Uninvited Ghosts of the Past

The excitement from the previous day's celebration still lingered as the next afternoon rolled around. I arrived at Shawn's place a few hours before he was due back from his shift, eager to prepare a small celebration for him. Armed with decorations—a couple of banners, some balloons, and a cake from a nearby bakery—I wanted to make this moment special. After all Shawn had shared about his past, he deserved to feel cherished.

Setting up the decorations felt therapeutic, giving me time to reflect on the whirlwind of emotions from the past few days. Despite the tension and Shawn's recent unexplained absence, I pushed aside any lingering doubts. Today was about celebrating his achievements and reminding him how proud I was.

Once the decorations were in place, I moved to the kitchen to prepare a light dinner. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables was calming, but the sudden ring of the doorbell jolted me. Wiping my hands on a towel, I hurried to answer it.

Standing on the doorstep was Shawn's stepmother, Veronica, her posture as stiff as her expression. Beside her was a young woman with delicate features, her striking red hair loose and unruly. Bandages covered parts of her head, hands, and legs, telling a story I wasn't prepared for.

"Hello," I greeted, trying to mask my surprise. "Please, come in."

They stepped inside, and I led them to the living room, where the air grew noticeably tense. Veronica's eyes swept over the room before landing on me, her gaze sharp and unreadable.

"Would you like something to drink?" I asked, my voice calm but laced with apprehension.

"No, thank you," Veronica replied curtly. She hesitated before adding, "Where's my son?"

The formality of "my son" rather than "Shawn" caught me off guard. "He's still at work," I said, noting her stern tone.

Her expression hardened. "Call him. It's urgent."

Startled, I excused myself and stepped into the hallway to dial Shawn's number. The phone rang only once before he picked up, his familiar calm voice easing my nerves slightly.

"Hey, sweetheart. I'm sorry I'm running late, but I'll be home soon. Is everything okay?"

I hesitated. "I'm fine, but… your mom's here."

"Veronica?" His tone shifted instantly to irritation, tinged with confusion.

"She's not alone," I explained. "She's with a girl who looks like she's been through… something serious. She asked me to call you."

There was a pause, then Shawn's voice turned urgent. "I don't know what this is about, but I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Drive safely," I said before hanging up.

Barely a moment later, my phone buzzed again. It was Tyler.

"Hey, princess. Are you okay? You left my text on read," he teased, his voice warm but tinged with concern.

"Well, Shawn's mom is here," I said, exhaling slowly.

"Veronica? That's… unexpected. Did she say why?"

"No," I replied, glancing back toward the living room. "She just showed up with this girl and asked for Shawn. She seems… upset."

"Alright. Stay calm. I'll come over, okay?" Tyler's voice was firm and reassuring.

As I waited, my mind raced with questions. Who was this girl? Why did Veronica bring her here? The tension in the air seemed to thicken as the minutes dragged on.

Finally, the front door opened, and Shawn stepped inside, Tyler close behind him. Their faces instantly shifted to shock as they laid eyes on the girl. Shawn's expression morphed from surprise to distress, while Tyler's jaw tightened, a flicker of recognition crossing his face.

"Veronica," Shawn said, his voice steady but strained. "What's going on?"

The young woman's eyes lifted to meet Shawn's, brimming with unshed tears. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "Shawn…"

The weight of her voice—so soft yet so full of pain—seemed to knock the breath out of the room. 

"Jasmine… is that really you?" Shawn's voice trembled, thick with emotion as he gazed at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Disbelief and anguish flickered across his face, mirroring the storm raging within him. "H-how is this possible? We buried you… we mourned you. I— I don't understand."

Jasmine flinched at Shawn's words, her delicate fingers tightening around the edge of her dress. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she looked just as bewildered as he did. Veronica let out a sharp sigh, her expression unreadable.

"She didn't die, Shawn," Veronica said, her voice low and firm. "We had to make you believe that."

Silence fell over the room, thick and suffocating. Shawn staggered back a step, shaking his head as though trying to wake himself from a nightmare.

"What do you mean, 'we had to'?" His voice cracked, raw with a mix of grief, anger, and desperate hope.

