Ep 4 — The Man She Thought She Knew
734 Words
Zara stared at the message long after the screen went dim.
“Next time, you won’t get away.”
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
“This isn’t normal,” she said quietly.
Liam watched her.
“I know.”
Zara lifted her head.
“I need to talk to Ethan.”
Liam’s expression hardened.
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“And I’m trying to understand what’s going on,” she replied. “Right now, he’s the only one who might explain this.”
Liam stepped closer.
“He’s the last person you should trust.”
“Then prove it.”
Silence.
Then Liam exhaled.
“Call him,” he said. “But don’t ignore what you’ve already seen.”
Zara didn’t hesitate.
She dialed.
The call connected almost instantly.
“Zara.”
His voice came too quickly.
Like he had been waiting.
Her stomach tightened.
“Where are you?” he asked. “I’ve been calling you.”
“I’m fine,” she said. “I just needed space.”
A pause.
“Are you alone?” he asked.
The question felt wrong.
“Why does that matter?”
“I just want to know you’re okay.”
His tone sounded calm.
Too calm.
Zara took a breath.
“What happened last night, Ethan?”
Silence.
Then—
“You left early,” he said. “You didn’t tell anyone.”
Her heart skipped.
“How do you know that?”
“You texted me.”
Zara froze.
Her eyes lifted slowly toward Liam.
“You remember that, right?” Ethan added.
No.
She didn’t.
“I don’t remember much,” she said.
A pause.
Then Ethan’s voice dropped slightly.
“You don’t remember?”
Zara’s grip tightened.
“No.”
Another pause.
“Then maybe it’s better that way,” he said.
Her chest tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. You were drunk. Just forget it.”
Forget.
Again.
Zara’s suspicion grew stronger.
“Did I tell you someone was following me?” she asked.
Silence.
Not confusion.
Silence.
“Who told you that?” Ethan asked.
His tone had changed.
Sharper now.
Zara’s breath caught.
“You didn’t answer me,” she said.
“Answer me first.”
That control in his voice made her uneasy.
“I saw a message,” she said carefully.
Another pause.
Then a small laugh.
Cold.
“You’re overthinking,” he said. “You always do.”
Zara’s expression hardened.
“No. I don’t think I am.”
Silence again.
Then, slower this time—
“Where are you, Zara?”
The question felt heavier now.
Not concern.
Control.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I’m coming to get you.”
Her stomach dropped.
“That’s not necessary.”
“It is. Tell me where you are.”
Zara stepped back instinctively.
“I said I’m fine.”
“And I said tell me where you are.”
There it was.
No mask.
No softness.
Just control.
Zara ended the call.
The silence in the room felt thick.
Liam was already watching her.
“What did he say?” he asked.
Zara let out a slow breath.
“He wasn’t surprised,” she said. “About anything.”
Liam nodded.
“He told me to forget everything,” she added.
“Of course he did.”
Zara looked at him.
“And he wants to come here.”
Liam’s expression changed instantly.
“No.”
Zara frowned.
“You don’t even know where I am.”
“I don’t need to,” he said. “He can’t come here.”
The certainty in his voice made her uneasy.
“Why not?”
Liam hesitated.
Just for a second.
But she caught it.
“What are you not telling me?” she asked.
Before he could answer—
A loud knock hit the door.
Both of them froze.
Zara’s heart jumped.
“That’s not possible,” she whispered. “I didn’t tell him where I am.”
Another knock.
Harder.
Then a voice from outside.
“Zara.”
Her blood ran cold.
Ethan.
Zara slowly turned toward the door.
Fear crept into her chest.
He shouldn’t be here.
He couldn’t know.
But he did.
And that meant one thing.
This was bigger than she thought.
- Writer
