Merging enemies

As we drove up to the house, my heart was racing fast with fear of the unknown. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, that something was waiting for us in the shadows. Tristan noticed my unease and reached out for my hand, his touch warm and comforting.

"Hey, it's okay," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "We're safe now. We're home."

I nodded, trying to calm down, but my mind was racing with thoughts of the threatening text I had been receiving since my stepmother, Elena, died. "I'll never let you go," the text had said. "You'll pay for what you did."

I knew that the text was from Aurelia, my stepsister and Elena's daughter. She had always been cruel and manipulative, and I knew that she was behind the threats.

As we got out of the car and walked up to the house, my phone rang. I hesitated for a moment before answering it, knowing that it was probably Aurelia on the other end.

"Hello?" I said, my voice firm but shaking slightly.

"Valerie, it's Aurelia," she sa