Diary Entry:
Date: November 25th, 10:42 PM
Dear Diary,
Grayson didn’t kill Evelyn. I know it now, deep down, in a way I can’t explain. There was something in his voice tonight, something raw and unguarded, that made me believe him. He’s been carrying the weight of her disappearance for years, blaming himself even though he doesn’t deserve to.
And for the first time, I feel safe in his presence. It’s strange—he’s always been the coldest of the brothers, the hardest to read, yet now I see glimpses of the person he tries so hard to hide. The one who protects, who cares, even when he won’t admit it.
But his warning… what does he mean by it? Why is he so afraid of his father?
Lila
The cold night air rushed into my room as I sat on the bed, lost in my thoughts. My curtains fluttered violently, and I jumped when I heard the faint sound of boots landing softly on the floor behind me.
“Grayson!” I gasped, turning to see him standing in the shadows by the window. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Sorry,” he muttered, though his tone didn’t sound apologetic. His face was shadowed, his jaw tense. “I needed to talk to you.”
“You couldn’t use the front door like a normal person?” I asked, crossing my arms.
His lips twitched, almost like a smirk, but it vanished as quickly as it came. “This isn’t a normal conversation.”
I frowned, standing up. “What’s going on?”
Grayson stepped closer, his intense blue eyes locking onto mine. “I’m leaving town. Temporarily.”
“What?” I said, my voice rising. “Why? Where are you going?”
“I have to take care of something,” he said cryptically.
“Take care of what?” I demanded, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “Grayson, you can’t keep doing this—showing up out of nowhere, saying something vague, and then disappearing again. I deserve an actual explanation.”
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s better if you don’t know.”
“No, it’s not,” I shot back. “I’m already in the middle of this mess, whether you like it or not. So just tell me the truth for once.”
Grayson hesitated, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, I thought he might actually tell me, but then he shook his head.
“All you need to know is that I’ll be gone for a few days,” he said quietly. “And if I’m not back in three days, stay far away from my father. Promise me, Lila.”
His words sent a chill down my spine. “Why? What does Victor have to do with this?”
Grayson’s jaw tightened, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “Just promise me.”
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. “I… I promise.”
“Good,” he said, stepping closer until he was just inches away from me. “And Lila, if anything happens while I’m gone, call Asher. He’ll know what to do.”
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.
Grayson’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, and I thought he might say more, but instead, he turned and climbed back out the window, disappearing into the night.
The next morning, I woke up feeling like I’d barely slept. Grayson’s warning echoed in my mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else. I tried to push it aside as I got ready for the day, but the knot in my stomach refused to go away.
As I headed downstairs, the sound of laughter caught my attention. My parents were standing by the front door, chatting with someone.
“Morning, sweetheart,” my mom said brightly when she saw me.
But I barely registered her words. My eyes were locked on the man standing on the porch, his sharp suit perfectly tailored, his polished smile directed at my parents.
Victor.
My blood ran cold as he turned to look at me, his expression calm and collected.
“Lila,” he said smoothly, his tone polite but with an undercurrent I couldn’t quite place. “Good morning.”
“What… what are you doing here?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“Victor was just dropping off some papers for work,” my dad explained, oblivious to the tension in the air. “We didn’t know you knew each other!”
“Oh, Lila and I are well acquainted,” Victor said, his smile widening ever so slightly.
I forced a tight smile, my heart pounding in my chest. “Yeah. We’ve… met.”
“Well, I should be going,” Victor said, stepping off the porch. “It was lovely seeing you both. And Lila.” His gaze lingered on me for a moment too long before he turned and walked toward his car.
I watched him drive away, my hands shaking.
“He’s such a nice man,” my mom said, closing the door. “He even offered to help us with some financial advice. Can you believe that?”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. All I could think about was Grayson’s warning.