e came in the mi

ugh the silence. I reached for it, squinting at the screen, expecting a notifi

ly, Lila. Or

, but I couldn't decipher it. My thumb hovered over the screen, my mind racing, trying to fig

push the creeping anxiety

ing in my gut told me

ng, the second

're in control

ed. Just... words,

hat-no idea who had my number, let alone why they would want to intimidate me. But my gut tol

ing. My apartment was still quiet, still my sanctuary-or at least, it had been. Bu

d. The door was slightly ajar, the lock tampered w

was the ultrasound photo, torn in half, jagged edges crumpled in a way that made my stomach churn.

of my apartment settling around me like a suffocating

t some sick joke. Whoever wa

ogether, but my hands were unsteady, my voice a little too high-pitched. They promised to loo

left, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it was just another empty p

to process it all befo

cl

His voice was calm, as always, but

I'm having a security team stationed outside

e, but I wasn't ready for his solution. I wa

can handle it," I s

asking, Lila. I'm making sure you're safe. I w

t all sinking in. I couldn't afford t

ed, more forcefully this ti

e he spoke again, his voice quieter now

was left staring at my phone,

had just happened, another call cam

voice sharp. "Wh

what happened. You need to m

rdity of it. "No. I'm not go

ment. There's a private elevator, security, everyth

I'm not some damsel you can loc

on the other end of the line. "This

. The nerve of him. He couldn't just swoop in, demanding to "protect"

he headache that was building. I coul

I was about to collapse on

ut there was something in her

ould respond. She eyed the room, her gaze flickin

tered. "Just... people

ly at the corners of her mouth. "I saw the news. Lo

on her lips made my skin crawl. Claire wasn't the type to show

pered under her breath, her eye

uld've been worried about what C