Chapter 30

Nate's POV

Nate's mind was in overdrive as he drove back to his apartment. The confrontation with Rachel had solidified his suspicions, but it had also left him with a gnawing feeling of dread. He couldn't shake the image of Rachel's cold smile, the way she had warned him as if she knew something he didn't.

As soon as he stepped into his apartment, Nate called Kevin. He needed someone he could trust, someone who could help him figure out what to do next.

"Kevin," Nate began as soon as his friend picked up, "I think Rachel's lying about the pregnancy."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Kevin responded, his tone sharp. "You think? Nate, I've been telling you that for weeks! Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I confronted her," Nate explained, pacing the length of his living room. "She was too quick to defend herself, too… I don't know, rehearsed. And then she gave me this look, like she knew she had me cornered."

Kevin sighed, clearly exasperated. "What did I tell you about getting involved with her in the first place? Rachel's not just some random woman, Nate. She's dangerous, and she's got her claws in deep."

Nate ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling up inside him. "I know, okay? I messed up. But I need to figure out how to fix this."

"First things first," Kevin said, his voice more measured now. "You need to find out if she's really pregnant. Get her to take a test at a clinic or something. If she refuses, you'll have your answer."

Nate nodded, though Kevin couldn't see him. "I'll do that. But there's something else, Kevin. She hinted that I was in over my head, like there's more going on than I realize. I'm worried she might try to do something drastic."

Kevin was silent for a moment, considering Nate's words. "You need to be careful, Nate. Rachel's not above doing something crazy if she feels cornered. But listen, I've got a contact in the city—a guy who can dig up dirt on anyone. Maybe he can find out what Rachel's really up to."

"That might be our best shot," Nate agreed, feeling a sliver of hope. "Can you set it up?"

"Already on it," Kevin replied. "In the meantime, keep your distance from Rachel as much as possible. Don't let her know you're onto her."

"Got it," Nate said, ending the call. 

Nate leaned against the kitchen counter, exhaustion washing over him. How had things spiraled so far out of control? His life had once been simple—he had a wife he loved, a job he was good at, and a future that seemed bright. But now, everything was crumbling around him, and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to pick up the pieces.

The sound of his phone buzzing interrupted his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from an unknown number. Frowning, he opened it.

**Meet me at the docks tonight. Midnight. Come alone. —A**

Nate's heart skipped a beat. The cryptic message could only be from one person—Allyson. But why was she reaching out to him now, and in such a secretive way? He hadn't heard from her since the night she was shot, and he had been too ashamed to try contacting her himself.

For a moment, Nate considered ignoring the message. But something in his gut told him that this was important—that Allyson was trying to tell him something. And he couldn't ignore the possibility that this might be his chance to make things right.

Taking a deep breath, Nate grabbed his jacket and keys. He knew this was risky, but he was out of options. If there was even the slightest chance that he could fix what had been broken, he had to take it.

**Allyson's POV**

Allyson stood by the window of her penthouse suite, staring out at the city lights. The weight of everything that had happened in the past few months pressed down on her, but she forced herself to stay strong. There was too much at stake now—too many people depending on her.

The sound of the door opening behind her caught her attention. She turned to see her uncle entering the room, his expression grave.

"Are you sure about this, Allyson?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Allyson nodded, her resolve hardening. "I have to do this, Uncle. It's the only way to put an end to all of this."

Her uncle sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "You're playing a dangerous game, my dear. Rachel is more dangerous than you know."

"I'm aware," Allyson replied, her tone firm. "But I can't just sit back and let her ruin everything. Nate… he needs to know the truth."

Her uncle hesitated before placing a hand on her shoulder. "Just promise me you'll be careful. You've already been hurt once, and I can't bear to see you go through that again."

"I will," Allyson promised, though she wasn't entirely sure if she believed it herself.

As her uncle left the room, Allyson returned to the window, her mind racing. She had sent the message to Nate on a whim, hoping that he would take the bait. She needed him to know what Rachel was really up to, but more importantly, she needed him to understand that she wasn't the enemy.

As midnight approached, Allyson grabbed her coat and slipped out of the penthouse. She had arranged for a driver to take her to the docks, where she would meet Nate. The plan was simple, but the stakes were high. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart.

Nate's POV

The docks were eerily quiet as Nate arrived, the moon casting an eerie glow on the water. He parked his car and scanned the area, searching for any sign of Allyson. His nerves were on edge, every sound making him jump.

After a few minutes, he saw a figure approaching from the shadows. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized Allyson, her features illuminated by the dim light.

"Allyson," Nate called out, moving toward her.

She stopped a few feet away, her expression unreadable. "Nate."

There was an awkward silence between them, the weight of everything unsaid hanging in the air. Finally, Nate broke the silence.

"Why did you ask me to meet you here?"

Allyson took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto his. "Because there are things you need to know, Nate. Things that Rachel has been keeping from you."

Nate frowned, his suspicions growing. "What are you talking about?"

"Rachel isn't who you think she is," Allyson continued, her voice steady. "She's been working behind the scenes, manipulating you, using you to get to me and my family."

Nate's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. "And why should I believe you?"

Allyson stepped closer, her gaze intense. "Because deep down, you know it's true. Think about everything that's happened—the lies, the manipulation, the way she's twisted everything. You know something's not right."

Nate wanted to argue, to deny what she was saying. But he couldn't. Every word she spoke hit him like a punch to the gut, the truth he had been avoiding finally coming to light.

"What do you want from me?" Nate asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Allyson hesitated before answering. "I want you to help me bring her down. Together, we can expose her for what she really is."

Nate's mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, confusion, regret. But beneath it all, there was a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this was his chance to make things right.

"Okay," he finally said, his voice firm. "I'm in."

Allyson nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Good. We don't have much time. There's something you need to see."

Before Nate could ask what she meant, a loud noise echoed through the docks—a gunshot. Nate's blood ran cold as he realized what was happening.

"Get down!" Allyson screamed, pushing Nate behind a stack of crates as another shot rang out.

Nate's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to make sense of the situation. Who was shooting at them? And why?

But as he looked up at Allyson, who was crouched beside him, he realized one thing was clear—this wasn't just about them anymore. They were in the middle of something much bigger, something that could change everything.

**To be continued…**