THE LIFE SHE THOUGHT WAS HERS
chapter 1
Jasmine adjusted the strap of her bag as she walked across campus. The morning sun reflected off the glass buildings while students filled the sidewalks, laughing, arguing, and rushing to classes with coffee cups in their hands.
Her phone buzzed again.
Jason: “Don’t forget I’m picking you up later. Don’t go anywhere without telling me.”
Jasmine sighed softly before slipping her phone back into her pocket.
Beside her, Tessa noticed immediately. “Jason again?”
“He’s just checking in.”
“For the fifth time today?”
Jasmine shrugged. “That’s just how he is.”
Tessa gave her a look. “You know most people don’t need hourly updates from their girlfriends.”
“He worries too much.”
“No,” Tessa replied. “He controls too much.”
Jasmine stayed quiet after that.
The truth was, she had started noticing it too.
At first Jason’s attention felt comforting. He always wanted to know where she was, who she was with, when she got home. Back then it felt protective.
Now it felt heavy.
If she replied late, he got irritated. If she changed plans suddenly, his mood changed instantly. Sometimes she caught herself feeling nervous before opening his messages.
Still, she kept making excuses for him.
“He loves me,” she said quietly.
Tessa sighed. “That’s not always enough.”
Before Jasmine could respond, students began entering the lecture hall. The conversation ended there, but the uncomfortable feeling stayed with her the entire morning.
After classes, Jasmine checked the time and groaned.
“I’m going to be late for work.”
“At the café?” Tessa asked.
“Yeah.”
“Text your boyfriend before he starts a missing person investigation.”
Jasmine laughed softly and pulled out her phone.
Heading to work now.
Jason replied immediately.
Call me when you get there.
Her smile faded a little.
Tessa noticed. “See? That.”
“What?”
“That look you just made.”
Jasmine shook her head. “You overthink everything.”
“And you ignore everything.”
Jasmine hugged her quickly before walking away. “I’ll see you later.”
The streets outside campus were crowded with students and cars. Jasmine placed her earbuds in and started walking toward the café a few blocks away.
She didn’t notice the black car parked near the corner.
Or the dark figure leaning against it.
“Jasmine.”
Her steps slowed immediately.
The voice was low. Calm.
But something about it made her chest tighten.
She turned slowly.
A man stood beside the black car dressed entirely in black. Tall. Broad shoulders. Sharp features. His expression was unreadable, almost cold, but his eyes were worse.
They stayed fixed on her without blinking.
Like he already knew her.
Jasmine frowned slightly. “Do I know you?”
Silence.
The man stared at her for a few seconds before speaking.
“No.”
His voice was deep and flat.
Not nervous.
Not friendly.
Jasmine shifted uncomfortably. “Then why are you calling my name?”
He stepped closer once.
That was all.
But it immediately felt like the air around her tightened.
“You’re alone,” he said.
It wasn’t a question.
Jasmine instinctively gripped her bag tighter. “Okay… this is weird.”
No response.
The man’s gaze moved briefly to her phone when it lit up again with Jason’s name across the screen.
Something dark crossed his expression.
When he looked back at her, his face had gone blank again.
“Stay away from him.”
Jasmine blinked. “What?”
“Jason.”
Her heartbeat stumbled slightly.
“How do you know Jason?”
Silence again.
The stranger opened the car door slowly, his movements calm and controlled.
Jasmine took a small step back. “Who are you?”
He looked at her one last time.
“William.”
The way he said it sent chills down her spine.
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked quickly. “How do you even know me?”
William said nothing.
“Have we met before?”
Still nothing.
Jasmine frowned harder. “Did Jason send you? Because this isn’t funny.”
William got into the car without answering.
“Wait,” Jasmine called, suddenly unsettled. “What do you mean stay away from him?”
The door shut.
A second later, the black car pulled away from the curb and disappeared into traffic.
Just like that.
Leaving her standing there confused and strangely shaken.
Her phone buzzed again in her hand.
Jason calling.
Jasmine stared at the screen for a moment before answering.
“Hey.”
“Why are you breathing like that?” Jason asked immediately.
“I’m fine.”
“Where are you?”
“Walking to work.”
“Why didn’t you answer my texts?”
Jasmine glanced toward the road where the black car had disappeared.
“I didn’t see them.”
Jason was quiet for a second.
Then his voice lowered slightly. “Is somebody bothering you?”
Her stomach tightened.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
She swallowed. “Yeah.”
Another pause.
“I’ll pick you up myself after your shift,” he said. “Don’t leave with anyone.”
The words should’ve sounded caring.
Instead, all Jasmine could think about was William’s expression when he mentioned Jason’s name.
Cold.
Almost hateful.
And for some reason, that scared her more than his silence did.