Jasmine lowered her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I… I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't," she whispered. "I was—" She winced, as if the words themselves hurt to say. "I was in danger. And they thought the only way to protect me was to… erase me."

A cold chill ran down my spine as I listened. Tyler crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing. "Who are 'they'?"

Veronica's lips pressed into a thin line. "Your father and I."

Shawn let out a shaky breath and turned to Jasmine, searching her face for answers. "Why now? Why come back after all these years?"

Jasmine finally met his gaze, her eyes full of sorrow and something else—fear. "Because," she whispered, "I have nowhere else to go."

Shawn's fury was unmistakable as his voice thundered through the room. "She betrayed me, and now she shows up just because she needs help? What am I, a charity?" His words sliced through the tense air, raw with pain and resentment. Jasmine's sobs intensified, her fragile frame trembling as Veronica desperately tried to soothe Shawn, but her efforts were futile. 

The weight of unspoken emotions pressed down on all of us, making the room feel stifling. Tyler's fingers curled around mine, his steady grip anchoring me amidst the storm unfolding before us. 

Veronica's voice trembled with urgency as she pleaded, "Please, let Jasmine stay." Her desperation clashed starkly with Shawn's fury, the tension between them almost unbearable. The unspoken history, the pain, and the betrayal hung thick in the air. I could see the conflict in Shawn's eyes—hurt warring with the remnants of a past he had buried. And yet, the weight of the decision didn't just rest on him. It pressed heavily on me too, pulling me into a storm I hadn't been prepared to weather.

Jasmine turned to me, her tear-filled eyes silently pleading for support, as if hoping I would say something in her favour. But before I could react, Shawn's grip tightened around my hand. His touch was warm yet tense, as if he was afraid of what I might say.

Before the silence could stretch any longer, Tyler's voice cut through the air, sharp and unwavering. "If you're doing this just to get Shawn's sympathy, then you have to leave," he said coldly. "We've had enough of trusting everything you said in the past."

His words landed with a weight that made the room feel even smaller. Jasmine flinched, her lower lip trembling, but she didn't argue. Veronica turned to Tyler, her expression torn between anger and helplessness.

I could feel the storm brewing beneath the surface—resentment, pain, and years of unanswered questions crashing together in one suffocating moment.

I turned to Shawn and Tyler, my voice steady despite the tension thick in the air. "You both always say you'd do anything for me, right?" I asked, my gaze shifting between them.

Shawn's grip on my hand tightened, while Tyler's brows furrowed in cautious curiosity.

"I'm sorry, but I want to hear Jasmine's explanation."

Jasmine's eyes lit up with hope, her breath hitching as if she hadn't expected a chance to speak. But before she could say anything, I continued.

"I'm doing this because I don't want any problems coming back to haunt us because of her in the future." My words were firm, making it clear that this wasn't about sympathy—it was about ensuring that whatever unfinished business Jasmine had wouldn't disrupt our lives later.

Shawn exhaled sharply, a pained expression crossing his face. His emotions were raw, his walls still up, but deep down, he knew I had a point. Tyler, on the other hand, studied me for a moment before nodding in understanding.

Finally, I gestured toward the living room. "Let's have a seat and talk about this."

No one moved right away, the weight of unspoken emotions lingering between us. But slowly, one by one, we all took our places, bracing ourselves for the truth that was about to unfold.

Jasmine took a deep, shuddering breath, her fingers trembling as she wiped away the lingering tears. Her gaze locked onto Shawn's, filled with remorse and vulnerability.

"Shawn… I don't even know where to begin, but I need to start with this—I'm sorry. Truly, deeply sorry for everything I did to you." Her voice wavered, raw with emotion.

Shawn's expression remained unreadable, his jaw clenched, his body rigid as if bracing against a storm.

Jasmine swallowed hard before continuing. "I made a terrible mistake. I thought I was chasing love, but all I found was a nightmare." She hesitated, stealing a glance at Veronica before looking back at Shawn. "The man I left you for… he wasn't who I thought he was."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"At first, he was charming, attentive—everything I thought I wanted. But it didn't take long for things to change. He became possessive, controlling, jealous of everything I did. When I told him I wanted to pursue modeling, he lost it. Said no 'respectable woman' would let other men look at her like that. He started dictating how I dressed, who I talked to, where I went."

