Stuck with YOU || BECKFREEN/FREENBECK STORY

Chapter 64

Author's POV

The quiet of the evening hung heavily over the Armstrong-Chankimha house. Outside, the city lights flickered against the dark sky, painting streaks of gold and silver on the empty streets. Inside, Freen and Rebecca sat at the large wooden dining table, laptops open, papers and printouts scattered around them like a battlefield map. Their eyes were sharp, voices low, movements precise. Tonight, they weren't just surviving—they were strategizing.

Freen leaned back in her chair, fingers tracing the edge of the table. "We can't do this alone," she said softly, though there was a firm edge to her tone. "Even with all the evidence, all the precautions... we need backup. People we trust."

Rebecca nodded, understanding immediately. "Who?" she asked.

Freen paused, thinking carefully. Then, with a resolute tone, she spoke. "Heng. Nam. Engfa. My friends. People I trust completely. They know me—know my family, know my father—and they're resourceful. We can't risk anyone else. It has to be them."

Rebecca's eyes widened slightly. "Engfa? I thought you two... hadn't really been in touch for a while."

Freen smiled faintly, a mix of nostalgia and determination in her eyes. "True. But this isn't about the past. It's about survival. They'll understand. And Heng and Nam... they'll be invaluable."

Rebecca reached over, placing her hand on Freen's. "Then let's do it. Let's call them. But carefully."

Freen nodded, picking up her phone. She first dialed Heng's number. The phone rang twice before a familiar, calm voice answered.

"Hello?" Heng said, his tone cautious but friendly.

"Heng," Freen whispered urgently, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's Freen. I need your help. Something... serious is happening."

There was a pause on the line. Heng's tone sharpened slightly. "Freen... you're scaring me. What's going on?"

Freen took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "It's my father... Heng. He's dangerous. I... I discovered things—crimes he's committed, things only I know. And now... he's trying to silence me. He's... he's trying to kill me."

Heng was silent for a moment, processing the revelation. Then he said firmly, "Where are you? Are you safe?"

"I'm... okay for now," Freen replied, glancing at Rebecca, who was listening closely. "But I need you to come. And I need Nam and Engfa too. This... this isn't something I can handle alone."

There was a long pause. Then Heng's voice softened slightly. "Alright. Send me the address. I'll be there. And I'll bring Nam. Engfa... I'll call her."

Freen exhaled slowly, relief mixing with anxiety. "Thank you, Heng. You don't know what this means to me."

Rebecca's eyes gleamed with a mixture of worry and determination. "We're not just doing this for you, Freen. We're doing it for all of us—and for the baby."

Freen nodded, pressing the phone to her ear again to make the call to Engfa. Her finger hovered over the screen before she finally pressed the call button.

Engfa answered after the second ring, her voice sharp and assertive. "Freen? It's been a long time... what's wrong?"

Freen didn't waste a second. "Engfa, I don't have time to explain everything. But I need your help. My father... he's dangerous. He's... trying to destroy me. He's planning something, and I can't face him alone."

There was a pause on the line. Engfa's voice softened, a flicker of concern breaking through. "Freen... you're scaring me. But... I'll help. Tell me what to do."

Freen's chest tightened with relief. "Thank you. Heng, Nam, and you... we'll meet here. I'll explain everything in person. But for now... just get ready. Bring anything useful—security, digital tools, anything you think might help. We need to be ready for anything."

Engfa's voice carried a mixture of excitement and seriousness. "Understood. I'm on my way."

Freen hung up the phone and turned to Rebecca, a mixture of gratitude and tension on her face. "They're coming," she said softly. "Heng, Nam, Engfa... they're on their way."

Rebecca's eyes sparkled with a mixture of relief and enthusiasm. "Good. We need all the help we can get. And having them... people who know you, who know your father... it makes a huge difference."

Freen nodded, biting her lip. "Exactly. And we have to move fast. He could strike at any moment."

As the evening wore on, the house became a flurry of preparation. Freen and Rebecca went through every security camera, every lock, every alert system. They mapped escape routes, double-checked emergency contacts, and made lists of everything they could use to anticipate her father's moves.

When the first car pulled up outside, Freen's heart raced. Heng and Nam were the first to arrive, stepping out quickly but quietly. Heng's eyes scanned the house with military precision, while Nam moved to check the perimeter, her usual thoroughness apparent in every step.

"Freen," Heng said, approaching her quickly. "Talk. What's happening?"

Freen swallowed, trying to control the shaking in her hands. "It's my father... Francis Chankimha. He's dangerous. He's behind everything—the threats, the messages, the surveillance... even the accident at the hospital. He wants me silent, and he'll do anything to achieve it."

Nam's eyes widened. "Your father...?" she repeated, incredulous. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Freen said firmly, her jaw tightening. "I've traced everything. The evidence... it all points to him. And he won't stop. He has people everywhere, digital eyes, operatives. And..." Her voice lowered, tense. "...and he knows I'm fighting back."

At that moment, Engfa arrived, her presence immediately commanding attention. She didn't speak first; she just looked at Freen, assessing, her expression hardening as she processed the urgency. Then she spoke, calm and determined: "Freen, you're not alone. Whatever he's planning, we'll help you stop him. Just tell us what to do."

Freen's chest swelled with gratitude and determination. She turned to all three of them, a fierce resolve burning in her eyes. "We plan carefully. We anticipate every move. We track every step he takes. And when the time comes... we expose him."

Rebecca reached for Freen's hand, squeezing it gently. "And we do it together. All of us. No hesitation. No fear."

Heng nodded sharply. "Understood. Let's get to work."

Nam adjusted her glasses, pulling out a small laptop and a stack of documents from her bag. "We start by monitoring his networks, communications, and known associates. Anything suspicious, we flag immediately."

Engfa crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "And I'll handle the security measures here. Cameras, locks, alerts... if he even tries to get close, we'll know before he moves."

Freen felt a mixture of relief and renewed determination. With their friends by their side, her father's reach, dangerous though it was, suddenly seemed more manageable. They had allies. They had preparation. They had a plan.

And most importantly, they had each other.

For a brief moment, despite the looming threat, Freen allowed herself a small smile. "Alright... team. Let's make sure he doesn't see this coming. He thinks he's the hunter—but now... we're the ones controlling the game."

Rebecca laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "And our little one is already cheering us on," she said, pressing a hand to her belly where the baby stirred lightly, almost as if in agreement.

Freen chuckled quietly, feeling a rush of warmth. "Yes... our little warrior."

The room fell into focused silence as they all moved to their respective positions. Computers hummed, cameras blinked, documents shuffled. Outside, the city moved unaware. But inside the Armstrong-Chankimha house, a small, determined team was preparing for a confrontation that would change everything.

And for the first time in weeks, Freen felt a glimmer of hope.

The fight was far from over—but they were no longer alone.