CHAPTER 27
“The moment of revelation has come—and with it, the pain that’s haunted us for so long...”
ISABELLE CAMPBELL
There were dozens of missed calls on my phone.
Jefrey, my friend, had left a message saying he needed to talk to me urgently. We agreed to meet by the mansion’s gate, and about thirty minutes later, we were standing by the sidewalk, talking.
“You’ve become really hard to find lately,” he said. “You weren’t at your house the day before yesterday or last night.”
“I’m sorry. There’ve been... some problems with my house.”
“Problems?”
“Yeah.”
I told Jefrey everything that had happened over the past month—the people who had shown up at my house, and how, after two weeks, they’d destroyed most of it.
“My God! And what did the police say?”
“They don’t know anything. Colin’s the one helping me. He even had my house rebuilt.”
I smiled.
Just remembering that makes me feel giddy—like a kid. I don’t know, there’s something about realizing he cares about me that just warms me inside. I feel safe around him. Don’t judge me. I know he’s not perfect—neither am I—but I can’t deny that his gestures feel genuine.
“Colin Adams? That’s... well, that’s strange to hear,” Jefrey said, scratching his head. “Especially after you asked me to dig up some things about him.”
I had completely forgotten I’d asked Jefrey to help me find information on Colin. The memory only hit me at that moment.
“And? Did you find anything important?”
“Yeah. Sorry it took me so long, it’s just...”
Jefrey paused, glancing upward as if searching for the right word.
“I don’t even know how to explain it. There’s a lot of information on this guy—too much, honestly—and I never knew what to trust. It wasn’t easy.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Look... if I were you, I’d start looking for another job. Working for a boss like that isn’t going to end well, and I can guarantee everything I found checks out. Anyway, it’s up to you what to do with it.”
He handed me a flash drive.
“Read it all. And be careful with that guy, Isabelle. Seriously. Be very careful.”
“Jefrey, he’s a good man.”
“Funny hearing you say that.” He held my hands, his tone grave. “Look, I’m not saying he’s treated you badly, but the things I found about him... they’re not great. Just see for yourself and draw your own conclusions. There’s plenty there.”
A day went by, and I was delighted to be back in my own home.
Everything felt new, and every little detail I noticed charmed me. Colin had done a great job, and I still had no idea how to thank him.
The moment his name crossed my mind, I remembered Jefrey—and the flash drive he’d given me. I stepped out for a few minutes and talked to Lauren.
After we’d moved back, I showed her my newest little corner.
“Everything looks gorgeous. It’s insane how in love he is,” she teased.
“Lauren, don’t start with your crazy theories.”
“Even a blind man could see it. The guy’s head over heels for you.”
“He helped me out, that’s all—and I don’t even know how to repay him.”
“Oh, I do.”
We chatted for a few more minutes, and then I asked if she’d mind lending me her laptop for the night.
“Sure. Bring it back tomorrow when you get back from the mansion.”
I nodded.
Lauren ran to her place and came back with the laptop.
“Don’t break my baby or we’ll have a serious problem.”
“Got it,” I said with a smile.
I went to my room, took a breath, and plugged the flash drive in.
I wasn’t sure why, but I was scared of whatever Jefrey had found. The way he’d talked about it was unsettling, which told me his discoveries might be more serious than I’d imagined.
I opened the folder labeled “Colin Adams,” and for the next few hours I read everything…