“You’re not really going to believe that old woman, are you?” Lucas’ voice is low, but there’s a bite to it, an edge that catches me off guard.
The gala buzzes around us, but my mind is consumed by the mysterious woman's warning: "Liliana’s tied to something dark, dangerous. It involves your family. Be careful, child."
And yet, her words... they weren’t just empty warnings. There had been something behind her gaze, a knowingness that unsettles me.
Is it paranoia or is there truth buried in her cryptic message? My fingers curl around the champagne flute in my hand, the cold glass sending a shiver up my arm.
“You really think she’s credible?” I turn to Lucas, my voice coming out sharper than intended. “This woman… she’s old, crazy, just another conspiracy theorist.”
Lucas doesn’t flinch. He only watches me, his eyes unreadable, like he’s waiting for something—maybe for me to break. But I can’t. Not now. Not in front of all these people.
“I’m not saying I believe her,” Lucas says quietly, his voice just for me. “But you need to be careful. People like Liliana don’t just come out of nowhere.”
His words sit heavily in the air between us. I glance back toward Jeremy and Liliana, the perfect couple, greeting everyone with forced smiles. They don’t look like people with secrets. But then again, who does?
What if Lucas is right? What if there’s more to this than I realize?
“I don’t need you to tell me what to do,” I snap, then soften my tone, realizing how harsh I must sound. “I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
Lucas raises an eyebrow, like he’s amused by my bravado, but his gaze softens just a fraction.
“Do you think you’re the only one who sees it? The tension in the air? The whispers behind closed doors?” His voice is barely above a whisper. “They’re all playing games, Camila. And they’re playing you, too.”
I don’t want to hear this. Not now, not when the world around me seems so... perfect. But a part of me—an uncomfortable part—wants to believe him. Why would they be watching me?
As if to answer, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out, only to find an unknown number on the screen.
“What is it?” Lucas asks, sensing my hesitation.
I swipe the screen, my pulse quickening as the text appears. The words are short, simple, yet they hit me like a punch to the gut:
“Stop digging, or you’ll be buried with the rest.”
My blood runs cold, the noise of the gala fading as I feel the weight of the message settle into my chest. Someone knows. Someone has been watching me—waiting for me to make a move.
“Camila?” Lucas’ voice is low, urgent now. “What is it? What’s going on?”
I look up at him, my heart pounding. His eyes are full of concern, but I can see the shadow of something darker there—something that warns me not to get too close. Not to trust too easily.
“Who would send this?” I whisper, feeling the weight of the words on my tongue, like I can’t quite grasp their full meaning.
He leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear as he speaks in a voice that’s barely a whisper.
“You’re not the only one with enemies, Camila. Don’t think you are.”
His words sting, and I feel a rush of heat flooding my face. The implication is clear—there’s something he’s not telling me. Something that makes my skin crawl.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I demand, trying to keep my voice steady. But I’m starting to feel like I’m losing control of the situation.
Lucas doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he studies me for a moment, as if deciding how much to reveal. Then, finally, he speaks, his voice steady, but with an edge I hadn’t noticed before.
“It means,” he says, his gaze shifting back to the dance floor, “that I’m not the only one looking out for you. There are other players in this game, Camila. And they don’t care who gets hurt in the process.”
His words hang in the air, thick with threat. I swallow hard, trying to force the panic down, but it’s impossible. The walls feel like they’re closing in on me. I glance toward Jeremy, then Liliana—are they in on this? Are they part of the game?
My mind spins with questions, each one more dangerous than the last. My body feels light, like I might just float away into the chaos around me.
But then, as if to ground me, Lucas places a hand gently on my arm, his touch grounding but not comforting.
“Whatever you decide to do next, just know that I won’t be far behind. You’ll need me.”
His words are like a promise. A warning. But they’re also a threat. And it makes me realize, maybe for the first time, how tangled we all are in this web of lies and danger.
I want to push him away. Want to tell him that I don’t need him. But deep down, I know I do. I’ve been alone for so long, but with Lucas, everything changes. Whether I want it to or not.
But before I can say anything, the moment is shattered.
“Camila!”
I turn sharply, seeing Jeremy storm toward us, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and something darker—something I can't quite place. He looks like he's ready for a confrontation, like he's about to rip everything open.
“Stay away from her, Lucas.” Jeremy’s voice is low, dangerous.
I brace myself, feeling the tension in the air crackle like electricity. This is the moment. The one I’ve been waiting for. But I can’t tell if it’s the moment I’ve been dreading too.
