Five years ago, Ava moved to Texas for the first time during that fateful summer. She was thirteen, carefree in some ways, until a day at the lake changed everything. She, Kira, and Judith were kidnapped by a man obsessed with Ava, five years older than them. The girls had tried to save each other, but in the chaos, Ava and Kira escaped while Judith was left behind. Ava's memory of the incident was blocked by a combination of trauma and a brain tumor, and she only remembered bits and pieces of that summer over time.
Years later, the stalker resurfaced in Ava's life in Spain, manipulating her, dating her, and continuing to haunt her past. He was revealed to be Ethan's cousin, a man who had always been obsessed with Ava. That stalker is now behind bars.
But the bigger mastermind was Junseo, Kira's uncle. Junseo's obsession with Ava's mother, Yuri, from high school…she had rejected him—led him to target Ava as a way to get revenge. He kidnapped the girls under the manipulations of his wife, who was even more calculating. Junseo himself was trapped in her schemes; she controlled the finances, the planning, and forced him to act. The forged documents with yuri's(Ava's mother) name were her doing, designed to confuse investigators and frame Junseo as independently capable.
Jack, Ethan, Kira, Ava, and Judith all worked together to uncover this tangled web. Jack, sent initially by his aunt (Junseo's wife) to spy on them, ultimately defied her and chose to protect Kira and Ava instead. His betrayal of his aunt's plan led to her panicking during the arrest attempt….she stabbed Jack while he shielded Kira. He was hospitalized, bleeding heavily, and Kira stayed by his side for days, feeling responsible and guilty.
After Junseo's arrest, the group planned carefully to bring his wife to justice. Jack volunteered to lure her to a controlled location, making her believe he was still under her influence. Everything was set perfectly…..cameras, police presence, and hidden officers….but during the confrontation, she panicked, stabbed Jack in her attempt to regain control, and the police apprehended her immediately. She was shocked and terrified, caught red-handed.
Kira's devastation at Jack being injured was immense. She stayed at the hospital for days without sleeping or eating, consumed by guilt because he was hurt protecting her. Jack, despite everything, insisted that he chose to protect her, not because of obligation, but because he cared deeply for her.
Through all of this, the relationships among the group evolved:
• Ava and Ethan slowly admitted their feelings and began a real romantic relationship, built on honesty and shared experiences.
• Kira and Jack started to recognize their feelings for each other, the tension and slow burn finally leading to moments of closeness, kisses, and the discovery of their shared past….a teddy bear from childhood, the memories of Korea, and Jack's long-held admiration for Kira.
• Judith, who had been manipulated and estranged, was now reintegrated into the group, sharing clues, memories, and helping piece together the truth behind the stalking, kidnappings, and manipulations.
The group's teamwork, bravery, and trust in one another ultimately dismantled the web of lies, manipulation, and obsession. The stalker was imprisoned, Junseo behind bars, and his wife arrested after her violent attempt, ensuring the safety of Ava, Kira, and Judith.