Chapter 10: A Ghost Named Zuriel

Sheila felt the air shift.

Something was wrong.

She stood in the kitchen, absentmindedly stirring her tea, but her thoughts were miles away. Ever since she and Roy decided to go after Betheul's allies, she had been on edge.

And for good reason.

She had spent years running from her past, carefully locking away secrets she never wanted to face again. But now, it felt like the past was running toward her at full speed.

Roy's voice pulled her back to reality.

"Sheila, are you okay?"

She turned to see him leaning against the doorway, watching her closely.

She forced a smile. "Yeah, just thinking."

Roy stepped closer, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You're overworking yourself. We're in this together. You don't have to carry everything alone."

Sheila's heart twisted.

If only he knew the truth.

There was something she had never told him—something she had once told only one person.

And that person was Betheul.

---

Inside the Lion's Den

Inside his cell, Betheul lit a cigarette, the tip glowing red in the dim light. His smirk was lazy, amused.

The man across from him was impatient.

Zuriel.

"You're wasting time, Betheul," Zuriel muttered, his voice edged with irritation. "Why am I here?"

Betheul chuckled, exhaling a trail of smoke. "Relax. I brought you in for a reason."

Zuriel's sharp brown eyes narrowed. "Sheila?"

Betheul grinned. "Exactly."

Zuriel exhaled, running a hand through his short, neatly trimmed hair. "I haven't seen her in years. What do you want from me?"

Betheul leaned forward, his smirk fading. "I want you to remind her who she really is."

Zuriel's jaw tightened. "She's not that woman anymore."

Betheul chuckled. "You say that like you believe it."

Zuriel didn't respond.

Betheul tapped his cigarette against the edge of the table. "Sheila thinks she's won. She thinks she can erase her past, rewrite it into some fairytale where she's the hero. But we both know the truth, don't we?"

Zuriel's hands curled into fists. "What do you expect me to do?"

Betheul smiled darkly. "Go to her. Say what needs to be said. Watch her crumble."

Zuriel's throat tightened.

He knew what Betheul was asking.

And deep down, he knew he couldn't refuse.

Not when it came to Sheila.

---

A Familiar Stranger

It was late when the doorbell rang.

Sheila frowned, glancing at the clock. Who would come at this hour?

Roy was in his office, working on their next move against Betheul. She considered ignoring it, but something in her gut told her to check.

She walked cautiously to the door, unlocking it.

The moment she saw him, her breath caught.

Zuriel.

Her past slammed into her like a wave.

His face was the same—sharp jawline, piercing eyes, the familiar shadow of stubble. He wore a simple black shirt, his posture relaxed but watchful.

Sheila's heart pounded. "What are you doing here?"

Zuriel smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Is that how you greet an old friend?"

Sheila's grip on the door tightened. "You shouldn't be here."

Zuriel exhaled. "I know. But we need to talk."

She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. "Roy is inside."

Zuriel's expression darkened slightly. "Does he know?"

Sheila swallowed hard. "Know what?"

Zuriel leaned closer, lowering his voice. "About us."

A chill ran down her spine.

She had told Betheul everything back then. Everything. And now, he had sent the one man she never wanted to see again.

Roy didn't know about Zuriel.

Didn't know about the man she once ran to when everything fell apart.

Didn't know about the nights she spent in Zuriel's arms, thinking he was her escape.

Didn't know that for a brief, painful moment, she had truly loved him.

And then he had betrayed her.

---

Buried Truths

Sheila stepped outside, closing the door behind her. "Say what you need to say and leave."

Zuriel studied her carefully. "You look different."

She crossed her arms. "People change."

His smirk faded. "Do they?"

Sheila clenched her jaw. "I'm not the same woman you knew, Zuriel."

He nodded slowly. "And yet, you still look afraid."

She stiffened. "I'm not afraid."

Zuriel tilted his head. "Then why haven't you told Roy about me?"

Her breath hitched.

He knew.

He knew the one thing she had been terrified of.

Roy thought he knew everything about her past. But Zuriel was the missing piece—the one secret she had buried so deep she almost convinced herself it never happened.

Sheila exhaled sharply. "What do you want?"

Zuriel hesitated, and for the first time, his confidence wavered. "I need you to listen, Sheila. Betheul isn't just coming after you—he's setting a trap."

Sheila frowned. "What kind of trap?"

Zuriel's gaze was intense. "He wants to destroy you. Not just your reputation. Not just your life. He wants to break you."

Sheila swallowed hard. "And why should I trust you?"

Zuriel sighed. "Because despite everything… I never wanted to hurt you."

Sheila's chest tightened. "You already did."

Zuriel's jaw tensed. "I know."

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

Then, the front door opened.

Sheila turned sharply—Roy stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

His eyes flickered between them. "Who is this?"

Sheila's heart pounded.

Zuriel smirked, stepping forward. "I'm an old friend."

Roy's gaze darkened. "I don't believe in coincidences. Why are you here?"

Sheila opened her mouth to explain, but no words came.

Zuriel glanced at her, then back at Roy. "Ask your wife."

Roy's jaw tightened.

Sheila's stomach twisted.

She had wanted to keep this part of her past buried forever.

But now, it was staring Roy in the face.

And she had no idea how to explain.