Chapter 5 Threads of Deception

Elena stared at the image on her phone, her pulse hammering in her ears. The photo-a snapshot of her through the window-was too precise to be accidental. Someone had been close, dangerously so. Her fingers hovered over the screen, debating whether to call the police. But what would she say? That an anonymous stalker had left her a threatening note and sent her a photo? It wasn't enough. Not yet.

Her mind raced, cycling through possibilities. Whoever this was, they wanted her scared, off-balance. But why? She thought back to the past-to Ethan, to the promises broken and the secrets buried. Was it all connected? Or was this something entirely new?

The note's final word, Run, echoed in her mind. But she wouldn't. If someone thought they could drive her out of her own life, they were mistaken.

---

Across the city, Ethan was unraveling his own mysteries. He paced his penthouse, the tension in his body coiled like a spring. Reed's latest update offered no solace: Victor's actions were deliberate, but his endgame remained unclear. Worse still, there was evidence that someone else was pulling strings-someone neither Ethan nor Victor controlled.

Ethan picked up his phone and dialed Reed again. "I need you to dig deeper," he said without preamble. "Find out who's targeting Elena. And if it's connected to Victor, I want to know."

Reed hesitated. "Ethan, you're walking into dangerous territory. If Victor's involved, this isn't just about her. It's about you."

"Then find out why," Ethan snapped. "And do it fast."

---

The next morning, Elena decided she couldn't stay idle. She returned to the gallery, determined to resume some semblance of normalcy. But as she unlocked the doors and stepped inside, a sense of unease washed over her. Something was off.

The air felt heavy, and the faint scent of roses lingered-a scent that hadn't been there before. She scanned the room, her heart sinking when she spotted another black rose lying on the reception desk. Beside it was a small card. She approached cautiously, her hand trembling as she picked it up.

The card bore a single line:

You can't escape the truth.

Her mind raced. The intruder had been here, in her sanctuary. But how? The security system showed no breaches, and the cameras had recorded nothing unusual. It was as if they'd simply appeared.

---

Ethan arrived at the gallery an hour later, uninvited but undeterred. He found Elena pacing the room, the card and rose still on the desk.

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded as soon as he saw her face.

Elena hesitated, torn between anger and relief. She wanted to shut him out, to keep him from the chaos that was consuming her. But she couldn't deny that his presence brought a strange sense of safety.

Wordlessly, she handed him the card.

Ethan's expression darkened as he read it. "This isn't random. Whoever's doing this knows you. They know us."

"You think I don't know that?" she snapped, her voice trembling. "But what am I supposed to do, Ethan? They're always one step ahead. And I don't even know who they are."

He reached out, his hand brushing hers. "We'll figure it out. Together."

Elena pulled away, her walls going up. "Don't act like we're some team. You're part of the reason I'm in this mess."

Ethan's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he said, "I've already started looking into it. If Victor's involved, I'll handle him."

"And if he's not?"

"Then we find out who is."

---

As the day wore on, Elena found herself reluctantly leaning on Ethan. His connections and resources were invaluable, and despite her mistrust, she couldn't deny that he cared-in his own complicated way.

That evening, they reviewed the gallery's security footage together. Hours of footage revealed nothing, the intruder's movements a ghostly enigma. Frustration mounted as the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the city in twilight.

"This doesn't make sense," Elena muttered, rubbing her temples. "How can someone just... appear?"

Ethan didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the screen, his mind clearly working through possibilities. Finally, he said, "Whoever this is, they're good. But no one's invisible. They left a trail somewhere. We just have to find it."

Elena's phone buzzed, breaking the tense silence. She glanced at the screen and froze. Another text, another unknown number:

You should have listened.

She showed it to Ethan, her voice barely a whisper. "What does it mean?"

Before he could answer, the power went out.

---

The gallery plunged into darkness, the hum of electricity replaced by an eerie silence. A moment later, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from somewhere deep within the building. Elena's breath caught as she realized they weren't alone.

Ethan grabbed her hand, his voice low and urgent. "Stay close. We're getting out of here."

But as they moved toward the exit, a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking their path. A single flashlight beam illuminated their face-and what Elena saw made her blood run cold.