Chapter 4 Unwelcome Message

The still, quiet evening stretched into the night. I sat on the couch with one leg tucked beneath me, the soft light from the TV reflecting on my face. A bowl of lightly salted popcorn sat on the table in front of me, and I reached for another handful, munching without much thought.

An unexpected knock on the door caught me off guard. I set the bowl of popcorn down and slowly stood up, making my way to the surveillance screen. There, I saw Leah, an up-and-coming actress from the agency who always looked up to me. Her visit was surprising, especially since she'd never been to my place before. And to show up at this hour only added to the mystery. Despite shutting myself off from everyone, I couldn't help but feel curious, especially because of the stack of envelopes she was holding.

As I opened the door, the sudden light from the hallway made me squint. Leah stood there holding the envelopes. She looked worried but friendly. I froze for a moment, unsure of how to react.

She smiled softly, "I thought I'd come check on you. I know things have been tough, and I realized you've been avoiding everyone. We've all noticed."

I nodded silently and stepped aside to let her in. As she walked in, Leah glanced around the dark room, the only light coming from the reflections of the TV. "Did you somehow kidnap yourself? Sorry, but it's dark here."

I hurried to turn on the lights, filling the room with warmth. Leah stopped, her gaze softening as she looked at me. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle. "You don't have to say anything, I can tell you're not. No one would be."

I waved away her worry with a gentle smile. "I was just relaxing, I'm fine."

Leah approached me, holding out the stack of envelopes. "This came in for you. I found it on your doorstep."

I took the envelopes, nodding. We stood there for a moment, the room thick with tension. Leah glanced at the envelopes. "How long have you been inside? These have been here for days. I can tell by the dates."

Her concern deepened. "I wasn't sure you'd let me in, but I had to try."

I nodded again, my throat tight, the words caught in my chest. I appreciated her kindness, but I couldn't find the strength to speak. Instead, I kept my eyes lowered, feeling her gaze on me but refusing to meet it.

Leah exhaled softly, sensing I wasn't ready to talk. She didn't press further but said with warmth, "I'm grateful you let me in. Just know I'm thinking of you. We all have our secrets, and yours shouldn't change who you are. I'll never forget how you helped my dad when I couldn't afford his hospital bills. You saved his life."

She paused, her voice softer now. "I just hope people see you for who you truly are, not what your past says."

Quietly, she left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Swallowing hard, I realized just how much I needed her kindness.

As I shuffled through the mail, one envelope caught my attention. It was thick, unmarked, and felt heavier than the others. My heart began to race. I tore it open and unfolded the note inside.

*Jazlyn, we know where she is...*

She, who? My heart skipped a beat. Seeing my real name on the page was jarring. Was it someone I knew?

I continued reading:

*... You'll do as we say if you want your mother's identity to stay hidden. Otherwise, her location will be revealed to the world.*

Wait, Mom? How come?

Inside the envelope was a photo, a recent image of my mother, walking peacefully through her garden, unaware she was being watched, unaware her life was now being used as leverage.

Could this person be behind the scandal?

The room felt suffocating. I instinctively pressed the photo against my chest, a deep sense of panic gripping me.

I felt terrible. She had been dropping loads of calls and messages; each one I ignored. Since the scandal broke, I just couldn't bring myself to face her. I stood abruptly, gripping the envelope tightly. My first instinct was to call her. I hurried to my bedroom, every step heavy with fear.

I grabbed my phone and dialed her number repeatedly, but each time it went to voicemail. I left a message, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Mum, please call me when you get this."

But it did nothing to ease my anxiety. She was all I had, and I needed to get to her before they did. Desperate, I called Dominique, my French adopted brother, the one who doubled as my driver and protector.

I dressed in a rush and grabbed my bag. The envelope was too large to fit, and I couldn't bear to let it out of my sight. Time was slipping through my fingers.

Outside, Dominique stood waiting by the car, alert as ever. I handed him the keys without a word and slid into the back seat. Placing my bag and the envelope beside me, I stared out the window, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

Whoever sent that note wanted something from me, and they were willing to put my mother's life at risk to get it.

I couldn't let that happen.