Her voice cracked, and she clutched the fabric of her sleeves as if grounding herself. "Then came the public humiliation. The insults. The accusations. If I so much as glanced at another man, he'd accuse me of cheating." She took a shaky breath. "And then… it turned violent."

A sharp breath escaped Shawn, his hands curling into fists. "Did he hurt you?" His voice was low, dangerously calm.

Jasmine gave a small, broken nod. "At first, it was just grabbing my arm too hard. Then shoving. Then slaps. And when I finally got the courage to leave, he made sure I'd regret it."

She gestured at the bandages on her arms and legs. "I barely got away. He came after me, Shawn. He's still after me." Her voice was laced with fear.

Shawn exhaled deeply, raking a hand through his hair as he struggled to process what he was hearing.

Veronica finally spoke, her voice soft yet strained. "She tried to leave him before, but he wouldn't let her go. When she finally ran, he found her… and nearly killed her. She was in critical condition, Shawn. We had no choice but to fake her death."

Shawn's face drained of colour. "No choice?" His voice rose, edged with disbelief and anger. "You expect me to believe you just—what? Staged a whole damn funeral and never thought to tell me? I grieved for her, Veronica! I put her in the past because I thought she was gone!"

Jasmine flinched at the raw pain in his voice. "I wanted to tell you, but it was too dangerous. He was watching me. Watching everything."

Tyler, who had been silent until now, let out a dark chuckle. "And now, when she's desperate, she suddenly shows up?" His tone was sharp, laced with distrust. "You sure this isn't just another act, Jasmine?"

Jasmine's breath hitched. "I know I don't deserve your trust, Tyler. But I swear, I wouldn't be here if I had any other choice. He's still out there, and if he finds out I'm alive…" She trailed off, wrapping her arms around herself, as if shielding against an invisible threat.

Veronica turned back to Shawn, her voice imploring. "Please. I know this is a lot, but she's in real danger."

Shawn dragged a hand down his face, pacing as his emotions warred within him.

I reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "Shawn… I know this hurts, but right now, she needs help."

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head before turning to Jasmine. "Do you have proof he's after you?"

Jasmine quickly grabbed her phone, scrolling through messages with shaking fingers. She handed it to Shawn. The screen displayed unread texts—threats laced with malice, photos of her apartment vandalised, and a chilling message that read:

"You think you can hide from me? I always find what's mine."

Shawn's grip on the phone tightened, his expression darkening. Tyler leaned over to glance at the screen, his jaw clenching. "This guy is unhinged."

Jasmine swallowed hard. "He won't stop until he finds me. And if he realises I came to you, he'll come after you too."

Veronica, her voice low but firm, added, "Shawn, I know you're hurt, but please… don't turn her away. At least let her stay until we figure out what to do."

Shawn let out a bitter laugh. "And what exactly am I supposed to do, Mom? Play the hero? Forget everything she did to me?"

Veronica's gaze softened. "No, I just don't want you to live with regret if something happens to her."

A tense silence stretched between them.

"What if this happened to your girlfriend?" Veronica's voice was quiet, but her words cut deep. "Would you turn her away?"

Shawn's head snapped up, eyes burning with fury. "You better shut your damn mouth." His voice was a dangerous growl. "Leave Ann out of this."

His grip on my hand tightened, unyielding. A sharp pain shot through my fingers, and I winced.

Tyler's eyes darkened as he stepped forward. "Shawn. Let go. You're hurting her."

Shawn immediately loosened his grip, his eyes flickering with guilt as he looked at me. "I—I'm sorry," he muttered, running a frustrated hand through his hair. His whole body was tense, torn between his past wounds and the present danger Jasmine brought with her.

I pulled my hand back, rubbing the sore skin, my heart hammering.

Shawn turned away, breathing heavily, his emotions a volatile storm threatening to break loose.

Jasmine's voice was barely above a whisper. "I never meant for any of this to happen… I just didn't know where else to go."

Shawn remained silent, his back to us.

And for the first time since she walked through that door, I wondered—if taking her in was the right decision… or the beginning of something much worse.

