Inside the elevator, Lindsay steadied her breath, her mind already several steps ahead. Katelyn had grown too curious, too involved in her life, and that was a liability. Once her plan unfolded, Katelyn would be of no use-and she knew exactly how to get rid of her.
Following the instructions in the text message, Lindsay arrived at the north gate, her eyes scanning the area. A black car stood parked, its sleek surface blending seamlessly into the night.
She checked the surroundings-empty. It was now or never. Without hesitation, she straightened up, her heart pounding in her chest, and slid into the car.
The back seat was shrouded in shadow, a partition keeping her from seeing the driver. She leaned forward slightly, trying to pierce the darkness. “Sir, who exactly are you?”
The response? Nothing. Silence, thick and impenetrable.
The car eased into motion, and Lindsay, sensing that further conversation would be futile, settled back into her seat.
Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, Katelyn was struggling to process the impossible.
She had just witnessed something that didn’t make sense-Lindsay had stood up.
Katelyn’s hands shook as she clutched her phone, her thumb hovering over Matthew’s contact.
Would he even believe her without solid proof?
Doubt gnawed at her. Maybe she had seen things wrong. Maybe it wasn’t Lindsay after all.
She shoved the phone back into her pocket, her mind a storm of confusion.
The air inside another car felt thick, stifling with tension.
Stella sat beside Matthew, her brow furrowed as she watched him, attempting to keep the peace. “Matthew, you can’t keep acting so resentful every time you see Sanford. It’s really not polite, you know.”
Matthew said nothing, his lips drawn tight in a grim line, his gaze fixed ahead. He absorbed her words, but the quiet only served to build his frustration.
The more she spoke, the more his anger swelled, a pressure he couldn’t contain.
Without warning, he slammed his foot onto the brake pedal.
The car lurched violently to the side of the road, sending Stella hurtling forward in her seat. Instinctively, she crossed her arms over her stomach, bracing herself from the shock.
Oblivious to Stella’s subtle gesture, Matthew’s hands gripped the wheel with white-knuckled intensity, his anger still bubbling beneath the surface.
He turned to face her, his eyes dark with frustration. “I don’t want Sanford anywhere near you. I don’t care what it is. I won’t allow it.”
Stella felt her temper ignite as Matthew’s words echoed in her ears. She could no longer keep the fury contained. “This is completely irrational!”
Matthew’s expression darkened instantly, his gaze sharpening like a blade. “You’re my wife; that’s non-negotiable!”
But Stella’s fury only intensified. She met his glare head-on, unshaken.
“First and foremost, I am me,” she snapped, her words clear and unyielding. “I Live my own life. You don’t control me.”