The next morning, Lara arrived at the office earlier than usual. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow across the city skyline. She needed time—time to think, time to breathe.
Everything around her looked normal, but her life was far from it.
She walked into the quiet office lobby, nodded to the security guard, and took the elevator to her floor. As she stepped out, she noticed a single envelope resting on her desk. No name, no handwriting—just a plain white envelope.
Lara looked around. No one else had arrived yet.
Curious and slightly uneasy, she opened it.
Inside was a note. Typed. No signature.
> "The truth you're looking for is closer than you think. Don't trust everything you hear. Meet me at the rooftop at noon."
Lara's heart skipped a beat.
Who had left this message? And what truth were they talking about? Was it about the baby? Or Ethan? Or something else?
She folded the note and tucked it into her bag. She couldn't panic. Not now. She had work to do—and questions to answer.
The morning passed slowly. Her fingers typed, but her thoughts drifted. At every tick of the clock, her anxiety grew. When the time finally approached noon, she grabbed her phone and quietly made her way to the rooftop.
The sky was bright and open above her. A light breeze swept across her face. The city buzzed below, but up here, it felt like another world.
She waited.
A few minutes passed.
Then, she heard footsteps.
Turning, she saw a young woman in a long beige coat and sunglasses step out from the stairwell. Lara didn't recognize her.
"Are you the one who left the note?" Lara asked cautiously.
The woman nodded. "Yes. My name is Ava. I used to work here."
Lara frowned. "Why are you reaching out to me?"
Ava looked around before stepping closer. "Because I know what you're going through. I was in your position once. I worked closely with Mr. Blackwood. And... things didn't end well."
Lara's breath caught.
"What do you mean?"
Ava pulled out a folded photograph. It showed her and Ethan, standing close together, smiling. But the date in the corner—two years ago—suggested another story.
"He doesn't always tell the truth," Ava whispered. "I just wanted to warn you. Before you get hurt like I did."
Lara's head spun.
She didn't know whether to believe this stranger or not. But the photo felt real. The emotions in Ava's voice were raw. Could Ethan really have a history of secrets and broken promises?
Before Lara could ask more, Ava turned to leave. "Be careful, Lara," she said. "You deserve to know everything."
As she disappeared down the stairs, Lara stood frozen, the photo clutched in her hands.
The truth was getting more complicated than ever.