JULIAN POV
"Delete it." My hands are shaking as I stare at the photo on my phone. "Delete it right now and tell me who sent this."
Sienna grabs the phone from me. Her face goes pale when she sees the image—us, kissing, taken through the window just seconds ago.
"I can't delete it," I say, taking it back. "It's evidence. Someone is watching us. Someone knows."
"Vanessa," Sienna whispers. "It has to be her. She was outside your door. She could've gone around to the window and—"
"She was inside when this was taken." I check the timestamp. "This was sent while she was standing in the hallway."
We look at each other. The truth sinks in like ice water.
There's someone else. Someone watching the house right now.
"We need to call the police," Sienna says.
"And tell them what? That someone photographed me kissing my daughter's teenage best friend?" I laugh but it sounds broken. "They'll arrest ME."
"You didn't do anything wrong!"
"I kissed an eighteen-year-old girl who's staying in my house under my protection. Trust me, that's plenty wrong in the eyes of the law. And society. And my daughter." I run my hands through my hair. "God, what was I thinking?"
"You were thinking that you wanted me as much as I want you." Sienna's voice is fierce. "Don't you dare regret that kiss, Julian."
"Someone photographed us. Someone is threatening us. How can I not regret it?"
Her face crumples. Just for a second. Then she builds her walls back up. "Fine. Regret it. But we still need to figure out who's watching us."
She's right. I look at the text again. Unknown number. The photo is clear—taken with a good camera, not a phone. Professional quality.
"Whoever this is planned this," I say slowly. "They were waiting for us to do something. They WANTED to catch us."
"Why?"
"Blackmail, maybe. Or—" I stop. A horrible thought occurs to me. "Or they want to destroy me. My reputation. My relationship with Mara."
"Vanessa," Sienna says again. "She wants you back, Julian. What better way than to make sure no one else can have you?"
"But she's the one who left me. She chose her yoga instructor over our family."
"And now she regrets it. You said it yourself—she wants to fix things. Maybe this is her twisted way of making sure you stay single until she can win you back."
It makes sense in a sick way. But something doesn't feel right.
"We need to check the property," I say. "See if anyone's still out there."
"Are you crazy? What if they're dangerous?"
"They already tried to kill me once today. I need to know who I'm dealing with."
I unlock the office door carefully. The hallway is empty. Dark. We move toward the back door that leads to the pool area. That's where the window photo was taken from.
My heart is pounding. Every shadow looks like a threat. Sienna stays close behind me.
We step outside. The pool lights are on, casting everything in blue glow. Nothing moves. Nobody's there.
"They're gone," Sienna whispers.
Then I see it. Footprints in the wet grass. Leading away from the window. Leading toward the lake.
"Stay here," I tell her.
"Not a chance."
We follow the footprints. They're small. Woman-sized. They lead down to the dock where I nearly died this afternoon.
And there, sitting on the edge of the dock, feet dangling in the water, is someone I never expected to see.
A woman. Young. Maybe early twenties. Dark hair pulled back in a ponytail.
She turns when she hears us. Smiles. It's not a friendly smile.
"Hello, Daddy."
My blood turns to ice. Because I know that voice. I know that face.
It's older now. Different. But I'd know my own daughter anywhere.
"Lyra?" The name comes out strangled. "That's impossible. You're—you're supposed to be in Europe. At school."
My eldest daughter. From my first marriage. Before Vanessa. Before Mara. Before everything fell apart.
Lyra stands up. She's holding a camera. An expensive one.
"Surprise," she says flatly. "Did you miss me? Oh wait, you didn't even know I existed until thirty seconds ago. How could you miss someone you forgot about?"
"I didn't forget—"
"You haven't called in two years, Julian. Two. Years." She walks toward us. "Not for my birthday. Not for Christmas. Not even when Mom died six months ago."
The world tilts. "Your mother is dead?"
"Stage four cancer. She tried to reach you. Left messages. You never called back." Lyra's eyes are full of hate. "So yes, she died. Alone. Except for me."
