EIRA'S POV
I sat on my bed, clutching a pillow against my chest as though it were the only thing keeping me from losing my mind.
And all I could think about was how to kill him.
Yes.
Murder him.
That arrogant, insufferable, completely deranged monster.
Who the hell did Adrian think he was?
How dare he tie me up like some helpless animal? Did he seriously think he could do whatever he pleased with me?
Did he mistake me for his pet?
My fingers curled tightly into the pillow.
I buried my face in it, releasing a muffled scream.
"I hate him."
I clenched my jaw.
"I swear to God, I hate that man."
My phone suddenly vibrated against the mattress.
I snatched it up, irritation still simmering beneath my skin.
An invitation.
Tessy and Peter's Engagement Party.
Tomorrow. 7 PM.
A photograph was attached.
Tessy stood in Peter's arms, smiling radiantly. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, her entire face illuminated by a joy so genuine that my chest constricted.
She looked so happy.
So beautifully, painfully unaware.
She had absolutely no idea what was coming.
No idea that the very person she was preparing to spend her life with was hiding something monstrous beneath that charming smile.
No idea that her entire world was on the verge of collapsing.
My thumb hovered over the screen.
I was about to toss the phone aside when another message appeared.
Tessy:
"It's for the whole college, not you.
Please don't ruin my special day by showing your face.
Let me be happy.
Please."
For several seconds, I simply stared.
My fingers went numb around the phone.
Something tightened painfully inside my chest, as though an invisible hand had closed around my heart and was slowly squeezing the life out of it.
I swallowed.
Once.
Twice.
It didn't help.
The words blurred before my eyes, but I refused to let the tears fall.
Not again.
Not today.
RRRRRIIINNNGGGG—
I flinched.
Claira's name flashed across the screen.
I answered immediately.
"Hi! How are you? Are you okay? Did you eat?"
"Whoa!" Claira laughed softly. "One question at a time."
Despite everything, the corner of my lips lifted.
"I'm fine."
"And yes, I've eaten."
"How's the baby?"
"What did the doctor say?"
"Everything is okay."
A breath I hadn't realised I was holding finally escaped my lungs.
Relief washed through me.
"And the test?"
"It went well."
A brief silence followed.
Then she spoke again.
"Adrian was there."
My smile disappeared.
Of course he was.
Why was that man suddenly everywhere?
"When will the report come?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Tomorrow afternoon."
Another pause.
Then—
"We've decided to expose Peter during the engagement party."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
So it was finally happening.
Tomorrow.
The day everything would come to light.
"Oh."
"Eira..."
Claira's voice softened.
"Thank you."
"For standing by me."
I lowered my gaze.
"You don't have to thank me."
My voice came out quieter than I intended.
"Just take care of yourself."
"And the baby."
I paused, pressing my lips together.
"If you need anything..."
A faint, bittersweet smile touched my face.
"I'll always be there."
"Thank you."
The call ended.
I slowly lowered my phone and stared at the ceiling.
God.
Please protect Tessy.
Please protect Claira.
And please...
Let tomorrow end without anyone getting hurt.
THE NEXT DAY
The entire college looked absurdly festive.
Balloons floated beneath the ceilings. Fresh flowers adorned the railings, and enormous photo banners had been put up across the corridors.
Students hurried from one place to another, carrying gifts, adjusting decorations, and discussing their outfits with an enthusiasm that made the entire campus feel like a celebration had swallowed it whole.
"Have you decided what you're wearing?"
"I'm thinking gold."
"No! Silver would look much better."
"Guys, look at this gift!"
Laughter erupted somewhere behind me.
I kept my head lowered, burying myself in my files.
Page after page.
One signature after another.
Anything to keep my eyes occupied.
Anything to stop my mind from wandering towards the disaster I knew was waiting to unfold.
My stomach had been twisting into knots all morning.
And the closer the evening approached, the tighter the knot seemed to become.
"Thank you so much, everyone!"
Tessy's cheerful voice rang through the classroom.
My pen stopped mid-sentence.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
There she was.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Accepting hugs and congratulations as though she hadn't spent the past few months fighting a battle no one else could see.
She was glowing.
Happier than I'd seen her in months.
For a moment, I simply watched her.
A painful lump formed in my throat.
I wanted to run to her. To pull her into my arms. To tell her everything would be okay.
But I couldn't.
Not yet.
Then her eyes found mine.
Our gazes locked.
Only for a second.
