Chapter 8: The Ghost of Betheul

Sheila stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself. The night air was cool, but her skin burned with unease.

Betheul was gone. Arrested. Locked away.

So why did she still feel his presence?

Roy walked up behind her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "You're shaking," he murmured.

Sheila exhaled, leaning into him. "I keep hearing his voice, Roy. I keep seeing his face. It's like he's still here, watching me."

Roy's arms tightened around her. "He's not. He can't hurt you anymore."

Sheila wished she could believe that.

But deep down, she knew better.

Betheul wasn't the type to accept defeat.

And something told her—this wasn't over.

---

A City That Never Forgets

The news broke the next morning.

"Business Tycoon Arrested in Connection to Criminal Activities."

Betheul's face was plastered all over the headlines. Some called it justice. Others whispered that the charges wouldn't stick.

Sheila scrolled through the comments online, her stomach twisting.

"He'll never stay locked up."

"A man like Betheul has too much power."

"I give it a few months before he's back."

She dropped her phone, pressing a hand against her forehead.

They were right.

Roy sat across from her, sipping his coffee. "You need to stop reading that nonsense."

Sheila shook her head. "I just… I don't trust the system, Roy. What if he gets out? What if—"

Roy reached across the table, taking her hand. "Then we deal with it. Together."

Sheila met his gaze. He was strong. Steady. The only thing keeping her from drowning in fear.

But even Roy couldn't control what happened next.

And that terrified her.

---

A Warning From the Inside

Later that afternoon, Roy received an unexpected call.

"Donovan?" Roy frowned, placing the phone on speaker.

Sheila sat beside him, listening closely.

"You two really thought it was over, didn't you?" Donovan's voice held an edge of amusement.

Sheila's heart pounded. "What do you mean?"

Donovan sighed. "Betheul's been making calls from prison. He still has connections. And let's just say… he's not done with you."

Sheila's stomach twisted.

Roy's expression darkened. "What's he planning?"

"I don't know the details," Donovan admitted. "But I do know this—he's not going to rot in a cell forever. He has friends in high places, and sooner or later, one of them is going to get him out."

Sheila clenched her fists. "So what do we do?"

"You get ahead of him," Donovan said simply. "Find out who his allies are. Cut them off before they can act."

Roy exhaled sharply. "Easier said than done."

Donovan chuckled. "Nothing worth doing is ever easy."

The call ended, leaving a heavy silence between them.

Sheila turned to Roy. "If he gets out…"

Roy squeezed her hand. "We won't wait for that to happen."

Sheila nodded, determination replacing her fear.

If Betheul thought he could control her again, he was wrong.

This time, she would be ready.

---

A Ghost from the Past

The next morning, Sheila and Roy visited Donovan in person.

The man leaned back in his chair, sipping whiskey at ten in the morning. "So, you're serious about this?"

Roy nodded. "We need names, Donovan. Who's still protecting Betheul?"

Donovan smirked. "Now you're thinking like a fighter."

He placed a file on the table and slid it toward them.

Sheila hesitated before opening it.

Inside were pictures. Documents. Lists of names.

Powerful men.

Men who had once paid for her company.

Her stomach churned.

Roy studied the papers, his expression unreadable. "These are government officials. Businessmen. People with influence."

Donovan nodded. "And they all have one thing in common—they don't want Betheul talking."

Sheila's blood ran cold. "You mean… they want him dead?"

Donovan shrugged. "If he stays locked up too long, they might see him as a liability. But if they can get him out first? Well… he'll be more dangerous than ever."

Sheila gripped the edge of the table.

This wasn't just about Betheul anymore.

This was about the system that protected him.

The same system that had used her, discarded her, and now wanted her silenced.

Roy turned to her. "We have to expose them."

Sheila swallowed hard. "And if they come after us?"

Roy met her gaze, his expression firm. "Then we fight back."

---

A Dangerous Decision

That night, Sheila lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

Roy slept beside her, his arm draped protectively over her waist.

But sleep wouldn't come.

Her mind was racing.

She had spent years trying to escape her past.

Now, she had to face it.

And this time, she wasn't just fighting for herself.

She was fighting for Roy. For their future.

For the chance to finally be free.

She turned her head, watching Roy's peaceful expression.

She couldn't let Betheul win. She wouldn't.

Determined, she slipped out of bed, grabbed her laptop, and opened the file Donovan had given them.

If she wanted to end this…

She had to be the one to strike first.