physical remnant of the chaos that had just unfolded. Not just the suitcase was full—her mind was, too.

“Forget it. I should probably take a shower,” she mumbled, getting up and heading into the bathroom.

Warm water poured down from the shower, soaking Jeslyn as she stood still beneath it. But no amount of water could wash away the storm inside her head. Leonel’s face flashed through her mind—his sly smile, his arrogant tone, and that gaze... the one that made her feel uneasy.

“Why does it have to be him?” she muttered, massaging her temple as a headache began to form. “Come on, Jes... Why are you thinking about your future brother-in-law?!”

After about thirty minutes, Jeslyn stepped out of the bathroom, her hair wet and a towel wrapped around her. She slipped into comfortable pajamas and dried her hair while walking back to the bed. That’s when she noticed her phone screen lighting up with a new message.

[Jefran]

Sorry, I can’t talk right now. I’m meeting with a client.

That was the message Jefran sent her.

“Client? Could it be the Grassy Group?” Jeslyn murmured, frowning. As far as she remembered, that was the only partnership Jefran was currently handling.

Jeslyn typed a quick reply.

“Alright, then.”

That was all she wrote.

“Well, I guess I should head to the supermarket. The fridge is running low,” she muttered, walking into her dressing room.

***

A sleek black car with tinted windows glided through the city streets as night fell. Inside, Leonel lounged in the backseat, his head resting against his hand as he stared out the window. The city lights blurred past, but his mind was elsewhere.

In the front seat, his driver focused on the road while a bespectacled man sat beside him—Edric, Leonel’s loyal personal assistant who was rarely far from his side.

Edric glanced back and silently handed over a phone.

“Sir, here’s today’s report, including something that might interest you,” he said in a calm, measured tone.

Leonel took the phone without changing his expression. A single swipe, and his eyes locked onto a photo. It showed someone he knew all too well—Jefran—sitting in a café with a young woman. Too friendly to be mere colleagues, and too intimate not to raise suspicion.

A small smile tugged at Leonel’s lips.

“So… he really is back in contact with his ex,” he murmured, as if talking to himself.

His gaze lingered on the screen, trying to read between the lines of the image.

“I wonder what will happen when Jessy finds out,” he thought with a grin. He lived for moments like these—taunting Jeslyn until she gave in and broke off her engagement with Jefran.

“We’ll wait until that moment comes,” Leonel mused, looking out the window again with a smirk. He could already picture Jeslyn’s angry, frustrated face—so cute, so amusing.

Then a message popped up on Leonel’s phone—from the person he’d assigned to spy on Jeslyn.

“Sir, the lady just left her apartment in her personal car. I’m tailing her. She just turned into the supermarket five kilometers from her place.”

Leonel quickly read the message. Without a word, he slipped the phone into his pocket, began unbuttoning his jacket, and laid it on the seat.

“Pull over. I’m getting out here,” he said suddenly.

Edric turned around, puzzled. “Sir? What do you mean?”

“Just drop me off. You two can go back,” Leonel said in a firm tone that left no room for argument.

The driver guided the car to the side of the road. Edric hesitated, but he knew Leonel well—when the man made up his mind, there was no point arguing.

As the door opened, the cool night air greeted Leonel. He stepped out calmly, hands in his pockets, and walked in the opposite direction of the car.

He knew exactly where he was going.

Jeslyn would never expect to see him tonight. And that made it even more exciting.

***

The supermarket wasn’t too crowded. Bright lights reflected off the polished white floors, and soft instrumental music drifted from the overhead speakers. Among the aisles of household goods, Jeslyn slowly pushed her cart, occasionally checking her shopping list on her phone.

“Hmm… I should stock up on ingredients for desserts. I won’t be going to the café as often, so I can experiment with new recipes at home,” she murmured while eyeing the shelves.

She picked up a few items and placed them in her cart. Her long hair hung loose, a light jacket hugging her petite frame, and her gaze was focused—completely unaware of the sharp eyes watching her from a distance behind the canned drinks aisle.

Leonel stood calmly there, one hand in his pocket, leaning against the shelf as he observed Jeslyn’s movements. Not like a stalker—but like someone who knew his target well and was waiting for just the right moment to appear.

With casual confidence, he walked to the aisle directly across from her. He picked up a bottle of water, pretending to examine the label—making sure she would notice him.

Jeslyn, reaching for a carton of milk, turned quickly when she sensed someone nearby. Her eyes widened the moment she saw who it was.

“Leonel?” she whispered in shock.

Leonel turned slowly, as if just realizing she was there. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“Jessy,” he said calmly. “I thought I was just picking up some water tonight. Turns out, I found something far more delightful.”

Jeslyn frowned, clearly annoyed.

“Are you following me?”

Leonel chuckled softly, his voice deep and laced with irony.

“Funny. I was just shopping—same as you. Or… do you think this supermarket belongs only to you?”

Jeslyn let out a low hiss and pushed her cart away. But Leonel quickly matched her pace, walking beside her.

“Isn’t this fate?” he teased.

Jeslyn stopped and turned to him, visibly irritated.

“Fate?” she repeated. “Come on. This isn’t a drama or a novel. There’s no such thing as fate—unless someone is intentionally stalking me.”

“And why would I stalk you?” Leonel smirked, continuing to tease her.

Jeslyn let out an annoyed sigh. Arguing with this man was useless. She decided to just continue shopping, pushing her cart forward. Leonel followed again, walking right beside her.

“I wonder…” he said, staring into her eyes, “does your fiancé know you’re out shopping alone this late?”

Jeslyn bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her anger.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Of course it’s not. But... wouldn’t it be interesting if Jefran found out you were spending the night alone, and I just happened to be around? Ah, would he see me as a caring big brother-in-law?” Leonel grinned.

Jeslyn pushed the cart forward roughly, trying to move past him, but Leonel angled his body just enough to block her.

“Step aside, Leonel.”

“What if I don’t want to?” he whispered softly, his voice almost a breath that made her skin tingle.

Jeslyn finally glared at him, her breathing sharp. But Leonel stayed calm—too calm for someone who had just provoked her like that.

“Stop bothering me,” Jeslyn said in a trembling voice—whether from anger, nervousness, or something else she didn’t want to admit.

Leonel just gave her a small smile. Then, with a gentle motion, he pushed her cart aside to clear the path.

“I won’t bother you,” he said quietly, “as long as you stop making me curious.”

Jeslyn gave him one last look—an unreadable mix of emotions—before walking away without another word.

This time, Leonel didn’t follow. He didn’t want to push her too far. He was afraid she might cry—or worse, feel scared of him.

After finishing her shopping, Jeslyn loaded everything into the trunk of her car.

“Thank goodness he didn’t follow me,” she muttered as she closed it.

But the unease didn’t fade. She still felt like someone was watching her. Quickly, she got into the driver’s seat, trying to steady her breathing.

“This must be Leonel’s doing again,” she muttered.

But when she glanced at the rearview mirror, her heart skipped. Someone was watching her—moving closer, stealthily.

And what shocked Jeslyn the most... was that she recognized the man. He was a regular customer at her café. The one Livia had suspected—always watching Jeslyn, every time he came in.

“Who is that man...?”

***