Chương 31: Chapter 31

The night dragged on, the oppressive weight of Lydia's message hanging in the air like a thundercloud. I sat on the edge of the couch, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. Across the room, Alex leaned against the wall, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on the floor.

The tension between us was palpable, unspoken words crackling like static. I wanted to scream at him, demand answers for the secrets he clearly wasn't sharing, but there was no time. The clock was ticking, and tomorrow would decide everything.

"Emma," Alex finally said, his voice breaking the silence. He looked up, his blue eyes shadowed with guilt and determination. "I need you to trust me. No matter what happens tomorrow, I'll make sure you are safe."

I wanted to believe him, but the doubt gnawed at me. "How can I trust you, Alex, when you're clearly hiding something? You're keeping me in the dark, and I can't..."