Yet I saw it.
The flicker of hurt.
The hesitation.
The pain she desperately tried to conceal before turning away with another bright smile.
"You know..."
Tessy's voice suddenly grew louder, drawing everyone's attention.
"Some people just can't stand seeing others happy."
A few students chuckled.
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
"Exactly."
Her saccharine smile made my stomach turn.
"They're jealous. They simply can't handle seeing someone else's life going well."
Her eyes shifted towards me.
"I honestly never thought a friend could sink so low."
The classroom fell eerily silent.
One by one, heads turned in my direction.
Their gazes landed on me like accusations.
Whispers began.
I couldn't make out every word, but I didn't need to.
Their expressions said enough.
My throat tightened.
I tried to draw a breath, but it felt as though the air had suddenly grown too thick to enter my lungs.
My fingers curled around the edge of my file.
For a second, I considered saying something.
Anything.
But what was the point?
I couldn't explain the truth without exposing everything.
And I wasn't going to destroy Tessy's happiness before she had the chance to discover it herself.
I pushed my chair back.
Its legs scraped harshly against the floor.
Grabbing my bag, I stood and walked out without looking at anyone.
Let them whisper.
Let them judge.
Let them hate me.
None of it mattered anymore.
Only Tessy mattered.
The corridor was deserted.
The distant sounds of laughter and celebration gradually faded behind me as I walked, my footsteps echoing against the tiled floor.
I exhaled shakily.
Finally.
A moment of silence.
Until—
"I don't care what you do."
My steps abruptly stopped.
Peter.
His voice came from around the corner.
I recognised it immediately.
He sounded irritated.
But there was something else beneath it.
Something cold.
Something that made the hairs on my arms rise.
"I don't want any problems at the engagement."
My brows drew together.
I instinctively moved closer.
My heels clicked faintly against the floor.
I froze.
Waited.
Listened.
Nothing.
Slowly, I edged towards the corner, keeping myself concealed behind the wall.
Peter stood a few feet away, his phone pressed against his ear.
His free hand was buried in his pocket.
"I know she'll come."
A short, humourless laugh escaped him.
My stomach tightened.
"She wants to expose me."
My heartbeat faltered.
"She thinks some stupid DNA report is enough."
I pressed my back against the wall.
My fingers curled around its edge.
DNA report?
He knew?
How?
I barely dared to breathe.
Peter tilted his head slightly, a crooked smile spreading across his face.
"Let her come."
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Colder.
"She won't leave alive."
My blood ran cold.
For one horrifying second, I forgot how to breathe.
My heart slammed against my ribs so violently that I was certain he would hear it.
No.
No, no, no.
Did he just—
My hand flew to my mouth.
I pressed my palm against my lips, desperately suppressing the gasp threatening to escape.
The person on the other end said something.
Peter listened.
Then chuckled.
A chill crept down my spine.
"You just do what I told you."
His tone was almost bored.
As though he were discussing some insignificant arrangement.
Not someone's murder.
Not Claira's murder.
My stomach lurched.
He wasn't threatening her.
He was planning her murder.
And Claira had no idea what was waiting for her.
My knees suddenly felt weak.
I gripped the wall harder, my fingernails digging into its surface.
Peter finally ended the call.
For a moment, he remained where he was, staring at his phone.
Then he slipped it into his pocket.
A slow, unsettling smile crept across his lips.
He looked almost pleased.
Almost excited.
Then he murmured—
"Come, baby."
My entire body went rigid.
His eyes gleamed with a disturbing sort of anticipation.
"Come play your little game."
He let out a low laugh.
The sound crawled beneath my skin.
"I promise..."
He paused.
His smile widened.
"...it'll be your last."
Another cruel chuckle escaped him.
Then he turned and walked away, his footsteps gradually disappearing down the corridor.
I didn't move.
Couldn't.
My back remained pressed against the wall, my palm still covering my mouth.
My heart was pounding so violently that it hurt.
I stared at the empty corridor.
The words kept replaying inside my head.
She won't leave alive.
It'll be your last.
My stomach twisted painfully.
Claira.
Oh, God.
Tessy.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force my trembling body to move.
But all I could picture was her smiling face from a few minutes ago.
Her excitement.
Her happiness.
The way she had looked at Peter.
And suddenly, the invitation on my phone felt like a death sentence.
Tomorrow was no longer just an engagement party.
It was going to be a trap.
And Claira was walking straight into it.