𝐕𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 50: Shadows from the Past

Scarlett

The city lights flickered beyond my apartment window, casting long shadows that danced across the walls, but inside, it was quiet — too quiet. My encounter with Kai still hung in the air like a toxic fog I couldn’t shake off. Even with the door locked behind him, it didn’t feel like enough. I paced back and forth, my thoughts spiraling in a loop.

I wanted to call Alexander, but something inside me resisted. He didn't know about my past with Kai, and I wasn’t sure how to tell him. After all, just last night, Alexander had introduced Kai as the new employee in the company, completely unaware of the history we shared. I could see the confusion in Alexander’s eyes when he caught me acting… off. And for a brief second, I thought he might have known, but no, he’s still in the dark.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Alexander. A simple “How was your day?” text that carried more weight than he could possibly know. I stared at it, my thumb hovering over the screen. What was I supposed to say?

"Fine. Just ran into my ex. The guy you hired. No big deal."

Yeah, right.

I tossed the phone aside, running my hands through my hair in frustration. This situation was spiraling out of control fast, and I wasn’t sure how to stop it.

But one thing was clear: I couldn’t avoid telling Alexander forever. The longer I waited, the worse it would get. And something told me that Kai showing up wasn’t just a coincidence. He wasn’t the type to leave things unfinished, and now, with him working at the same company, he was too close for comfort.

I had worked so hard to rebuild my life after leaving Chicago, to become someone new, someone stronger. But Kai’s presence threatened all of that. I wasn’t that naïve, broken girl anymore, but he had this way of digging up the ghosts I had buried, as if he knew exactly how to twist the knife.

I stood up and walked over to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water to calm my nerves. As I stared out the window, I tried to steady my breathing. There was no way I’d let Kai ruin what I had now, not after everything I’d fought for. And Alexander? He had to know, but I feared what might happen when the truth came out.

The sound of my phone buzzing again broke through my thoughts. This time, it wasn’t just a text — it was a call from Alexander. My heart skipped a beat as his name lit up the screen. I hesitated for a moment, then picked up, holding the phone to my ear.

“Hey,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though my mind was still racing.

“Hey, Scarlett,” came his deep, familiar voice, grounding me for just a second. “I was thinking about you. Thought I'd call to check in. You’ve been quiet tonight.”

There it was. That concern in his voice. It sent a warmth through me but also a pang of guilt. I bit my lip, wondering how much to tell him. I wasn’t ready to drop the Kai bomb just yet.

“I’m fine,” I lied, leaning against the counter. “Just... had a lot on my mind.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could picture him frowning, the gears turning in his head. Alexander wasn’t the type to let things slide easily, and I knew he sensed that something was off.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low, almost cautious. “You seemed... different last night at the party.”

My stomach tightened. Of course, he’d noticed. Alexander was too observant for his own good. I needed to say something before he started digging, but I couldn’t lie to him forever.