STRANGE LOVE | RAFE CAMERON |

CHAPTER 23: | SHE NEEDS TO KNOW |

The next morning, Allison returned to Tannyhill, not out of any lingering affection for Rafe, but to gather her belongings and leave. The sprawling estate that had once felt like a sanctuary now seemed foreboding, each corner hiding secrets she no longer wished to uncover. As she drove up the long driveway, her heart sank at the sight of police cars scattered across the lawn. Officers were everywhere, their presence an oppressive weight that pressed down on her.

The sound of her car door closing was swallowed by the quiet chaos unfolding around her. Officers moved with purpose, talking into radios, exchanging hushed words, and casting suspicious glances her way. She tried to ignore the knot of dread tightening in her stomach as she walked toward the front door. She just wanted to get in, pack her things, and leave this place behind for good.

As she reached the stairs, she heard a familiar voice, low and tense. "Where is Rafe?" Ward's voice was tight with urgency, his usual calm demeanor replaced by something much darker.

Ward's eyes met hers, and for a moment, they stared at each other in silence. The intensity in his gaze made her heart pound faster. She could tell that he knew, or at least suspected, that she was aware of what Rafe had done.

"I don't know," Allison said, her voice steadier than she felt. "I haven't seen him since last night."

Ward's expression hardened. Without a word, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his office, away from the prying eyes and ears of the officers. He closed the door behind them, the small room suddenly feeling suffocating.

"I know you two had a fight last night," Ward began, his voice low but filled with an undercurrent of urgency. "I need you to listen to me, Allison. I need you to promise you won't say anything to anyone."

Allison felt the walls closing in on her, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest. She wanted to scream, to demand answers, but all she could manage was a quiet nod. "I won't say anything," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I just don't want to see him. I came for my stuff, that's it."

Ward's gaze softened slightly, a fleeting moment of understanding passing between them. He nodded, releasing her arm. "I understand. Just... be quick."

Allison didn't need to be told twice. She hurried out of the office, her steps quickening as she made her way up the grand staircase. The house felt eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by a tense silence. Her heart raced as she entered the bedroom she had shared with Rafe.

She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her hands trembled as she began packing her things, each item reminding her of the life she had thought she was building with Rafe, a life now shattered by his actions.

The familiar surroundings, once a source of comfort, now felt alien and hostile. Every corner seemed to hide a shadow, every piece of furniture a reminder of the lies that had been woven into their relationship. The weight of Rafe's confession pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.

・ • ・ • ・

Meanwhile, miles away from Tannyhill, Rafe was slouched on a couch at Barry's house. His head throbbed from a mix of drugs and the aftermath of the previous night. He had tried to drown out the noise in his mind, but it only made things worse. His eyes fluttered open as his phone buzzed incessantly on the table next to him. Groggily, he reached for it, squinting at the screen through bleary eyes.

A message from his father popped up: Don't come home. Cops are there. I'll come to you.

"Shit," Rafe whispered, the reality of his situation crashing down on him all at once. His hands trembled as he stared at the message, his mind racing. In a sudden fit of rage, he threw the phone across the room, the sound of it shattering against the wall echoing in the small house.