Chapter 4: The Threat Within

Sheila's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the message on Roy's phone.

"Does she tell you everything, Roy? Or do you only hear what she wants you to?"

The room felt smaller. The walls seemed to close in.

Her past wasn't just knocking on the door anymore. It was inside, whispering in her ear, reminding her that she could never truly escape.

Roy turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Sheila… who sent this?"

She knew lying wouldn't work. The truth had been circling them for too long.

"It's Betheul," she whispered.

Roy's jaw tightened. "The man from last night?"

She nodded.

Roy exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "And who exactly is he?"

Sheila opened her mouth, then shut it again. How could she explain Betheul in a way that Roy would understand? In a way that wouldn't make him look at her differently?

"He's… a man I used to be involved with," she finally said.

Roy's eyes darkened. "Involved how?"

Sheila hesitated, her fingers tightening around the bedsheet.

If she said too little, he wouldn't understand the danger. If she said too much, he might walk away.

"He wasn't just a past lover, Roy," she admitted. "He controlled me. He owned me."

Roy's grip on his phone tightened. "Owned you?"

Sheila let out a shaky breath. "I was his… property. That's how he saw me. I was young, reckless. I thought I had everything under control, but he—" She swallowed hard. "He was different. He didn't just use me. He made me believe I needed him."

Roy's fists clenched. "Did he hurt you?"

Sheila looked away. The answer was in her silence.

Roy cursed under his breath. "And now he's back?"

"Yes," she said. "And he's not the kind of man who lets things go."

Roy stood up and started pacing. He was angry—Sheila could see it in the way his muscles tensed. But it wasn't the kind of anger that frightened her.

It was the kind that made her feel protected.

"I need to know exactly what we're dealing with," Roy said, his voice firm. "What does he want?"

Sheila shook her head. "I don't know. But if he's contacting you, it means he's serious."

Roy turned back to her. "Then we'll be ready for whatever he tries."

Sheila wished she could believe that.

But Betheul wasn't like the men Roy was used to dealing with. He didn't fight fair.

And if he couldn't have Sheila…

He would destroy everything around her instead.

---

Later That Day…

Sheila sat in the café across from Roy, staring into her untouched cup of tea.

Roy had insisted they get out of the apartment for a while. "We need a clear head," he had said. But even as they sat among the sound of clinking cups and soft chatter, Sheila felt anything but clear.

Roy watched her carefully. "You've barely spoken since this morning."

She forced a small smile. "Just thinking."

Roy leaned forward. "Then tell me. No more hiding, Sheila."

She sighed. "You want the truth?"

"Yes."

She met his gaze. "The truth is, Betheul isn't just here to scare me. He's here to destroy me. He always said if he couldn't have me, no one could."

Roy's jaw tightened. "He's not going to touch you."

Sheila let out a bitter laugh. "You don't understand, Roy. He's not like you. He plays dirty. He knows things. Things that could ruin us."

Roy didn't flinch. "Let him try."

Sheila shook her head. "You don't get it. Betheul knows about my past. He knows who I've been with, what I've done. If he exposes everything—"

"Then we deal with it," Roy said firmly.

Sheila blinked. "You say that like it's easy."

Roy reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "Because I don't care about your past, Sheila. I care about you. Now. Today. That's all that matters."

She wanted to believe him.

But she also knew that words were easy.

Actions were what truly mattered.

And soon, Betheul would force Roy to prove every word he just said.

---

That Night…

Sheila and Roy returned to his apartment, exhaustion weighing on them both.

Roy locked the door behind them. "I don't want you alone for now," he said. "If Betheul is watching, we need to be careful."

Sheila nodded, but deep down, she knew careful wasn't enough.

Betheul wouldn't just stand outside and watch.

He was already inside their lives.

And he was about to strike.

The first sign came at midnight.

Sheila was sitting on the couch, flipping through channels mindlessly, when her phone buzzed.

A message.

Her stomach dropped.

She hesitated before looking at the screen.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Check your email, darling.

Her hands shook as she opened her inbox.

And then she saw it. Dozens of pictures.

Pictures of her with men. Powerful men.

Some from years ago. Some more recent than she wanted to admit.

All of them proof of the life she had tried to leave behind.

At the bottom of the email was a message.

"You didn't really think I'd forget, did you? The past doesn't stay buried, Sheila. Either you come back to me… or I release these to the world."

Sheila's entire body went cold.

This was worse than she had imagined.

This wasn't just about her anymore.

If these photos got out, it wouldn't just ruin her life.

It would ruin Roy's.

His reputation. His family name. His career.

Everything he had built would be tainted—because of her.

Tears burned in her eyes. She had two choices.

Stay with Roy and let Betheul destroy them both.

Or leave… and save the only man who had ever truly loved her.

She turned, watching Roy as he slept peacefully on the couch.

He had no idea what was coming.

No idea that by morning, she might be gone.

Sheila wiped her tears.

For the first time in her life, she had something worth protecting.

And if leaving was the only way to protect Roy…

Then she would do it. Even if it broke her heart.