Shadows of Revenge

19. Shadows of Doubt

Becky’s heart raced as she stepped out of Freen’s house, the cool night air slapping her awake. She couldn’t breathe. The walls of the house that had just been filled with laughter and cake felt suffocating. Her mind was spinning, reeling from the realization that she had just slept with Freen—the very woman she was beginning to suspect might be hiding something dark. A wave of nausea hit her. She had let herself get too close, her emotions clouding her judgment.

She paused outside, leaning against the cold brick wall, trying to catch her breath. Her thoughts raced. What have I done?

Her phone buzzed. The sharp sound broke through the chaos in her head. With shaky hands, she pulled it from her pocket and stared at the screen.

A message from an unknown number.

She hesitated before opening it. Her heart pounded as she tapped on the notification. Her eyes widened in horror as a video loaded onto her screen. The quality wasn’t great, but she could make out the unmistakable figure of Freen, dressed in all black—black coat, black jeans—slinking out of an unfamiliar building. She looked completely different, more dangerous, more… secretive.

Who sent this? Becky’s mind raced. She stood frozen, her phone gripped tightly in her hand. The video played on repeat, each loop burning the image deeper into her mind.

Freen. The woman she had just been with. The woman she had started falling for.

Becky’s pulse quickened, her mind swirling with panic. Was Freen involved in something darker than she had let on? Was she hiding a secret that Becky hadn’t seen? The same woman Becky had started to trust, even love, was the one she now had to suspect. The truth felt like a slap in the face.

She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Instead, she sank against the wall, her body trembling. She had to be smart now, she told herself. She couldn’t go back to Freen and confront her. Not yet. Not until she knew more. If she was going to unravel the truth, she had to stay close. She had to play the part of the doting lover, all while keeping her eyes wide open, observing every move Freen made.

I’ll act like I still love her, Becky thought bitterly, but I’ll be watching her more closely than ever before.

She wiped her face with her hands, pulling herself together. This wasn’t the time to fall apart. She had to be smart. Strategic. There was no turning back now.

---

Back inside, Freen’s birthday party continued. Laughter echoed around the room, but Freen couldn’t stop glancing toward the door. Her heart felt heavy, weighed down with worry. Becky had disappeared after the cake cutting, and no one seemed to notice but her. Freen tried to act normal, joining in the jokes, but every few minutes, her eyes flickered toward the door.

"Yo, Freen!" Nam called, pulling her out of her thoughts. "You’re awfully quiet all of a sudden. Thinking about a certain police officer?" she teased with a wink, unaware of how deeply her words cut.

Freen forced a smile. “I’m fine, Nam. Just… tired, I guess.” But the truth was, she wasn’t fine. Something felt off. Becky had left without saying a word, and it was gnawing at Freen’s gut. Had she done something wrong? Was Becky regretting what had happened between them?

Nam wasn’t convinced. She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Freen, are you okay? You don’t seem like yourself tonight.” Her eyes searched Freen’s face, looking for answers.

Freen let out a slow breath, glancing away. She bit her lip, debating whether to confess what had been weighing on her mind. Finally, she gave in. “I think I’ve made things complicated, Nam,” Freen muttered under her breath, her eyes fixed on the half-empty wine glass in front of her.

Nam raised an eyebrow. “Complicated? What do you mean?”

Freen shifted uncomfortably. “It’s Becky… I think I’m starting to grow feelings for her.”

Nam’s face softened, but she was also taken aback. “You and the cop? The same cop who’s investigating Sarah’s case?” Nam asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes widening with disbelief.

Freen nodded, her hands fidgeting in her lap. “Yeah… and it’s scaring the hell out of me.” She paused, her voice faltering. “I don’t know why… but when I’m with Becky, it’s like I see Sarah in her. She reminds me so much of her, it hurts.”

Nam's expression shifted between concern and confusion. “Freen, are you sure that’s a good idea? Falling for a police officer? And not just any officer, but the one who's hunting for Sarah’s killer?”

Freen ran a hand through her hair, her emotions a tangled mess. “I don’t know, Nam. I can’t explain it. I know it’s dangerous… but I can’t help it. I’m drawn to her. I feel like she’s the only person who can understand me.”

Nam frowned, unsure of how to respond. “That’s risky, Freen. Really risky. What if she finds out… about everything? About Sarah? About what we’re really doing?”

Freen bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I’m scared, Nam. Scared of how close she’s getting. Scared of what I might feel for her. I don’t know how much longer I can keep my distance.”

Nam reached out, resting a hand on Freen’s shoulder. “Look, I get it. You’ve been through a lot. Losing Sarah… it broke you. But you have to be careful. This isn’t just about feelings anymore. There’s a lot at stake.”

Freen nodded, her heart heavy. “I know. But it’s too late now. I can’t undo what’s already been done.”

Nam gave her a tight-lipped smile, trying to stay supportive despite the danger lurking beneath the surface. “Well, if you’re gonna keep seeing her, at least be smart about it. Don’t let your guard down.”

“I won’t,” Freen promised, but deep down, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold herself together.

---

As the party slowly began to wind down, Freen excused herself, retreating to the quiet of her room. She needed space to think, to process what she had just confessed. But her mind was filled with thoughts of Becky. Where had she gone? Why had she disappeared so suddenly?

Meanwhile, outside, Becky stood in the shadows, watching the lights flicker through the windows of Freen’s house. She clenched her fists, her mind swirling with doubt and anger. Freen had secrets, that much was clear now. And Becky was going to find out exactly what those secrets were, no matter how close she had to get to do it.

There was no going back now. She was in too deep. And no matter what it took, Becky would uncover the truth—even if it meant betraying the very woman she had started to love.

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