Victoria didn't realize how far she had driven until the roads thinned out and the skies turned a moody shade of grey.
She stopped at the first isolated rest spot she saw. The air felt strangely heavy, like something was waiting for her just beyond the silence.
She stepped out of the car, hugging her arms around herself.
That was when she noticed it—the same black SUV she'd spotted behind her twice earlier, parked a little too conveniently across the lot.
She froze.
Coincidenc? or something else entirely?
"Vic." Dennis called out softly as he stepped out of his car.
She stiffened. The moment she saw him approaching, she instinctively reached for her door, attempting to slip back into the safety of her car. But Dennis wasn't fooled—not this time. He closed the distance in two strides and stopped her hand before it could touch the handle, caging her between himself and the car door.
"De—"
Her words were cut short as warm lips pressed firmly against hers.
The world tilted.
For a heartbeat she froze, blinking back to reality, her mind scrambling to understand what was happening. She pushed at his chest, trying to break free, but his arms tightened around her—not in force, but in a desperate, aching plea.
Her resistance only created an opening. His mouth deepened the kiss, his tongue brushing hers, exploring her like someone terrified of losing her again. Heat rippled through her body; her knees softened. Helplessly—shamefully—Victoria melted into him, responding with the same hungry urgency she never admitted she felt.
The kiss lasted longer than it should have. Maybe seconds. Maybe minutes. Long enough for her thoughts to blur and her heart to pound against her ribs. When Dennis finally pulled away, she was breathless.
"De—" she tried again.
"Shhh." He placed a finger gently on her lips, his breathing uneven. "Don't."
His eyes searched hers with a sincerity that made her chest tighten.
"I should have made things clear from the start," he whispered. "Yes, she was my fiancée… but that was way back. She has nothing, absolutely nothing! to do with my present life. Or with you."
Victoria stared at him, speechless.
"I know I should have told you earlier," he continued, voice rough with regret. "But I didn't see her as a threat. I love you, Vic. I really do. Please don't push my feelings away."
"I… I need time," she said, looking away, her hands trembling slightly. "I don't want to rush into something I'll regret later on."
"And why would you regret it?" His tone shifted still soft, but with an edge she had never heard before. Hurt. Confusion. Fear.
"Because…" Her throat tightened. "I don't want to be labeled as a third party once again"
His jaw flexed, frustration flickering across his features. A wind blew past them, carrying the tension with it, but none of it eased the weight pressing on her heart.
He cupped her cheek gently, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"There's no one else in this equation but you and me," he said softly. "Let me prove that to you."
Before she could respond, he tilted her chin up and captured her lips again—deeper, harder than the first. The kiss consumed her completely, making her mind fuzzy and hazy, her thoughts dissolving under the weight of his desire.
---
That evening, Victoria returned home much later than usual. The events from earlier replayed in her mind, every detail making her blush despite her efforts to keep a straight face.
"Wow, it's rare to see this side of you," Owen teased, leaning casually against the pillar at the entrance of their house.
"Owen…" she warned playfully, but the smile giving her away.
"What?" he shrugged dramatically. "You're in a pretty good mood. It's something worth teasing you with." He laughed lightly.
"Oh, come off it," she chuckled, walking toward him. "Where're Mum and Dad?"
"They went out for Aunt Molly's birthday," he replied as they walked inside together. "They'll be back really late."
"Okay, that's nice." She handed him her bag. "I'll be in my room, then."
---
Inside her room
Victoria stepped out of the shower feeling fresh and warm, her skin still tingling from the heat. The sweet scent of her shower gel floated around the room as she approached her dressing table, towel wrapped around her hair. She plugged in her dryer and began lifting strands gently, humming faintly under her breath.
Ding.
Her phone vibrated on the cushion beside the bed.
She paused, lowering the dryer. Picking up her phone, she unlocked it, the message popped up her face.
"Playing smart. Stay clear. I won't be nicer next time. He's mine to have and keep."
The words felt like ice sliding down her spine.
Victoria stared at the message again… and again… each reread tightening the knot in her stomach. Her fingers trembled as she tried to compose herself. With a shaky breath, she dialed Dennis's number.
It rang once, twice, thrice.
No answer.
She called again—same response.
Straight to voicemals.
She swallowed the fear creeping into her chest.
Deciding to call him tomorrow, she switched off her phone, picked up the dryer once more, and resumed drying her hair. But her hands moved slower now.
Because beneath the buzzing of the dryer, all she could hear was the message echoing in her mind…
and the promise behind it.
The dryer hummed against her ear, but Victoria wasn't hearing it anymore. Her reflection in the mirror looked… pale. Uneasy. Distracted. Her thoughts kept looping back to that message.
Playing smart. Stay clear… He's mine to have and keep.
Her stomach clenched.
She knew who would send something like that.
And how they know about her and Dennis.
She turned off the dryer, the silence in her room suddenly heavy. Too heavy.
Just then, knock knock.
She flinched.
"Vic?" Owen's voice came from the other side. "You okay?"
She forced a steady tone. "Yeah! I'm fine, just drying my hair."
"You sure?" His voice held a note of concern. "You sound off."
Victoria swallowed. "I'm fine, Owen. Really."
There was a pause.
"…Alright. Goodnight then."
When his footsteps faded, she sank onto her bed, exhaling shakily. She pulled the blanket around herself even though the room wasn't cold.
Minutes passed.
Then almost without thinking, she switched her phone back on.
Notifications popped up—but none from Dennis.
Instead, her screen lit up with a new notification.
Unknown Number:
"Don't make me repeat myself."
Her heart jumped into her throat.
This wasn't random, this wasn't accidental.
Someone was watching her, someone who knew exactly what happened today.
Victoria's breaths quickened. She got up, walked to her curtains, and pulled them shut with trembling fingers. The shadows outside suddenly felt too close… too aware.
She glanced at her phone again.
The message stared back like a threat carved in steel.
Whoever it was… they were serious.
Trying to calm herself, she finally lay back on her bed, gripping her pillow. She closed her eyes, she almost screamed when the phone rang loudly beside her.
Her heart raced as she checked the caller ID.
Dennis.
Her relief was immediate… but short-lived.
His voice came through the phone, groggy, quiet, and strangely tired.
"Vic…? Why are you calling me this late?"
Her fear sharpened. He was asleep the whole time?
"Dennis… someone texted me. Threatened me."
His voice went alert instantly.
"What? What do you mean threatened? By who?"
"I—I don't know," she whispered, fingers tightening around the phone. "But they said you're theirs and that I should stay clear."
There was silence on the other end.
Dangerous silence.
Finally, Dennis spoke, voice low and heavy.
"Vic… listen to me carefully. Stay inside. Don't go anywhere. Don't talk to anyone. I'm coming over."
Her heart stilled.
"Dennis… what's going on?"
He hesitated. Then, with a tone she had never heard from him before, he said:
"Because I know exactly who sent that message…
and this is going to get worse if I don't stop her."