Chapter 53: A whisper in the dark

Jessica’s POV

The sound of footsteps woke me before dawn. At first, I thought I was dreaming, but when my eyes fluttered open, I saw Michael moving around the room quietly, pulling on his shirt. His silhouette was faint in the darkness with his movements careful .

“Michael?” I whispered, my voice groggy.

He froze halfway, turning toward me. “Go back to sleep,” he said softly, though there was a sharpness in his tone, the kind that made my stomach twist.

I turned on my side and forced a sleepy smile. “Come back to bed,” I murmured. “It’s too late for whatever it is you are planning.”

For a moment he just stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, wordlessly, he came back, sliding beside me. His body was tense, I could feel it even through the blanket. I faced away from him, pretending to fall asleep while my mind raced.

When morning light filled the room, he was gone. His side of the bed was cold. I sat up, stretching, trying to shake off the unease that always came after nights like this. Downstairs, I could already hear his voice, talking to someone on the phone.

I fixed the bed neatly and went into the bathroom to freshen up. The water was hot, steaming against my skin, but it couldn’t wash away the cold feeling of being watched, and controlled.

By the time I came out wrapped in a towel, Michael had returned upstairs. He was leaning against the doorframe, watching me. With a blank expression.

“Get ready,” he said flatly. “We’re eating breakfast downstairs.”

I nodded quickly, “Okay.”

As I dressed, I could feel his eyes on me, studying every move like he was trying to read my thoughts. The silence between us was heavy, and uncomfortable. At the table, I tried to act normal smiling faintly, and the smell of coffee filled the air, but it only made me nauseous. Michael kept his gaze fixed on me, calm, but suspicious.

Finally, his personal guard came in. He leaned down and whispered something to Michael. Whatever it was, it made him stand up instantly.

“Finish your food,” he told me, then turned to him. “Let’s go.”

As soon as he left, I exhaled sharply. My hands were trembling. I grabbed my phone and started deleting everything that might give him a hint.

By the time he came back, I had already set it face down on the table.c“You are quiet,” he said, sitting down again. “I am just tired,” I replied softly.

He looked at me for a long time, then smirked like he didn’t believe a word I said. I could feel my heart pounding. After breakfast, he pushed his chair back. “I’m going out,” he said, grabbing his keys. “I don’t know when I will be back.”

Before I could even think, I blurted out, “Okay, no problem.” He froze mid step, slowly turning his head toward me. The way he stared, it was as if my words had stung his pride. “No problem?” he repeated, his voice calm but dangerous.

I swallowed hard, realizing how fast I had said it. “I mean... I just meant… be safe.”

His lips curved in a slow, mocking smile. “Right,” he said, and for a moment I thought he might say something else. But instead, he just slipped his sunglasses on and walked out.

The door shut behind him. I stood there frozen for a few seconds before I finally let out the breath I was holding. “He’s gone,” I whispered to myself, then went to wash my plate. Every sound in the house made me flinch. Even the ticking of the clock sounded too loud. When I finally went upstairs, I locked the bedroom door behind me.

For once, the silence felt safe.

I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to gather my thoughts. What if he checked the cameras? What if he left someone behind to spy on me?

Then suddenly, a hand covered my mouth.

I gasped, instinctively trying to scream, but the hand was firm. I was pulled back, my feet scraping against the floor.

My heart stopped when I saw who it was.

“Nick?” I whispered the second his hand moved away.

He looked tense, eyes darting toward the door. “Quiet,” he said in a low voice. “Someone might hear.”

“What are you doing here?” I hissed. “You scared me half to death.”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair out of my face. His fingers lingered, tracing the side of my cheek.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly. “You look pale. He’s not hurting you, is he?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, no. I’m fine. Why would you even... ”

“Because you don’t look fine,” he interrupted. “You used to smile more, you know that? You used to laugh. Now… you look like someone who’s constantly waiting for something bad to happen.”

I turned my face away. “You shouldn’t be here,” I said, my voice trembling. “If Michael finds out... ”

“I don’t care,” he said sharply, his voice full of emotion. “I don’t care anymore.”

He took a step closer, and I felt the warmth of his breath on my skin. My heart was racing.

“Nick,” I whispered, “please don’t do this.”

He stared at me with something deep and pained in his eyes. “Since it’s come to this, I might as well tell you,” he said quietly. “I love you, Jess. I have always loved you.”

My eyes widened. “Nick... ”

“I’m serious,” he said. “Every time I see you with him, pretending to be okay, it kills me inside. You don’t deserve this, He doesn't deserve you.”

I could barely speak, His words hit me like a storm.

“You can’t... you can’t say things like that,” I whispered, glancing toward the door in panic. “He’ll kill you if he hears.”

Nick smiled faintly, though his eyes were heavy. “Then I will die knowing I told you the truth.”

Something in my chest twisted painfully. For a brief second, I wanted to cry, not just out of fear, but from how broken this all was.

“Nick,” I said, my voice trembling, “please. Just… stop. You don’t understand what he’s capable of.”

He reached out again, this time holding my face with both hands. “Then let me protect you,” he whispered.

I blinked rapidly, forcing back tears. “You don’t know what you’re saying,” I murmured. “If he finds out... ”

“He won’t,” he said, interrupting again. “I’ll make sure of it.” There was a knock downstairs, and we both froze. Nick’s expression shifted immediately, the softness disappeared, replaced by alertness. “He’s back early,” he whispered, stepping away from me. “Act normal. Pretend I was never here.”

Before I could say anything, he quietly opened the bathroom door and slipped out, vanishing like a shadow. My legs felt weak as I sat down on the edge of the bathtub, clutching my chest, my heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe.

A few seconds later, I heard Michael’s voice echo from downstairs.

“Jess?”

I wiped my eyes quickly and called back, forcing my voice to sound normal. “Yes?”

“Come downstairs,” he said. “I forgot something".