# Chapter 12: Unraveling the Web

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The night after the mysterious package incident, Lila lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep refused to come, her mind too busy replaying the image of the photograph found in the box. The idea that someone had been watching her, tracking her every move, made her feel vulnerable in ways she hadn't anticipated.

Beside her, Ethan stirred but didn't wake. His steady breathing was the only thing keeping her grounded. She wanted to lean on him, to find solace in his presence, but the weight of fear was too heavy. There was no peace in their situation—not until they figured out who was behind it all.

Unable to stay still any longer, Lila quietly slipped out of bed and went to the living room. She sat down at the small desk in the corner, opening her laptop. She needed answers.

She began by searching for any recent news involving threats or stalking cases, hoping that there might be some connection to what was happening to her. However, the news yielded nothing of significance. Frustration gnawed at her. It was like they were being taunted by an invisible hand, one that left no clues except for the sickening reminder that they were being watched.

Her phone buzzed next to her, the sudden noise startling her. It was a text from Priya.

*Are you awake? I can't stop thinking about what happened.*

Lila sighed, grateful for Priya's concern. She quickly typed back, *I'm up. Can't sleep either. This whole thing is getting worse.*

A moment later, Priya responded. *We need to figure this out, Lila. You can't live like this. Have you told the police everything?*

*Yes, but it feels like they're treating this like a simple harassment case. Whoever is behind this is smarter than they think.*

*Do you have any suspects? Anyone from your past?*

Lila paused, her fingers hovering over the keys. She hadn't really considered that. Her thoughts had been so consumed by the present danger that she hadn't thought to examine her past. Could this be someone she knew? Someone who had a reason to hurt her?

Before she could reply to Priya, she heard footsteps behind her. Ethan walked into the room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked softly.

"No," she admitted, closing her laptop. "I've been thinking about everything, and I don't understand why this is happening. Why me?"

Ethan sat down beside her, his face serious. "I've been thinking the same thing. Whoever is doing this, they're going out of their way to scare you. This isn't just random—this feels personal."

Lila frowned, considering his words. "But who would do this to me? I don't have enemies. At least, not that I know of."

Ethan leaned back, deep in thought. "It might not be about making you an enemy. It could be about control or obsession. Someone could be fixated on you, and now that you're with me, it's escalating."

Lila's mind raced. Could it be someone who knew about their marriage? Or someone from Ethan's side? She had never considered that possibility.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed again. Another message from Priya, but this time, her words sent a chill down Lila's spine.

*Lila, I don't want to scare you, but I've been thinking… Could this have something to do with your ex-husband?*

Lila froze. She hadn't thought about her ex-husband, Sameer, in months. After their contract marriage ended, he had exited her life without much fuss. It had been a business arrangement, a way to satisfy their families and move on with their separate lives. But had it really been that simple?

"Is something wrong?" Ethan asked, noticing the change in her expression.

Lila showed him the message. "Priya thinks this could have something to do with Sameer."

Ethan frowned, taking the phone from her and reading the text. "Do you think he's capable of something like this?"

"I don't know," Lila admitted, her voice shaky. "We parted ways without much drama. But he was always… controlling. He didn't like it when things didn't go his way."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "If he's behind this, we need to confront him. He could be the one sending these threats."

Lila hesitated. "But why would he wait until now? It's been over a year since we divorced."

"Maybe seeing you move on made him act out," Ethan suggested. "Some people can't handle losing control, especially if they feel they've been replaced."

The thought made Lila's stomach churn. Had Sameer been watching her this entire time? Was he behind the threats, the mysterious man outside her apartment, and now the package?

"We should find out where he is," Ethan said, determination in his voice. "If he's behind this, we need to make him stop."

Lila nodded, though fear gnawed at her. The idea of confronting Sameer again after so much time filled her with dread. Their marriage had been cold and distant, but she never imagined he'd go to these lengths.

"I'll reach out to a few contacts," Ethan said, pulling out his phone. "We can find out what he's been up to since your divorce."

While Ethan made calls, Lila tried to collect her thoughts. She hated the idea that Sameer could still have this much control over her life, even after their marriage had ended. If he was truly behind this, then he had been hiding his true nature all along.

After a few minutes, Ethan hung up the phone. "I've got some news. Sameer's been back in Mumbai for a few months. He's been keeping a low profile, but people have seen him around."

Lila's heart sank. Sameer was back in the city. If he had been watching her, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, it could explain everything.

"What do we do now?" Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We confront him," Ethan said firmly. "We can't let him keep playing these games. If he's behind this, he needs to know we're not afraid of him."

Lila nodded, though fear gnawed at her. She knew Ethan was right, but the thought of facing Sameer again filled her with dread.

"I'll set up a meeting with him," Ethan said, determination in his voice. "We'll get answers, one way or another."

As Ethan made plans, Lila couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get worse before they got better. Sameer had always been calculating, and if he truly was behind these threats, then confronting him would be dangerous.

But she was tired of living in fear. Tired of looking over her shoulder. It was time to take control of her life again—even if it meant facing the man who had once controlled it.

Later that evening, Ethan received a call confirming the meeting. Sameer had agreed to meet them the following day at a café in the heart of Mumbai. Lila's nerves were on edge as she prepared herself for what was to come.

The next morning, they arrived at the café. Lila's heart raced as she spotted Sameer sitting at a table by the window, casually sipping his coffee. He looked almost the same as she remembered—calm, composed, and infuriatingly in control.

Sameer's eyes lit up when he saw her, a smile spreading across his face. "Lila. It's been a long time."

Lila felt her stomach turn. This was the man who had been lurking in the shadows, threatening her. The man who had sent that package.

But she wasn't going to back down. Not this time.

"I know what you've been doing," she said, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. "And it ends now."

Sameer raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. Care to explain?"

Ethan stepped forward, his expression cold. "Cut the act. We know you've been watching her. The threats, the package—it's over. You're not scaring her anymore."

Sameer leaned back in his chair, his smile never faltering. "Is that what you think? That I've been behind all this?"

Lila glared at him, her fists clenched. "I don't care what your reasons are. Just stop."

Sameer's expression shifted, becoming darker. "You think you can just walk away from me, Lila? You think you can replace me with someone like him?" He gestured towards Ethan with a sneer.

Lila's heart pounded. This was the real Sameer—the man who had always needed control. "You were never part of my life," she said, her voice strong. "And you never will be."

For a moment, Sameer said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her. Then, without warning, he stood up, his smile returning. "You'll regret this, Lila," he said, his voice low. "You'll both regret it."

He turned and walked out of the café, leaving Lila and Ethan standing in tense silence.

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