Shadows of Revenge

20. Silent Confessions

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the city as Becky returned to Freen’s home the next evening. The house, which had been filled with the sounds of laughter, teasing, and celebration just hours earlier, now felt eerily quiet. Freen’s friends had left early that morning, and for the first time all day, they were alone.

Becky felt the weight of everything pressing down on her as she stepped inside, her mind replaying the video she had seen—the image of Freen in dark clothes, slipping out of an unfamiliar building. It gnawed at her. The Freen she had slept with last night, the Freen who had been vulnerable, now felt like a stranger, a puzzle she couldn’t solve. And yet, she had to play along.

She had to act like she hadn’t seen the video. Like her heart wasn’t burning with suspicion and betrayal.

The house smelled faintly of dinner—Freen had cooked, but neither of them had touched the food yet. Becky could hear Freen in the kitchen, quietly setting the table. There was an awkward, heavy silence between them that neither wanted to break.

Becky walked slowly into the dining room, her eyes settling on Freen. She was sitting at the table, her back straight, her fingers toying with the edge of her wine glass. Her face was calm, but her eyes gave away the storm of emotions beneath the surface. She glanced up as Becky entered, but said nothing. They just stared at each other for a long moment, the air between them thick with unspoken words.

Becky took a seat across from her, and the silence stretched on.

Finally, Freen cleared her throat, her voice soft. “You disappeared last night,” she began, her eyes flickering with something Becky couldn’t quite place. “I was worried about you.”

Becky forced a smile, shrugging it off. “I just needed some air.”

Freen nodded, but Becky could tell she wasn’t convinced. There was more to this conversation than that, and they both knew it.

Another long silence settled over them as they picked at their dinner, neither one of them able to fully focus on the food in front of them.

Finally, Freen set down her fork and looked up, her eyes locking onto Becky’s. “I need to tell you something,” she said quietly, her voice trembling just a little. “I’ve been trying to figure this out all day. I wasn’t sure how to say it, but… I can’t keep it in any longer.”

Becky’s heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her expression neutral. She had to stay calm. She had to act like she didn’t know what she knew.

Freen took a deep breath, her hands fidgeting nervously on the table. “Becky… I think I’m in love with you.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Freen’s voice was filled with vulnerability, her eyes pleading for some kind of response. She had been fighting these feelings for weeks, and now, finally, she had admitted them out loud.

But Becky? Becky’s heart twisted painfully in her chest. The woman sitting across from her was hiding something—something dark, something dangerous. The video played in her mind, and with it came a surge of anger, a burning need to uncover the truth.

Still, she smiled. A soft, practiced smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She had to play along.

You’re lying, she thought bitterly, the words she couldn’t speak out loud echoing in her mind. You’re hiding something from me, and I’m going to find out what it is.

But her face showed none of this. Instead, Becky leaned forward slightly, her expression softening as she reached out to take Freen’s hand. “I love you too,” she whispered, her voice steady even though her heart was racing with a mix of rage and betrayal.

Freen’s eyes lit up, her relief palpable. She squeezed Becky’s hand, her grip tight and warm. “I was scared,” Freen admitted, her voice filled with emotion. “I didn’t know if you felt the same way. But after everything last night… I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I haven’t felt this way about anyone since…” She trailed off, her voice breaking a little. “Since Sarah.”

The mention of Sarah’s name sent a chill down Becky’s spine. Of course, Sarah. The woman Freen had loved, the woman who had been brutally murdered. Becky felt her stomach turn as Freen’s words sank in. Was Freen using her as a replacement for Sarah? Was she so lost in grief that she couldn’t see what was right in front of her?

Or was it something darker than that? Was this all part of some twisted game?

Becky forced herself to keep up the act, nodding slowly as Freen spoke. “It’s okay,” she murmured, keeping her voice soft and reassuring. “We can take things one step at a time.”

But inside, Becky was screaming. She wanted to pull away, to demand answers. To ask Freen where she had been in that video, why she was dressed like that, and what the hell she was hiding. But she couldn’t. Not yet.

Freen’s grip on her hand tightened, her thumb brushing gently over Becky’s knuckles. “I don’t want to lose you,” Freen said quietly. “Not after everything.”

Becky’s heart clenched painfully. Freen’s words sounded so sincere, so full of emotion. But Becky couldn’t trust them. Not anymore.

You won’t lose me, she thought, her mind dark and calculating. Not until I find out the truth.

The two of them sat there, hands intertwined, their emotions swirling beneath the surface. Becky played her part perfectly, smiling softly, whispering words of love. But deep down, her heart was filled with something else entirely—rage, suspicion, and a burning need for revenge.

As the evening wore on, they eventually finished their meal in silence. Freen’s confession hung in the air, a fragile thing that neither of them dared to touch again. And as they sat there, side by side in the fading light, Becky’s resolve only hardened.

She would stay close. She would act the part of the loving partner. But all the while, she would be watching. Waiting. And when the time was right, she would uncover whatever dark secret Freen was hiding.

Freen thought she was in love. But Becky? Becky was on a mission.

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