Chapter 4 UNRAVELING TRUTHS

The following day felt like a slow unraveling of everything Marissa had worked to protect. The apartment, which had been her haven, now felt smaller, suffocating under the weight of her secrets. The encounter stirred something deep inside her, reminding her that no matter how far she ran, Alessandro's reach was far too long. His words haunted her: You're still mine, Marissa. You always will be.

Her body trembled as she sat at the kitchen table, the weight of those words crushing her chest. She reached for the cup of tea in front of her, her hands shaking, but she couldn't bring herself to drink it. The silence was deafening, broken only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. It was early, too early for her to face the world outside, but she knew the world was already closing in on her.

She tried to push the thoughts of Alessandro out of her head and tried to focus on the new life she was building inside her. The baby needed her to be strong. But how could she be strong when the past was always lurking, always watching, waiting for her to slip?

A knock on the door broke her reverie, and her heart skipped a beat.

She stood up quickly, her hands still shaking, and made her way cautiously to the door.

When she opened it, she was met by Caleb, standing in the hallway with a concerned expression. His usual warmth was tempered by the edge of uncertainty that had been creeping into his features ever since the encounter with Violet.

"Can we talk?" he asked gently, his voice softer than she had ever heard it.

Marissa hesitated for a moment. She didn't know if she was ready for another conversation with Caleb. The words that had been left unsaid between them were like a knot in her chest, twisting tighter the more they lingered. She had tried to keep him at arm's length, tried to protect him from the darkness of her past, but that was becoming impossible.

Caleb's eyes softened, and he added, "I promise, I'm not going to push you. But I need to understand. Whatever this is, whatever's going on with you... I can't keep pretending like nothing's happening. You're not okay, Marissa. And I can't just stand by and watch you fall apart."

She looked down at the floor, her heart racing. It was tempting to close the door, to retreat back into the safety of silence. But she couldn't do that anymore. Not when Caleb was standing here, caring about her in a way she wasn't used to, in a way she didn't know how to handle.

She opened the door wider, stepping aside to let him in. "Okay," she whispered. "Come in."

He walked inside without hesitation, and for a moment, they both stood there in the living room, the air thick with unspoken tension. Caleb glanced at the space on the couch and then back at her, but she didn't move to sit down.

"Why won't you let me help you?" Caleb asked, his voice low but filled with concern. "I see the way you look at me sometimes like you want to let me in, but you hold yourself back."

Marissa's throat tightened. He was right. She had been holding herself back. And the worst part was, she didn't even know why. She wanted to trust him-she truly did-but trust was a luxury she couldn't afford. Not when the stakes were this high.

"You don't know what you're asking for," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't know who I am. Or what I've done."

"I know enough," Caleb replied, taking a step closer to her. "I know that you're scared. And I know that you're carrying something-someone-precious inside of you. You think you can handle this all on your own, but you don't have to. You don't have to do this alone, Marissa."

Her heart clenched painfully in her chest. His words cut through the walls she had so carefully built, breaking through her defenses with a gentle persistence that left her vulnerable. She wanted to collapse into his arms, to let him take away the burden she had been carrying for so long, but she couldn't. She couldn't let him in. Not like this.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her voice. "Caleb, I need to be clear with you. I'm not the person you think I am."

"Then tell me who you are," he urged softly. "Tell me the truth."

The silence between them stretched for a moment, heavy with the weight of everything unspoken. She felt the pressure of his gaze on her, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like someone saw her. Saw her. Not the broken girl who had been sold to a man like Alessandro. Not the woman who had survived by running. But someone worthy of love. Someone who mattered.

But could she let him see her? Could she show him the woman who had lived in the shadows for so long?

Before she could answer, a sharp knock at the door shattered the moment, making them both jump. Marissa's stomach dropped.

"Who is it?" she asked, her voice strained. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as a sense of dread washed over her.

There was a pause, then a voice she recognized. "It's me. Alessandro."

Marissa's blood ran cold. She glanced at Caleb, who was now staring at her with wide, confused eyes.

Alessandro.

The man who had haunted her for so long was standing right outside her door.

"Don't answer it," Caleb said firmly, his hand moving to gently touch her arm. "Marissa, I don't know what's going on, but you don't have to deal with him alone. I'm here."

The sound of Alessandro's voice, deep and commanding, came through the door again, more insistent this time. "I know you're in there, Marissa. Let me in."

Marissa closed her eyes, the weight of the moment threatening to crush her. She had been running from Alessandro for months, but now, it seemed like there was nowhere left to hide. He had found her.

"I don't know what to do," she whispered, the fear evident in her voice. "I can't do this, Caleb. He'll hurt you."

Caleb stood in front of her, his presence like a shield. He wasn't going anywhere. "I'm not afraid of him."

"You should be," Marissa said, her voice breaking. "You have no idea what he's capable of. No idea what he'll do to get what he wants."

"Then I'll face him," Caleb said resolutely, his jaw set with determination. "I won't let him hurt you, Marissa. Not while I'm here."

The door shook again, this time with force, and Marissa felt a wave of panic crash over her. Alessandro was not the kind of man who would back down. He was ruthless, manipulative, and relentless. If he was here, it meant one thing-he wasn't going to let her go.

She could feel Caleb's hand on her arm, grounding her, reminding her that she didn't have to face this alone. But still, fear clawed at her chest, making it hard to breathe. She had been running for so long, and now, standing in front of her was the man she feared most.

A part of her wanted to break down, to collapse into Caleb's arms and let him protect her. But she couldn't. She couldn't drag him deeper into this world of danger and deceit. He deserved more than the mess she had made of her life.

But there was no more time.

"Stay behind me," Caleb said softly, his eyes full of resolve. "I'll handle this."

With a deep breath, Marissa nodded, but her heart pounded as the door shook again, this time threatening to splinter under the pressure.

She wasn't alone anymore. But was it too late to stop the storm that was coming?