As soon as he left the room, my phone vibrated weakly on the nightstand. Its screen was cracked from the accident, but still functional.
I reached for it with difficulty, my breath hitching as Colette’s name flashed across the notification bar.
As I tapped the message open, a video file stared back at me, the play button almost mocking.
With trembling fingers, I pressed it.
The screen flickered to life, showing dimly lit security footage. At first, I could not understand what I was looking at—until I saw them.
Raphael’s parents.
They were seated in a grand dining hall, conversing with someone just outside the frame.
“…it’s been almost a year now. If she doesn’t leave willingly, we’ll have to force her hand,” Raphael’s father said.
“The Delaunay girl is reckless. One little accident and she’ll be out of Raphael’s life for good. That’s all we need.”
The blood in my veins turned to ice.
I barely noticed the message that followed until it flashed across my screen.
[That’s why, as your best friend, I warned you to leave. Or you’ll be in danger forever.]
Another message came in.