The long-awaited moment had come—the texter had agreed to meet.
Lena sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone, her heart pounding. She had thought about the risk, how dangerous it could be. Was she really ready to gamble with love like this?
"Time and location?" she texted.
No reply.
She sighed, shaking her head. "That's what I thought. Coward."
But then the screen lit up.
NOT TODAY. TIME AND LOCATION SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE.
Not today? That was odd. If not today, then when? She looked around the empty room, Ethan gone for the day, and figured—this was the perfect time to process everything. Whatever this was.
She remembered to call Ethan.
Their call was warm, full of laughter and soft apologies. He promised to make it up to her. She said she missed him. During the video call, she caught glimpses of familiar faces—colleagues, business partners, people from his world. Something about their energy gave her pause.
Her mind spiraled.
What if the texter is one of them? Someone at Ethan's company with access to insider information, including details of their contract marriage. Someone playing foul.
She bit her lip.
This wasn't just about her anymore. It was about them. Someone wanted to destroy what they were building—and maybe make a point in the process.
She knew she had to tell Ethan. Whatever was happening, they needed to face it together. Before it got out of hand. Before the whole world knew.
That night, she hugged the teddy bear Ethan had given her, falling asleep with the phone on, their voices the last thing she heard. She was excited to see him the next day and finally tell him everything.
Lena kept herself busy the next morning to avoid second-guessing her decision. Her stomach hurt, a sharp tug reminding her to slow down. She silently prayed that whatever she had to say wouldn't push Ethan away again.
Throughout the day, there was no message from the texter—not that she was waiting, but she checked her phone constantly.
When Ethan returned that evening, it felt like spring had arrived. He came back with little things that made her heart flutter—photos of odd sights, a burnt tree, two different birds perched side by side. "That's such an L.A. thing," he joked.
She giggled at each one, her laughter lighting up the room. Ethan smiled, clearly satisfied to see her that way. He told her how much he'd missed her, and they shared a deep, passionate kiss under the softening evening light.
They later laid under the backyard tree, reading magazines, his arms wrapped around her waist, her head resting on his chest.
She shifted slightly and let out a soft groan.
"You've been making that sound lately," he said, placing the magazine down. "Are you in pain?"
She nodded toward her stomach. "Just cramps. My period's coming—I always get a heads-up."
"If it doesn't go away, we're seeing a doctor," he said, gently. "I don't want you hurting."
"I'll be fine," she replied with a soft smile.
"Well, speaking of your period coming…" he teased, moving his fingers in a playful gesture toward her.
She swatted him with a laugh. "Naughty."
The moment felt light enough to bring up the messages. She pulled out her phone.
"Okay, I know this sounds crazy," she started, "but I need you to believe me. The messages—they were real. They just disappeared."
Ethan nodded knowingly. "It's a high-tech app. Only a few companies use that kind of encryption."
She exhaled in relief.
She went on, leaving out the part about Ethan's mom, but explaining how the texter offered her twenty million dollars to end their contract. Ethan's jaw tensed, though his face remained unreadable.
"Someone in your circle, Ethan. They know."
He nodded slowly. Deep inside, he already suspected a mole within his company. His secret had leaked—and now, someone was trying to use Lena as leverage. He needed to know how deep this betrayal went.
"Thanks for telling me," he said calmly. "If they contact you again, let me know immediately."
With that, he excused himself and walked into his office with stormy silence.
Lena watched him go, guilt swirling in her chest.
Ethan wasted no time. He called Christian, asking him to discreetly investigate. Christian didn't ask questions—he knew better.
Pacing his office, Ethan was already five steps ahead, mapping out the betrayal.
Later, Lena knocked softly and entered with her phone in hand.
"He texted again," she said.
Ethan turned.
"This time, it's 10 a.m.," she continued. "No location. He wants me to choose."
Ethan's eyes met hers. Her voice was steady, but her eyes held uncertainty.
"Maybe I gave him false hope… that we're not strong," she added quietly.
Ethan didn't speak. He simply gave her a faint smile and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Come," he whispered. "Let's get some rest."
That night, they fell asleep in each other's arms again. But the storm wasn't over.
It had only just begun.