Chapter 12:
The atmosphere in the room was oppressive. James's hold on Rose's neck was strong yet not suffocating, his dark gaze piercing into hers like sharp blades. His voice was a deep rumble, tinged with anger and doubt.
“Reveal who it is, Rose,” he insisted. “Are you collaborating with them?” "Do you belong to this?"
Tears filled Rose’s eyes while her mind frantically sought an escape. The reality would ruin her. The deception she had devised needed to be perfect, or James’s fury would engulf her. Her voice quivered while she spoke.
“I—I have no idea who it is,” she faltered, her voice trembling yet intentional. "The phone calls began yesterday." I inquired about their identity and how they obtained my number, but they remained silent. “They simply ended the call.”
James's jaw c
