The silence after the call was suffocating.
Teresa's hand was still wrapped around her phone, her fingers cold, her pulse unsteady.
"…Who was that?" she asked again, her voice quieter this time.
Lester didn't answer immediately.
He was watching her.
Not casually.
Not indifferently.
Carefully.
Like she had just become something important.
Or dangerous.
Finally, he spoke.
"Did you recognize the voice?"
Teresa shook her head. "No. But they knew about the contract."
"That's not possible," he said flatly.
But the slight tightening of his jaw betrayed him.
Teresa caught it.
"You're lying."
His eyes snapped back to hers—sharp.
"I don't lie."
"Then explain that," she shot back, holding up her phone. "Because someone just threatened me over something that happened twominutes ago ."
Silence.
Heavy. Tense.
Then—
Lester exhaled slowly, like he had just made a decision.
"Things just changed."
A chill ran through her.
"I don't like the sound of that."
"You don't have to," he replied. "But you are now part of it."
"Part of what exactly?"
Before he could answer—
"Lester."
A new voice cut in.
Female. Smooth. Familiar.
Teresa turned.
A woman stood a few feet away, her presence commanding attention the moment she stepped closer.
Elegant. Beautiful. Composed.
Dressed in a sleek red dress that screamed money and confidence.
Her eyes landed on Lester first—softening just slightly.
Then shifted to Teresa.
And hardened instantly.
"Well," she said slowly, her lips curving into a thin smile. "This is new."
Lester's expression turned colder.
"Vanessa."
Teresa felt it immediately.
Tension.
History.
Something unresolved.
Vanessa stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
"You disappear for weeks," she continued, her gaze flicking between them, "and I find you… playing house with a stranger?"
"She's not a stranger," Lester said calmly.
Vanessa's brow lifted.
"Oh?"
Teresa swallowed, suddenly very aware of the contract sitting on the table.
Lester didn't hesitate.
"She's my girlfriend."
The words dropped like a bomb.
Vanessa froze.
Just for a second.
Then she laughed—but there was no humor in it.
"You're joking."
"I don't joke."
Her gaze snapped to Teresa now, sharp and cutting.
"Do you even know who you're dealing with?"
Teresa held her stare, even though her heart was racing.
"I could ask you the same."
Something dangerous flickered in Vanessa's eyes.
"Oh, I like her," she said softly. "Confident. That'll make this more interesting."
Lester stood.
"Enough, Vanessa."
But she didn't move.
Instead, she leaned slightly closer to Teresa, lowering her voice just enough—
"Let me give you some advice."
Teresa didn't look away.
"Run."
Her breath caught.
Vanessa straightened, smiling again—but this time it felt colder.
"Because if you don't," she added lightly, "you won't like how this ends."
And just like that—
She turned.
And walked out.
---
Teresa let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"…Your ex?" she asked.
"No."
Too quick.
Too sharp.
"Then what is she?"
Lester's gaze darkened.
"A problem."
Teresa folded her arms.
"I'm starting to see a pattern."
He ignored that.
"From this moment on, you don't go anywhere alone."
Her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"
"That call wasn't random."
"And you still won't explain?"
His jaw tightened.
Before he could respond—
His phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
And for the first time—
Something close to irritation crossed his face.
He answered.
"What?"
A pause.
Then—
His expression changed.
Not irritation.
Not annoyance.
Something worse.
Danger.
"I'll be there," he said quietly.
The call ended.
Teresa's stomach twisted.
"What now?"
Lester looked at her.
Really looked at her.
Like he was weighing something.
Then—
"Come with me."
"What? Where?"
"You wanted answers," he said, already reaching for his coat.
"Now you'll get them."
---
The rain hadn't stopped.
If anything, it had gotten worse.
Teresa rushed to keep up with Lester as they stepped outside, the cold hitting her instantly.
A black car was already waiting.
Of course it was.
He opened the door for her.
"Get in."
She hesitated for half a second.
Then got in anyway.
Because at this point—
She was already in too deep.
---
The ride was silent.
Too silent.
Teresa stared out the window, her thoughts racing.
The contract.
The call.
Vanessa.
None of this felt normal.
None of this felt safe.
"…You said I wouldn't fall in love with you," she said suddenly.
Lester didn't look at her.
"Yes."
"That sounded less like confidence… and more like experience."
Silence.
Then—
"You're observant."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
Her jaw tightened.
Before she could push further—
The car stopped.
Teresa looked up.
And her breath caught.
They weren't at an office.
Or a house.
Or anywhere normal.
They were outside a hospital.
Her heart dropped.
"No…" she whispered.
Lester was already out of the car.
She followed quickly, panic rising in her chest.
"This isn't—this isn't where—"
"Come."
His voice was sharper now.
Urgent.
They rushed inside.
The moment Teresa stepped in—
She knew something was wrong.
Too many nurses moving quickly.
Too much tension in the air.
Her chest tightened.
"What's going on?"
Lester didn't answer.
He walked straight to the front desk.
"I'm here to see Daniel Roland."
Teresa froze.
Roland.
Her head snapped toward him.
"Wait—Roland? As in—"
"Yes," he said without looking at her. "My brother."
Her mind spun.
Before she could process it—
A doctor approached them.
"Mr. Roland."
Lester turned.
"How is he?"
The doctor hesitated.
And in that moment—
Teresa felt it.
That same cold dread from the phone call.
"I'm afraid…" the doctor began carefully,
"…this wasn't an accident."
Silence.
Sharp. Heavy. Explosive.
Lester's eyes darkened instantly.
"Explain."
The doctor swallowed.
"There were… signs of tampering. We believe someone interfered with his vehicle before the crash."
Teresa's heart slammed against her chest.
Someone tried to kill him.
Her gaze slowly shifted to Lester.
And everything clicked at once.
The call.
The warning.
Vanessa.
The contract.
This wasn't just a fake relationship.
This was something else entirely.
Something dangerous.
---
Lester's voice dropped—low and lethal.
"Who knows about this?"
"Just us," the doctor replied.
"Keep it that way."
The doctor nodded quickly and walked off.
Teresa turned to Lester.
"…What did I just get myself into?"
He looked at her.
And this time—
There was no distance.
No cold mask.
Just something dark.
Something real.
"A war," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
---
His phone buzzed again.
He glanced at it.
Then handed it to her.
"Read it."
Teresa hesitated… then took it.
A message glowed on the screen.
Unknown Number.
Her stomach twisted as she read:
"One down."
Her fingers trembled.
A second message appeared.
Right in front of her eyes.
"You're next."
---
Teresa looked up slowly.
Her pulse racing.
Her fear rising.
Her heart pounding.
"…Lester."
His gaze locked onto hers.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Certain.
"They're not warning you," he said.
"They're claiming you."
---
END OF CHAPTER 2