Oh God. Sarah. My first wife. We divorced when Lyra was five because I worked too much, cared too little. Sarah took Lyra to Europe. I sent money. I meant to visit. I always meant to visit.
But life got complicated. Vanessa happened. Mara happened. Work consumed me.
And I abandoned my first daughter.
"Lyra, I'm so sorry. I didn't know—"
"You didn't CARE." She holds up the camera. "But I've been watching you. I came back three months ago. Got a job in town. Watched your perfect little life with your perfect little daughter. The one you actually remember exists."
"That's not fair. Mara has nothing to do with—"
"Everything is about Mara!" Lyra shouts. "You're here with her every summer. You take her to dinner. You know her friends. You're a FATHER to her. But me? I'm nothing. I'm the mistake you made when you were young and stupid."
Sienna steps forward. "You pushed him into the lake."
Lyra's smile is vicious. "I wanted him to feel what drowning feels like. What Mom felt. What I felt every day you ignored us."
"You tried to kill me," I whisper. "Your own father."
"You stopped being my father a long time ago." She looks at Sienna. "And you. The little homewrecker. How old are you? Eighteen? Does Mara know her daddy likes them young?"
"Don't talk to her," I snap.
"Why? Protective of your jail-bait girlfriend?" Lyra laughs. "Oh, this is perfect. Better than I planned. I was just going to ruin your reputation. Show everyone what a terrible father you are. But this?" She waves the camera. "This is so much better. When people see these photos, when Mara sees them, she'll finally understand what kind of man you really are."
My phone buzzes. Another text from the unknown number. Another photo.
This one is older. From inside the house. Sienna and me in the office, before the kiss. Standing close. Too close.
"You've been watching us all day," Sienna says. "Not just tonight."
"All WEEK," Lyra corrects. "I got here before you did. Set up cameras around the property. I wanted to catch Julian being the selfish bastard he is. But you two?" She grins. "You're even better than I hoped. The scandal alone will destroy him."
"Lyra, please." I step toward her. "I know I failed you. I know I'm a terrible father. But don't do this. Don't hurt Mara. She's innocent."
"So was I," Lyra says coldly. "When you left me."
"What do you want?" I ask desperately. "Money? I'll give you anything."
"I want you to suffer the way Mom suffered. The way I suffered." She backs toward the water. "And tomorrow morning, everyone in Willow Creek is going to see exactly what kind of man Julian Cross really is."
"Wait!" Sienna runs forward but Lyra's already diving into the lake. Swimming fast. She reaches a small boat I didn't see in the shadows. Starts the motor.
"Lyra!" I scream. "Come back! We can talk about this!"
But she's gone. Disappearing into the darkness. Taking all her evidence with her.
I turn to Sienna. She's crying.
"Your daughter hates you enough to destroy you," she whispers. "Because of me. Because of us."
"This isn't your fault. This is mine. All of it."
My phone buzzes again. One last text.
"24 hours. Then everyone knows everything. Say goodbye to your perfect life."
Sienna grabs my arm. "We have to tell Mara. Before Lyra does. We have to—"
"TELL ME WHAT?"
We spin around. Mara is standing there. Still in her pajamas. Tears streaming down her face.
She heard everything.
"You have another daughter?" Mara's voice breaks. "You have a sister I didn't know about? And you—" She looks at Sienna. Horror dawning. "You and my DAD?"
Sienna reaches for her. "Mara, please, I can explain—"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Mara screams. She looks between us. Betrayal written all over her face. "How long? How long have you been—"
"It just happened," I say. "Tonight. I swear—"
"LIAR!" Mara sobs. "You're lying! Both of you! My best friend and my father! How could you?"
She runs. Back to the house. Slamming the door so hard it echoes across the lake.
Sienna and I stand there in the ruins of everything.
In twenty-four hours, the photos go public. My secret daughter will destroy my reputation. Mara will never forgive me. And the girl I kissed—the girl I'm falling for despite every reason not to—will be labeled a homewrecker by the entire town.
I've lost everything.
And somewhere in the darkness, Lyra is smiling.