Obsessed 2

Chapter 11

Sharon awoke the next morning with a sense of purpose, the heaviness of the previous day still lingering, but now tempered by a newfound determination. The events of the past week had thrown her into turmoil, but today she felt more focused. She was no longer running from the fear that had consumed her; she was ready to face it head-on.
As she moved through her morning routine, the house was unusually quiet. Derek had left early to take care of some work, and Kyle was still asleep, exhausted from the emotional weight of their conversation the night before. Sharon had always prided herself on being strong for her son, but now, more than ever, she needed to be a rock for him. The dangers lurking in the shadows were real, and she wouldn't let them tear her family apart.
After a quick breakfast, Sharon decided to check in with Y/N. They had agreed to meet later in the day, but Sharon couldn't shake the feeling that they needed to talk sooner. She dialed Y/N's number, pacing the length of her living room as she waited for her to pick up.
"Hey, you," Y/N answered, her voice still carrying the warmth that Sharon had come to rely on. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm okay," Sharon replied, her voice steady. "I was thinking... maybe we should meet up earlier? There's a lot to talk about, and I don't want to waste any time."
"Of course," Y/N said without hesitation. "I can be at your place in about an hour, if that works for you."
"That would be perfect," Sharon agreed, relief washing over her. "I'll see you soon."
As she hung up, Sharon felt a strange mixture of anticipation and dread. She knew that today would be pivotal, that the decisions she made now would determine the course of the battle ahead. The thought of facing Lisa again, of confronting the woman who had nearly destroyed her life, was terrifying. But she wasn't that same vulnerable woman anymore. She had survived once, and she would do it again.
An hour later, Y/N arrived at the house, dressed casually but with an air of seriousness that matched Sharon's mood. They exchanged a brief, reassuring hug before settling into the living room, where the morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.
"So," Y/N began, her expression earnest. "Where do we start?"
Sharon took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I think we need to go over everything we know about Lisa—and Samantha. I want to see if there are any connections we missed, anything that might help us figure out what she's planning."
Y/N nodded, leaning forward with an intensity that showed she was just as invested in this as Sharon was. "Okay. Let's start with the basics. What do we know about Lisa?"
Sharon recounted everything she could remember about Lisa Sheridan, from the first time she had met her as Derek's new temp at work, to the moment their lives had been turned upside down by Lisa's obsession. She detailed the escalating series of events—Lisa's manipulations, the break-in, the attack—and how they had ultimately believed Lisa had died after their final confrontation.
"She was unstable, dangerous," Sharon said, her voice thick with the memories. "We thought it was over when she fell from that balcony, but now... I'm not so sure. It wouldn't be the first time someone survived something like that."
"And if she did survive," Y/N added, "it's possible she spent all these years planning her next move. Maybe she knew she needed to lay low, change her identity to avoid detection. That's where Samantha comes in."
"Exactly," Sharon agreed. "But what I don't understand is why she'd come after me again after all this time. What does she hope to gain?"
Y/N's expression darkened, her mind clearly working through the possibilities. "Maybe it's about unfinished business. Maybe she still feels like she didn't get what she wanted—whether that was Derek, revenge, or just the thrill of control. Obsessive people like her... they don't let go easily."
Sharon shivered at the thought. It made sense in a twisted way, and the idea that Lisa's obsession had festered for nearly two decades was chilling. But it also meant that Lisa had likely been watching them, waiting for the right moment to reappear.
"What about Samantha?" Sharon asked, shifting the focus. "What do you remember about her? Were there any red flags that you didn't notice at the time?"
Y/N sighed, running a hand through her hair as she thought back. "Honestly, at first, she seemed normal—charming, even. But as time went on, I started to notice little things. She was possessive, always needing to know where I was, who I was with. If I didn't answer her calls right away, she'd get angry. But she was good at hiding it in public. To everyone else, she was sweet, attentive. It wasn't until she started showing up at my job, following me, that I realized how deep her obsession went."
Sharon listened intently, the parallels between Lisa and Samantha becoming clearer with each word. "It sounds exactly like what Lisa did to Derek," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "The same patterns, the same behavior. It's almost like she has a script she follows."
Y/N nodded grimly. "And if Samantha really is Lisa, it means she's escalated her game. She's more dangerous now because she knows what she's capable of. She knows how to manipulate people, how to blend in until the time is right."