I hate you I love you

Chapter 10: In the Shadows of Betrayal

Natasha took a moment to collect herself, wiping away tears that seemed to fall in sync with the heaviness of her confession. The dim hospital room became a sanctuary for vulnerability, and the bonds between us, frayed by secrets and betrayals, began to mend.

"I understand if you don't trust me anymore," Natasha whispered, her eyes downcast. "I didn't mean to drag you both into this mess." Natasha started to talk and said she remembered confronting the person who was threatening me. I remember saying, "Who are you? What do you want? Why did you target Isabel, and why threaten my family?"

"I didn't know who to trust, but I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to my family," Natasha explained, her vulnerability laid bare. "The threats were too real and too specific. It felt like I was being watched all the time."

"How was it, Natasha?" I asked, "Who would do this? Please tell me something."

"It all started about a month ago," Natasha began, her eyes clouded with a mix of fear and determination. "I started receiving anonymous messages," Natasha continued. "Threats that seemed to know everything about me — my daily routines, my family." My mind raced with questions, but I let her continue. "I confronted the person," Natasha whispered, her voice barely audible. "But they were always one step ahead, leaving me more confused and scared. They wanted something from me."

Natasha's hands trembled, and I reached out to comfort her. The shadows of betrayal seemed to deepen as she revealed more of her harrowing experience.

"The night I collapsed at your house," Natasha continued, "I had just received another message, a final warning. They knew about you. I couldn't take the risk of involving you, but I was desperate, so I came to you. This time they called me, but the voice was..." Natasha said. "Their voices were low and ominous. 'You can't escape this. It's time to face the consequences.'"

"What did they want from you?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. Natasha's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a mixture of fear and determination flicker in her gaze, trying to piece together the puzzle of her mysterious tormentor. The air in the room felt heavy, and the dim hospital lights cast elongated shadows on the walls, mirroring the complexity of the situation.

"What did you do after that warning?" I pressed, needing to understand the events that led to her collapsing in my house.

"I tried to trace the messages and find any clue to identify them, but it was like chasing a ghost," Natasha sighed. "Every lead turned cold, and the threats escalated. They wanted me to suffer and feel helpless. And then, when they mentioned you," Natasha took a deep breath, steadying herself before delving into the darker corners of her recent past. "I didn't want to involve you, but I had no choice. I had to find out who was behind all of this. I confronted the person one last time, demanding answers. That's when they revealed the truth about Isabel's death."

My heart pounded, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. The room seemed to close in as Natasha's revelation hung in the air. "They told me that Isabel's death was not a suicide." The words lingered in the room, heavy with an unspoken truth that had the power to reshape the reality I thought I knew. Natasha, with her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and fear, seemed to be waiting for my reaction.

"I struggled to find my voice, my mind racing to comprehend the weight of her revelation. 'What do you mean, Natasha? Who told you that Isabel's death wasn't a suicide?'" I finally managed to stammer out, my heart still pounding in my chest.

"But who would do this to you?" Kim asked, breaking the heavy silence that had settled in the room. His eyes bore a mixture of concern and curiosity as he looked at Natasha.