Kara barely slept that night.
Her phone remained silent—no new messages, no updates from Lucas. Yet, the eerie feeling that someone was watching her lingered.
By morning, she was on edge.
She checked her phone the moment she woke up.
Nothing.
A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as she threw off the covers and got out of bed. If Lucas didn't have anything by now, it meant one of two things—the number was either expertly hidden, or the person behind it was smart enough to cover their tracks.
Neither option made her feel better.
A knock at the door startled her.
"Miss Kara," one of the house attendants called. "Mr. Blackwell would like to see you."
Kara straightened, smoothing out her silk robe. She wasn't sure what Alden wanted now, but she had no choice but to go.
When she stepped into her father's study, he was already seated behind his massive mahogany desk, reading something on his tablet. He didn't look up when she entered.
"Kara." His voice was as sharp as ever.
She folded her arms. "Father."
Alden finally glanced up, his piercing gaze studying her. "I assume you've given thought to our last conversation."
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "If you mean my apology, then yes. I did what you asked."
He set the tablet down. "Did you mean it?"
Kara's lips parted slightly. She wasn't sure why that question threw her off, but it did.
Did she mean it?
She wanted things to go back to normal. She wanted Aiden and Harrison to stop looking at her like she was some kind of villain. But did that mean she regretted what she had done?
She swallowed. "Yes."
Alden leaned back in his chair, studying her for a long moment. "Then prove it."
Kara stiffened. "I already—"
"No," he cut her off. "Not with words. Actions."
She clenched her fists. "And what exactly do you want me to do?"
Alden's expression didn't change. "Fix what you broke."
Kara exhaled slowly. "Fine."
Her father nodded, but as she turned to leave, his voice stopped her.
"And Kara," he said, his tone slightly softer, "don't think I don't know what you're up to."
She froze.
Slowly, she turned back to him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Alden leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You've been restless. Distracted. You think I don't notice, but I do."
Kara felt a chill run down her spine. Did he know about the messages?
"I'm just dealing with everything that's happened," she lied smoothly. "It's been… a lot."
Alden didn't look convinced, but he didn't press further. "Then handle it wisely."
Kara gave a small nod and walked out, her pulse quickening.
If her father was watching her closely, she needed to be more careful.
As soon as she was back in her room, her phone buzzed.
She grabbed it instantly.
A message from Lucas.
Lucas: You were right. Someone's been watching you. And whoever it is… they know exactly what they're doing.
Kara's breath caught in her throat.
Before she could respond, another text popped up.
Not from Lucas.
From the unknown number.
Unknown: Time's up, Kara. Let's play.
Kara's stomach dropped.
She had a bad feeling this was only the beginning.
Kara's mind raced as the message from the unknown number burned in her thoughts. Time's up, Kara. Let's play.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at her phone, willing the screen to change, to show something—anything—that would explain what was going on. But it remained the same, the cryptic words mocking her.
Time's up.
The phrase echoed in her head. What did it mean?
She sat down on her bed, her fingers shaking as she typed a response, but after a moment, she deleted it.
What if she was making things worse? What if responding would only escalate the situation?
But what choice did she have?
She had to take control.
Kara glanced at the clock. It was nearly midday. She needed to act, but she didn't have the luxury of time.
Taking a deep breath, she tapped out a message to Lucas.
Kara: What did you find out?
It didn't take long for him to reply.
Lucas: I traced the number. It's coming from an unlisted line, but there's something interesting. The last time this number contacted anyone was about three years ago…
Kara's stomach flipped. Three years ago? What had happened then?
She quickly typed another question.
Kara: What else?
There was a long pause before Lucas responded again.
Lucas: There's a pattern. Someone— a few someones—have been watching you for a while. They're tied to your father's business. But the messages… they're not random. They're meant to push you. And I think they're waiting for something.*
Kara's pulse quickened.
Her father's business. She wasn't sure if she was more disturbed by the fact that someone had been keeping tabs on her—or that whoever it was had access to her father's empire.
She stared at the screen, unable to shake the dread creeping up her spine.
The game had started. And she had no idea how to play.
A few hours later, she found herself in her father's study again, pacing back and forth. Alden had been unnervingly quiet ever since their last conversation, and it was beginning to unnerve her. She couldn't ignore the fact that her investigation into the mysterious messages was leading her down a dangerous path—one that seemed to cross paths with her father's dealings.
Her phone buzzed again, and she snatched it up.
Lucas: The messages… they're coded. It's a warning.
Kara's fingers tightened around the phone.
Kara: A warning?
Lucas: Yes. Someone is trying to send a message to your father, but they're using you as a pawn.
Her stomach churned. A pawn.
"Do you ever think about what you're doing to me, Kara?"
Her thoughts were shattered by her father's voice.
She turned to find him standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. He hadn't entered the room when she had been pacing earlier, and the sudden appearance felt like a shadow creeping into the room.
"What do you mean?" Kara asked, feigning calmness.
Alden's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "You think you can play games with people and walk away unscathed. But everything you do has consequences. And I warned you about this."
Kara's breath caught in her throat. "What are you talking about?"
He took a step closer. "You've been digging into things you shouldn't, and now you're digging up a mess. It's one I won't help you clean up."
Kara felt her chest tighten. Was he talking about the messages?
"Are you involved in this?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Alden's eyes softened, but only for a moment, before his usual coldness returned. "You don't want to know the truth, Kara. You've got enough on your plate already."
Her heart raced. "What truth?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he turned to leave. "I've warned you, Kara. Now it's up to you to fix this. Before it's too late."
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Kara's mind spun. Whatever game was being played with her, it was more dangerous than she'd imagined. Someone wanted to send a message to her father, and she was the one caught in the middle.
The question that had been nagging her since yesterday now burned brighter than ever.
What did they want?
And why was her father so reluctant to help her?