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Chapter 12

Author: Jane Nono
last update Last Updated: 2025-12-11 18:19:47

THE HIDDEN THREAT

I didn’t expect fear to have a sound, but it did.

It was the little click—the soft, almost harmless click—of Chloe’s bedroom door as I pushed it open that morning.

The room was quiet, filled with the faint scent of lavender shampoo and the sunshine filtering through her lace curtains. Her tiny shoes were lined neatly by the dresser. Her plush bunny sat on the pillow, its floppy ears arranged like someone had tried a little too hard to make it look “normal.”

Something felt… off.

I crossed the room slowly, my slippers brushing against the warm carpet. Chloe was downstairs already, having breakfast with Rosa. She had left her school folder on the bed earlier—bright purple with glitter hearts. Now, it wasn’t there.

But that wasn’t what made my stomach tighten.

Her window was unlocked.

I froze.

I always locked her windows. The security team checked them, too. And last night, I remembered very clearly—Cade himself had locked it. I had watched him twist the latch after tuc
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