Chapter 9
There was silence between them, thick and uncomfortable.
Lena's hand tightened around her phone as her heart pounded against her ribs. Ethan's stare was intense, holding her there, trapped, her breath caught in her throat.
He took a step closer, the second phone-a burner she'd hidden weeks ago-dangling loosely from his hand. The air in the room shrunk, compressing around her as his eyes blackened to an immeasurable depth.
"Lena," he repeated, his voice lower now, more controlled. "Who are you calling?"
Lena's mind reeled, scouring her brain for an excuse, a lie, anything to diffuse the situation before it got entirely out of control.
But she was trapped.
He had her cornered and there was no turning back.
She faked a shaky smile, raising her phone slightly. "I was just checking my voicemail. I haven't had my phone all weekend."
Ethan made a sound, his eyes never leaving her face. "And this?" He raised the burner, his face unreadable. "You've been carrying a second phone?"
Lena feigned confusion, shaking her head. "I-I have no idea where that came from. I must have picked it up as a spare or something. I must have forgotten about it."
Ethan's head tilted slightly to one side as he studied her. "Forgotten?" His voice was ominously calm, but underlying it was something else more jagged, something deadly and held in check. "That's funny. Because it was in the lining of your travel bag. Sewn-in."
Lena's blood ran cold.
He had searched her things.
Panic clawed at her throat, but she fought to keep a straight face. If she lost it now, she was done for.
She let out a light, airy laugh, shaking her head. "Ethan, come on. You're acting like I did something wrong. It's just a phone."
His fingers tightened on the burner. "Who were you going to call?"
Lena's throat worked hard.
She had one last chance. One final attempt to deflect this from the truth.
She sighed, staring down, pretending to be embarrassed. "Okay... you caught me."
Ethan's eyebrow rose.
She waited just long enough before she whispered, "It was for my mom."
A flicker of something crossed his face, but she continued before he could have a chance to question it.
"You know how she is," she continued, offering an unsteady smile. "She worries all the time. And I didn't want her calling my regular phone when we were away. I just-I didn't want to worry her."
She held her breath, then, slowly, Ethan's face altered. The sharp point of suspicion blunted, ever so slightly.
She had given him something reasonable -
something that still made her look like the fragile, uncertain woman he wanted her to be.
Ethan sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. Then, he stepped closer, brushing his knuckles against her cheek in a way that might have looked gentle-if she didn't know better.
"Lena," he murmured, his voice dipping into something low and familiar. "You don't have to lie to me."
Her stomach clenched. "I'm not," she whispered.
His lips shaped a curve, but not with any humor behind it. Just something else. Something colder. "We said no secrets, didn't we?"
Lena forced herself to nod. "Of course."
He looked at her for another strained, painful moment, then- Snap.
He crushed the burner phone in his hand, the plastic cover cracking as he tossed it into the trash.
Lena flinched.
"Good," he said softly, stepping back. "Let's keep it that way."
She nodded again, afraid that if she spoke, her voice would shake.
Satisfied, Ethan kissed her forehead before turning toward the door.
"Come downstairs when you're done," he said over his shoulder. "Dinner should be here soon."
Then he was gone.
Lena stood frozen in place, her stomach twisting into knots as the weight of what had just happened sank in.
The Clock is Ticking
She had made a mistake.
A big one.
Ethan hadn't trusted her-not entirely. She'd managed to deflect his obvious suspicions, but something had shifted.
He was watching her now.
More closely than he had previously.
Meaning she had less time than she knew.
Her heart pounding, she retrieved her real phone and switched it back on.
Noah's number was still on the screen.
Her hands trembling, she quickly sent a message instead.
Lena: It's me. I'm not in a position to talk right now. But I need your help.
She paused for just a second before pressing send.
Then erased the message.
Cleared the history.
Turned off the phone.
And took a shaky breath.
She had to be normal. She had to live.
But deep down, she knew-
Ethan wasn't going to let this go.
And if she wasn't careful, she wouldn't get another chance.
---
Dinner was quiet. Too quiet.
Ethan ate as if nothing was amiss, smiling at her in all the right spots, saying all the right things.
But she wasn't fooled.
This was a game.
And she was losing.
Later, after dinner, Ethan had gone to his office. Lena took the opportunity to clear the table, her hands not shaking at all even as her stomach roiled with worry.
Then-
There was a knock on the door.
She froze.
It was late. No one came calling this late.
Her pulse increased as she wiped her hands and walked slowly to the front door.
Another knock.
Louder this time.
Lena hesitated for only a moment before unlocking the door and turning the handle.
A man stood on the porch.
Tall, dark clothing - a Stranger.
A chill ran down her spine.
"Mrs. Calloway?" His voice was low, smooth, calculated.
Lena forced herself to nod. "Yes?"
The man smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sorry about the hour. But I think you've been trying to reach someone."
She became uneasy.
Behind her, she heard the faint creak of the floorboards.
It was Ethan. He was waiting there.
The stranger's eyes flickered over her shoulder-a fleeting moment-before returning to her.
Then, with slow, careful deliberation, he reached into his coat pocket.
Lena's blood ran cold.
He dipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew a small, folded paper.
Slid it into her palm.
And with one final, knowing glance, he turned and walked away.
Lena stood frozen in the doorway, fingers clenched around the note.
Then-
Ethan's voice was silky and knowing.
"Who was that?"
Lena turned slowly, forcing a smile.
"Wrong address," she mumbled.
Ethan neither bat an eye nor stirred, then slow, knowing smile spread across his lips.
Lena's stomach twisted.
He knew.