Mother's True Love.

Secret Boyfriend.

Emily sat in the coffee shop, fingers nervously tapping the surface of the table. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, but it did little to calm her racing heart. She could see Alex parked outside, his eyes glued to the entrance, a silent reminder that she wasn't entirely alone in this daunting task.

She had texted Sarah earlier, suggesting they meet to talk about Jules. After their last encounter, Emily felt a mix of hope and anxiety, unsure how Sarah would react to her request. She needed more than what was left unsaid. She needed answers.

As she waited, Emily's mind replayed the events that led her here. Jules had been her friend, and despite everything that had happened, Emily was determined to find the truth surrounding her tragic end.

Finally, the bell above the door jingled, and Sarah walked in, her expression a mix of reluctance and apprehension. She spotted Emily and took a deep breath before making her way to the table.

"Hey," Emily said softly, gesturing for Sarah to sit down.

"Hey," Sarah replied, sliding into the chair across from her. There was a heavy silence between them as they exchanged glances, both unsure how to begin.

"I'm really sorry about everything," Emily finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know this is hard for you."

"Yeah, it is," Sarah muttered, avoiding eye contact. "Especially after... after what happened to Jules."

Emily nodded, swallowing hard. "I just wanted to know more about her. There has to be something we can figure out together. I need to understand why she felt so alone."

Sarah's eyes flickered with something resembling determination. "I don't know how much I can help," she said, her tone guarded. "But I remember Jules talking about someone. This guy she met online."

Emily leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What do you remember?"

"His name was Nathan. Or Nate for short. Jules was really into him," Sarah said, her brow furrowing as she tried to recollect the details. "She always lit up when she talked about him. It was like... he made her feel special."

"Special?" Emily echoed, her curiosity growing. "Did she ever mention anything specific about him? Like where he was from?"

"Just that he lived a state away," Sarah replied, biting her lip. "But she was really secretive about him. I never saw any photos or anything. Just that she seemed happy when they chatted."

Emily's mind raced. "Do you think he could have had anything to do with what happened?"

"I don't know," Sarah said, shaking her head. "But it's possible. She seemed to really trust him, which was unusual for her. I don't know why, but she never brought him around us."

"Maybe she was scared," Emily suggested, her own heart heavy with concern. "Maybe there's more to him than we know. Do you remember his last name or anything else?"

Sarah paused, her brow furrowed in concentration. "No... but I think he was one of her followers on social media. Nathan Jacobs, I think. His account was locked, and he had no posts or profile picture—just 'Be gone' in his bio."

"'Be gone'?" Emily repeated, eyebrows raising in disbelief. "That sounds... ominous."

"Right?" Sarah agreed, her eyes widening. "I thought it was strange, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Jules just kept talking about how different he was, how they connected."

"Do you think we can find him?" Emily asked, her heart pounding. "If he was important to Jules, maybe he has some answers."

"I don't know how," Sarah admitted, frustration creeping into her voice. "He has no public presence at all. It's like he doesn't want anyone to know he exists."

Emily felt a mix of hope and desperation. "But he's out there. If we can find him, maybe he can tell us more about Jules. Maybe he knows something we don't."

"Okay," Sarah finally said, a hint of resolve breaking through her uncertainty. "But you should be careful. I don't want you to get hurt again."

"Trust me, I will," Emily reassured her, sensing Sarah's genuine concern. "I just want to figure this out. For Jules."

As they sat in silence, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the brink of uncovering something crucial. The memory of Jules talking about Nate lingered in her mind, and she felt a growing urgency to connect the dots. She had to find Nathan Jacobs.

After exchanging a few more words, Sarah stood to leave, casting a hesitant glance back at Emily. "I really hope you find what you're looking for. Jules deserves that much."

"Thanks, Sarah," Emily said, feeling a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "I'll keep you updated."

With that, Sarah exited the café, and Emily remained seated, her thoughts racing. She pulled out her phone, fingers flying across the screen as she searched for Nathan Jacobs. The weight of Jules's story pressed heavily on her shoulders, but she was more determined than ever to uncover the truth.