Titled: The dating app

Chapter 7: Unmasking

The next day, Olivia met Nora and Ethan at a café downtown. Ethan, now sporting a beard and glasses, greeted them with a grin. “Long time, no see, ladies. Heard you’ve got a mystery on your hands.” “Yeah, it’s… complicated,” Olivia said, feeling a little embarrassed. “It’s probably nothing, but this person keeps messaging me about Alex.” Ethan leaned forward, opening his laptop. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.” He pulled up Olivia’s messages and began typing furiously, his eyes glued to the screen. For the next hour, Olivia watched as Ethan traced the account, hacking through layers of privacy settings and IP addresses. She tried to stay calm, but her hands fidgeted with her coffee cup. Finally, Ethan paused, his expression serious. “This account was set up using a VPN, which means they’re trying to hide their location,” he said. “But there’s a traceable pattern—it’s someone local.” Olivia’s stomach dropped. “Local? Like, in the city?” “Yeah, and I think I found a connection.” Ethan clicked a few more times, and a name appeared on the screen—one that sent a shiver down Olivia’s spine. Liam Harper. “No way.” Olivia felt her breath catch. “Liam is behind this?” Nora’s eyes widened. “But why would he—” “Revenge, maybe?” Ethan suggested. “Or maybe he knows something about Alex that he’s using to mess with you.” Olivia’s mind raced. If Liam was the one sending her messages, it meant he had been keeping tabs on her this whole time. And if he knew about Alex’s past, that meant the danger she was in might be very real. Her phone buzzed, and this time it was a message from MysteriousEyes97: You’re getting closer. Be careful tonight. Olivia stared at the screen, her hands trembling. She was meeting Alex tonight, and everything felt like it was falling into place—except for one thing. She wasn’t sure who to trust. Was Liam trying to protect her, or was he manipulating her again? And if Alex wasn’t who he seemed, what had she gotten herself into?