Tyler stepped forward, placing himself subtly between me and Shawn, his presence a silent warning. "Look, I get it. You have every right to be angry. But don't take it out on Ann." His voice was firm but calm, and for once, Shawn didn't argue.

Jasmine sniffled, her voice barely above a whisper. "I never wanted to come back like this. I know I ruined everything between us, and I don't expect you to forgive me. But if he finds me… I won't survive this time."

The room fell into silence. Shawn's jaw clenched as he turned away, staring at the wall as if searching for an answer that didn't exist.

Veronica sighed. "Shawn, no one is asking you to forgive her. But if we do nothing and something happens to her, can you live with that?"

Shawn's gaze flickered to me, searching for an answer. I met his eyes and gave a small, reassuring nod.

He let out a sharp breath, shoulders slumping in resignation. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. "Fine." His tone was cold, detached. He turned to Jasmine, his expression unreadable. "You can stay. But only until we figure out how to deal with this guy."

Jasmine's eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Shawn—"

"Don't." He cut her off, his voice like ice. "Don't thank me. If you're grateful to anyone, it should be my fiancée, Ann." His grip tightened slightly around my hand as if grounding himself in the present. "And don't mistake this for anything more than what it is."

Jasmine's face fell, but she nodded, understanding the unspoken boundaries.

Tyler, who had been silent for a while, crossed his arms. "Alright, first things first—we need information. Who is this guy? What's his name? What does he do?"

Jasmine hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly before she spoke. "His name is Adrian. He owns a private security firm, but it's just a front. He has connections—dangerous ones." She swallowed hard. "And he doesn't let go of what he thinks belongs to him."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Shawn and Tyler exchanged a look—one that spoke of understanding, strategy, and the weight of an impending storm.

A chill ran down my spine. This wasn't just about Jasmine anymore. If Adrian was as dangerous as she claimed, then we were all in trouble now.

Tyler stood abruptly, pulling out his phone as he strode toward the balcony. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his posture spoke volumes. Whoever he was calling, it wasn't just for reassurance—it was for action.

Shawn ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "We need to know exactly what we're dealing with." His voice was tight, controlled, but I could see the storm raging beneath the surface.

Jasmine shifted uncomfortably, glancing between us. "I told you everything I know. Adrian won't stop until he finds me. He has resources, people who do his dirty work. And if he realizes I'm here…" Her voice trailed off, thick with fear.

Veronica placed a reassuring hand on Jasmine's shoulder. "We won't let him get to you."

Shawn scoffed. "Big words, Mom. But we don't even know what we're up against."

Just then, Tyler reentered the room, slipping his phone into his pocket. His face was grim. "I made a few calls. Adrian isn't just some possessive ex—he's a ghost."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Tyler crossed his arms. "His records are clean—too clean. No criminal history, no red flags, but people in my circle have heard his name before. He deals in security, sure, but he's been linked to… other activities. Off-the-record jobs, high-profile clients who don't ask questions. He has money, power, and the kind of influence that makes people disappear."

Jasmine paled. "I told you. He's not just dangerous—he's untouchable."

Shawn's jaw tightened. "No one is untouchable."

Tyler's lips curled into a smirk. "Especially not when the Sinclairs are involved."

Tyler's fingers brushed against mine before he stepped away, his touch lingering just long enough to steady me. His lips pressed against my forehead in a brief, grounding kiss. "I'll handle this, my love. " Then, he turned to Shawn and gave a firm nod—silent understanding passing between them.

Before leaving, Tyler's gaze landed on Jasmine, his expression turning cold. "You can stay. But listen carefully—if you so much as breathe wrong around Ann, the person you should be afraid of isn't Adrian." His voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "It's me."

I watched him leave, my heart pounding. Whatever Tyler was planning, it wouldn't be simple. Sinclair men didn't sit back and wait for problems to come to them—they eliminated them before they became threats.

Shawn turned his gaze back to Jasmine, his expression unreadable. "Get some rest. We'll talk in the morning."

Jasmine nodded, her posture tense. Veronica guided her toward the guest room, leaving Shawn and me alone.

The silence between us was thick, almost suffocating. Then, Shawn exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. "Ann… are you okay?"

I met his gaze, seeing the concern buried beneath the layers of anger and exhaustion. "I will be."