Chapter Seven

I stood frozen in the doorway, staring at the shattered window and the brick that lay on the coffee table. The tension in the room was suffocating, and Rex's silence as he read the note made it worse.

"What does it say?" I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Rex didn't answer immediately. He crumpled the paper in his fist, his jaw tight. "It's nothing," he said sharply.

"Nothing?" I repeated, taking a step closer. "Rex, someone threw a brick through the window and left a note. That's not 'nothing.'"

He turned to me, his eyes blazing. "I said I'll handle it."

His tone left no room for argument, but I wasn't about to back down. "Rex, if this is about Jane—" "It's not about Jane," he snapped, cutting me off. "Just go back to bed, Sarah. I'll take care of it."

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when I saw the frustration in his eyes. He was trying to protect me, even if he was doing it in the most infuriating way possible.

The next morning, the window was already repaired, and the living room looked as if nothing had happened. Rex was gone by the time I came downstairs, but there was a note waiting for me on the kitchen counter.

"Stay home today. Security has been tightened. Call me if you need anything. – Rex."

I sighed, crumpling the note in my hand. Staying home sounded easy enough, but my thoughts were anything but calm. Whoever had thrown that brick wasn't just sending a random message—they were targeting us.

The day passed slowly. I tried to distract myself by helping Marla in the kitchen and chatting with some of the staff, but my nerves were on edge. Every time the phone rang or a door creaked, I jumped.

By late afternoon, I decided to take a walk in the garden to clear my head. The fresh air and the soft rustling of leaves provided a brief sense of calm. But that calm shattered when I noticed a figure standing by the gate.

It was Jane.

Her bright red dress stood out against the greenery, and the smug smile on her face sent a chill down my spine.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice trembling as I approached.

"Relax, darling," she said, leaning casually against the gate. "I'm not here to cause trouble." "Then why are you here?"

Jane tilted her head, her smile widening. "I just wanted to see how you're holding up. It must be exhausting playing house with Rex."

I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay calm. "You need to leave. Now."

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere," she said, her tone mockingly sweet. "You see, Sarah, this little game you're playing won't last. Rex belongs to me, and it's only a matter of time before he realizes it."

"Rex doesn't belong to anyone," I shot back, my voice firmer now. "And this isn't a game, Jane. You can't just show up here and act like you own the place."

Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "We'll see about that," she said, turning on her heel and walking away.

I stood there, my heart racing as I watched her disappear down the street. When Rex returned that evening, I wasted no time telling him about Jane's visit.

"She was at the gate," I said, pacing the living room. "She's trying to intimidate me, Rex. This isn't just petty jealousy anymore... she's crossing the line."

Rex's expression darkened. "She came here?"

I nodded. "She said you belong to her, and she's not going to stop until she gets what she wants." He cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "I'll deal with her."

"How?" I asked, stopping in my tracks. "Rex, she's not just going to back off because you tell her to. She's determined to ruin this."

Rex sighed, his shoulders tense. "I'll take care of it, Sarah. You don't need to worry about Jane."

"But I do worry," I said, my voice rising. "She's not just coming after you, Rex. She's coming after us. Don't you see that?"

He looked at me, his expression softening. "I know this is hard, but you need to trust me. I won't let anything happen to you."

His words were reassuring, but they didn't erase the fear that had taken root in my chest.

The next day, Rex arranged for additional security around the mansion. Two guards were stationed at the gate, and cameras were installed at every entry point.

"Isn't this a bit much?" I asked as I watched the workers drill holes for the cameras. "Not after what happened," Rex said, his tone firm.

I didn't argue. The extra security was a small price to pay for peace of mind, though I wasn't sure it would be enough to stop Jane.

That evening, as we sat in the living room, Rex received a call that seemed to change his mood entirely. His expression darkened as he listened, and when he hung up, his jaw was tight.

"What is it?" I asked cautiously. "Just business," he said shortly.

But I knew better. Something was wrong, and he wasn't telling me. "Rex, if there's something I should know—"

"There's nothing to know," he interrupted, standing abruptly. "I'll be in my study."

I watched him leave, frustration bubbling inside me. He was shutting me out, and it was driving me crazy.

That night, I woke to the sound of faint voices coming from downstairs. I slipped out of bed and crept toward the staircase, my heart pounding.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw Rex standing by the front door, speaking in hushed tones with one of the guards.

"What's going on?" I asked, stepping into the room.

Rex turned, his expression unreadable. "Go back to bed, Sarah." "Not until you tell me what's happening," I said firmly.

He hesitated, then sighed. "There was an incident at the gate. Someone tried to break in." My blood ran cold. "Was it...?"

"We don't know who it was," he said quickly. "The guards scared them off before they could get inside. Everything's fine now."

But it didn't feel fine. The idea that someone had tried to break into the mansion, possibly Jane or someone working for her, sent a wave of fear through me.

"Sarah," Rex said, stepping closer. "You're safe. I promise."

I wanted to believe him, but the unease in his eyes told me he wasn't entirely sure himself.

Cliffhanger: Who was behind the break-in attempt, and how far will they go to get inside?