The next day felt heavy, like a storm was brewing that no one could see but me. Victor’s presence loomed over everything, and the text I had received last night still sent chills through my body. I couldn’t focus in class, couldn’t think about anything other than the warning in the picture and what Victor was really planning.
As I walked out of the school building, the last thing I wanted was to see him. But, of course, there he was. Victor stood leaning against his car, his sharp suit pristine, his expression calm yet predatory.
“Lila,” he called, his voice smooth and composed as I froze in place.
I didn’t want to talk to him, but something in the way he said my name made it clear I didn’t have a choice. I took a slow, hesitant step toward him.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice colder than I felt inside.
Victor smiled faintly. “A word of advice.”
“Advice?” I scoffed. “You’ve done nothing but make my life hell. Why would I take advice from you?”
His expression darkened, his sharp gaze pinning me in place. “You’re interfering in family matters that have nothing to do with you, Lila. You’re digging into things you can’t possibly understand.”
I crossed my arms, trying to muster some semblance of confidence. “Maybe because no one will tell me the truth. Including you.”
Victor let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Lila. And you’re going to lose.”
I stepped back instinctively, but I refused to show him fear. “Why do you care so much? Why do you think I’m a threat?”
He took a step forward, closing the space between us. “Because you are a threat. To my family. To my sons. And most importantly, to yourself.”
His words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
“Stay out of this, Lila,” he said, his tone lower now, almost a growl. “For your own good.”
And with that, he turned and walked back to his car, leaving me standing there, my hands trembling at my sides.
I barely had time to process what had just happened when I felt a hand grip my arm. I spun around to see Aiden, his dark eyes narrowed, his grip firm but not painful.
“Aiden,” I said, startled. “What are you—”
“I saw you talking to my father,” he interrupted, his voice sharp. “What did he say to you?”
“It’s none of your business,” I snapped, trying to pull my arm free.
He didn’t let go. “Don’t do that, Lila. Don’t shut me out. Why is he so interested in you all of a sudden?”
I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell him. “He… he warned me to stop digging into Evelyn’s disappearance.”
Aiden’s expression darkened, and he finally released my arm. “Of course he did.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, my frustration growing. “Why does he care so much about Evelyn? About me?”
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze. “My father… he doesn’t like loose ends. And Evelyn was a loose end.”
My stomach churned at his words. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that this isn’t the first time he’s made threats like that,” Aiden said, his voice tight. “Weeks before Evelyn disappeared, he told her the same thing. That she was interfering, that she was playing a dangerous game. And then she was gone.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. “You think Victor had something to do with her disappearance?”
“I don’t know,” Aiden admitted, his voice quieter now. “But he’s dangerous, Lila. And if he’s focusing on you, it’s not because he’s worried about your safety. He’s worried about control. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep it.”
I stared at him, my heart racing. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Because I didn’t want to scare you,” he said, his gaze finally meeting mine. “But now… I don’t know what to do. I can’t stop him. None of us can.”