The unease lingered, clinging to Missy throughout her journey home.
She did nothing after arriving at her apartment. She locked herself in her room, trying to calm herself down.
Time slipped by unnoticed until late afternoon. When the dull ache of hunger twisted in her stomach, she finally forced herself to step out.
"Great," she muttered tiredly as she opened the refrigerator—empty.
She washed her face, the puffiness mostly gone. Sleeping all day let her slightly dizzy. Whether she liked it or not, she had to leave the apartment—find something to eat and restock her daily needs.
"At least my food supply has to be full to face my dismissal and whatever punishment comes next, right?" she muttered bitterly.
She grabbed a coat and tied her hair carelessly.
Missy decided to go to the nearest supermarket and eat whatever fast food she could find there—anything, as long as it filled her up.
"Here you go," said the server, handing a tray to Missy. A strawberry milkshake and a burger made up her dinner.
She found a seat in the corner and began eating quickly, hunger after skipping breakfast and lunch today.
Bite after bite was , she ate without thinking, barely aware of her surroundings. However, when she sipped her milkshake, something caught her attention.
In the far corner, half hidden among the shadows of the shelves, she caught sight of a tall figure in a dark coat. His head slightly bowed, face not clearly visible.
Missy swallowed, glancing at him for a moment.
But when she looked again—he was gone.
"Am I just tired… or was that just my imagination? Oh," she muttered softly, trying to calm herself.
But the chill crawling up her spine refuse to fade, raising the fain hairs at the back of her neck.
She quickly finished her meal, tossed the tray away, and quickened her steps toward the aisle of shopping shelves. At that moment, she caught a faint movement at the corner of her eye.
The man following from a distance. Not too close... but not to far enough.
Missy sped up, pushing her cart, turning her head every few seconds. Her heart began to race.
She tried to brush off her panic, tried to think positively and tried to stay calm. The supermarket atmosphere, which was usually cheerful, now felt suffocating as if something watching from every corner.
She grabbed a several items from the shelves, forcing herself to stay focused.
But that presence...
That tall figure in the dark coat—never fully left her sight.
Every time she glanced, she could feel it. A gaze. Deep. Piercing. As if someone could see through her... into every fear she tried to hide.
"I must be losing it," she muttered, shaking her head slightly.
Little by little everything around her began to make her feel paranoid for no clear reason.
Unconsciously, Missy tightened her bag against her shoulder, her steps growing faster.
I have to get out of here… she thought, while a warm panic began to flow from her back to her stomach. This was no longer just the feeling of being watched. There was something… waiting, lurking.
She finished her shopping quickly. Then faster her steps as she approached her car. After putting her groceries inside, she didn't wait long before driving away from the parking area.
What she didn't know, a car slowly moved shortly after she left the parking area, following her home.
Missy swallowed nervously, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror. The paranoia haunted her again when the car was clearly following her.
"No... no. Are you following me?" she whispered anxiously to herself. She stepped on the gas, speeding up the car. In no time, she arrived at her apartment parking lot.
She didn't get out of her car. She waited… waiting for the car that had been following her to confirm her fear.
Then... the car finally appeared, moving slowly past her apartment.
"Oh God..." she exhaled, relief washing over her.
With her groceries in hand, she made her way up to her apartment on the fourth floor.
The corridor connecting the elevator to her apartment was lined with glass windows.
She froze when she saw it—the same car, now clearly parked across the street from her building.
Panic.
Missy hurried inside, setting her groceries down before slipping toward the balcony window.
It was true. The same car!
Her heart started pounding again, fear creeping into her chest.
She didn't even dare turn on the lights.
"This isn't just my imagination… someone is really following me," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Yes… someone was watching her.
A stalker…?
Her instinct told her that something was terribly wrong.
She barely slept that night. When morning came, she was startled awake by a message on her phone. She had to return to the office to complete several documents and statements related to yesterday's accusations.
Fighting off exhaustion from a restless night, Missy forced herself out of bed. Before leaving, she glanced at the spot across the street.
The black sedan was gone.
She let out a quiet breath of relief.
