Chapter 53 — The Fracture Beneath
Lena paced the edge of Jay’s office, fists clenched at her sides. The air was thick with tension — not the kind that drew them together, but the kind that kept them locked in opposite corners, both afraid of what might shatter next.
Jay stood by his desk, unreadable. The message from the unknown number had left a chill in the house. He hadn’t spoken much since. That silence was driving her mad.
“I saw her face,” Lena said sharply. “Ava. I saw the way she looked at you. Like she owned you.”
“She doesn’t,” Jay replied, almost too quickly.
“Then tell me what’s going on!” she snapped, her voice cracking. “Who is she? And why are you so afraid of her?”
Jay's hands curled into fists. “It’s not her I’m afraid of,” he said quietly. “It’s what she brings.”
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