Chapter Seventeen:The Steps

SERENA POV

I started with the poison.

It was not the same poison I had used before. That one was subtle. That one was slow. That one had taken months to work. That one had been perfect for a woman who was already weak. Already grieving. Already broken.

But Nadia was not weak anymore.

Nadia was strong. Nadia was careful. Nadia was watching.

So I needed something different. Something faster. Something that would not leave a trace. Something that would look like an accident.

I found it online.

A rare plant. A toxic compound. Odorless. Tasteless. Deadly in small doses. It could be mixed into food. It could be mixed into tea. It could be mixed into anything. And it would look like a heart attack. A sudden cardiac arrest. A tragic accident.

I ordered it.

It arrived in three days.

I hid it in my apartment. Behind the bookshelf. Under the floorboard. Somewhere no one would look.

Julian did not know.

Julian did not need to know.

He just needed to play his part.

---

I picked the place next.

Nadia went to the coffee shop every morning. The same coffee shop. The same table. The same order. She was predictable. She was careless. She was easy.

But the coffee shop was too public. Too many people. Too many cameras. Too many witnesses.

The lawyer's office was better. A quiet street. A blind corner. A moment when she was alone.

But the lawyer's office was too risky. Rachel was smart. Rachel would ask questions. Rachel would investigate.

The apartment was the best.

Her apartment was small. Her apartment was quiet. Her apartment was isolated. No doorman. No security. No cameras. Just a girl. A girl in a building. A girl who no one would miss.

I would wait for her to come home. I would follow her inside. I would slip the poison into her tea. I would watch her drink it. I would watch her fall. I would watch her die.

And then I would walk away.

No one would know.

No one would suspect.

No one would care.

---

I picked the time next.

Night was better. Night was quieter. Night was darker. At night, no one would see me. At night, no one would hear her. At night, no one would care.

I would wait until the streets were empty. I would wait until the lights were off. I would wait until she was alone.

Then I would strike.

---

I picked the method next.

The poison was the backup. The poison was the safety net. The poison was what I would use if everything else failed.

But the poison was not the plan.

The plan was the car.

A car accident. A hit and run. A tragic death. Nadia walking home. Nadia crossing the street. Nadia in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And me behind the wheel.

I had already found the car. A stolen sedan. A fake license plate. A pair of gloves. A mask. Everything I needed.

I had already found the route. The street she walked. The corner she crossed. The alley she passed. Everything I needed.

I had already found the moment. The moment she would be alone. The moment she would be vulnerable. The moment she would be mine.

Everything was ready.

Everything was in place.

Everything was perfect.

---

JULIAN POV

I watched her do it.

I watched her order the poison. I watched her hide it. I watched her study the maps. I watched her plan the route. I watched her practice the drive.

She did not try to hide it from me. She did not try to keep it a secret. She just did it. In front of me. While I sat on the couch. While I drank my whiskey. While I pretended not to see.

I did not stop her.

I did not say a word.

I just watched.

I watched her order the poison. I watched her hide it. I watched her study the maps. I watched her plan the route. I watched her practice the drive.

And the whole time, I thought about Nadia.

I thought about the way she used to smile at me. The way she used to laugh with me. The way she used to hold me.

I thought about the baby. The baby she lost. The baby I did not mourn. The baby I replaced.

I thought about the life I had destroyed.

I thought about the life I was about to destroy.

I did not stop her.

I did not say a word.

I just watched.

And I hated myself for it.

---

NADIA POV

I knew something was wrong.

I had known for days. I had known since the watcher. I had known since the detective. I had known since Rachel told me about Serena.

But now I knew something else.

Someone was following me. Not the watcher. Not the car. Someone else. Someone closer. Someone who knew my routine. Someone who knew my habits. Someone who knew me.

I did not know who it was.

I did not know what they wanted.

I only knew that I was in danger. I only knew that my baby was in danger. I only knew that I had to be careful.

So I changed my routine.

I stopped going to the coffee shop. I stopped going to the deli. I stopped going to the places I always went. I started taking different routes. I started leaving at different times. I started watching my back.

I did not tell anyone.

I did not call the detective. I did not call Rachel. I did not call anyone.

I just waited.

I just watched.

I just planned.

Because I knew something else.

I knew that whoever was following me was going to make a move. And I was not going to let them catch me off guard.

I was not the woman I used to be.

I was someone new.

And I was not going to lose.

---

SERENA POV

She changed her routine.

I noticed it on the fourth day. She did not go to the coffee shop. She did not go to the deli. She did not go to the places she always went. She took different routes. She left at different times. She was watching her back.

She knew.

She knew someone was following her.

I did not panic. I did not stop. I just adapted. I just found new places. New routes. New moments.

She could run.

She could hide.

She could change everything.

But she could not run forever.

No one could.

Not even Nadia Ashford.

---

NADIA POV

That night, I set a trap.

I did not tell Rachel. I did not tell the detective. I did not tell anyone.

I just did it.

I left my apartment at eight. I walked to the coffee shop. I ordered my usual. I sat at my usual table. I waited.

Then I walked to the deli. I ordered a sandwich. I ate it slowly. I waited.

Then I walked home.

But I did not go inside.

I stood on the corner. I looked at my phone. I pretended to be distracted. I pretended to be alone. I pretended to be vulnerable.

And I waited.

For what?

For whoever was following me. For whoever was watching me. For whoever wanted to hurt me.

I did not have to wait long.

A car turned the corner. A dark sedan. Engine running. Tinted windows. But not the same car as before. Not the watcher. Someone else.

It slowed down.

It stopped.

The window rolled down.

And I saw her.

Serena.