After getting ready, she headed to the office. Dressed in a white blouse and a navy blazer paired with a knee-length skirt, Missy walked through the finance division. Cold and piercing gazes followed her every step.
"Well, well… look who's here," Olivia sneered.
Missy said nothing, walking to her desk and pulling out a few files.
"So? Have you been fired yet?" Olivia mocked again.
"Olivia, that's enough," Emily muttered, stepping closer with a worried look. "Missy…"
Missy looked up. "What is it?"
"I… I…" Emily hesitated.
Before she could continue, Thomas entered. "You need to go to the meeting room," he said firmly.
Missy clenched her jaw slightly, gathered her files, and left. She expected an interrogation. Instead, she was handed documents—statements she had to sign. She didn't even bother reading them anymore.
When she stepped out, Ethan was already there.
Without a word, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the corridor behind the emergency exit.
"Let go," Missy said, her breath uneven.
"No." His grip tightened. He caged her against the wall, leaving no space to move.
"Missy…" His voice softened.
She trembled.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be. I'll help you. Just… trust me."
"What do you mean?"
"Can we go back to how we used to be? This is just a misunderstanding. The investigation—it won't be that bad…"
His fingers brushed her cheek. "Babe… please... we'll get through this."
"Stop." Missy frowned, pulling away slightly. "Don't continue, Ethan. We're done. And I don't remember you being this caring yesterday."
"No," he growled softly, pressing her harder against the wall.
She gasped slightly.
"Babe... I love you."
The words felt empty.
Missy's breath hitched. Her fingers slowly curled into fists at her side, nails digging into her palms until it almost hurt. A wave of nausea crept up her throat, making her want to pull away.
Before she could react further, his lips crashed onto hers.
She froze, her eyes widening. There was nothing gentle about it.
His kiss was rough, forceful—invading, demanding. Their teeth clashed. His tongue forced its way in. There was no warmth left. Only disgust.
"Stop!"
Missy shoved him back and slapped him hard.
"Don't touch me again, Ethan Wood," she snapped before walking away.
Her hands trembled as she wiped her lips. She pressed the elevator button, desperate to leave.
How dare he… after everything?
By the time she left the office, her head throbbed from lack of sleep—and from him.
Then she saw it.
The same black sedan. Right behind her. Missy's breath caught.
No… it couldn't be—
But it was.
She pressed the gas as the traffic light turned green. The car moved too. Following her.
Her grip tightened around the wheel. Instead of heading home, she turned—taking a different route. Testing it.
The car followed.
"No... no... no," a cold unease coiled in her chest.
She drove toward a crowded mall, heart pounding, sweat trickling down her back.
She needed people. Noise. Safety.
Anywhere but home.
Inside, she tried to lose herself—buying a ticket, watching one movie, then another… then another. She just wanted to hide in crowded place.
Time passed. Night fell.
Finally, after a simple dinner, she convinced herself it was safe to leave. She pulled out of the parking area.
Until—she saw the same car again.
The sedan was there. Waiting.
"Oh—!" She slammed her foot on the gas. Panic exploded inside her.
"Don't follow me!" she shouted, her voice breaking.
Her breath came in ragged gasps. The faster she drove, the closer the car got.
"Get away from me!" Without realizing it, she sped onto a quieter road at the edge of the city.
Then—without warning the car rammed into her from behind.
BANG!
The world seemed to spin—then slow—after the impact.
Everything moved in slow motion as shards of glass scattered before her eyes. Her car spun wildly before crashing through the edge of the bridge.
And then—she and the car plunged into the river below with a violent crash.
Cold water rushed in.
Fast.
Relentless.
Missy struggled, panic tightening in her chest as she fumbled with the seatbelt. It wouldn't come off.
She slammed her fists against the window. "Help!"
The water rose.
Higher.
Colder.
Until there was nowhere left to breathe.
Is this… the end?
She could only surrender, her heart pounding as if it were about to burst—burning in her chest.
Then... darkness swallowed her whole.
Above the bridge, a man stood in the shadows, his coat swaying lightly in the night air.
His gaze remained fixed on the river below—watching as Missy's car slowly disappeared into the cold, silent water.
Until it was gone...
***