Chapter 69 Rumors about Damian's arrest
The rumors reached Lila before the truth ever could.
She was halfway through Professor Mercer’s morning lecture when a pair of girls behind her whispered just loud enough for the entire row to hear.
“They arrested him early today.”
“Yeah, Damian. For Tessa.”
“I guess he finally snapped.”
Lila froze.
Her pen slipped from her fingers and clattered onto her desk, echoing through the silent room. Mercer paused mid-sentence, glancing toward her, but Lila barely noticed. She stared straight ahead, vision blurring as the words repeated in her skull.
They arrested him. Damian? No, this is too much.
Her heart felt like it was sinking into her stomach.
More whispers spread.
“He was the last one seen with her.”
“Coach Reeves said the police took him in cuffs.”
“Bet he did it. He’s obsessed with redheads.”
Lila’s chest tightened so sharply she almost leaned forward in pain. Her breath came in small, uneven pulls. Mercer continued lecturing, but the words dissolved into meaningless noise.
Damian wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not like that. Not Tessa. Not Ava. Not my sister.
A shaking hand covered her mouth.
When class ended, she didn’t move until the room emptied and she could no longer pretend she was okay.
That was when Asher stepped inside.
He had probably been waiting outside the whole time. His tall frame filled the door, and for once his sharp features softened the moment he saw her.
“Lila.” His voice wasn’t stern, wasn’t cold, it was something worse. Quiet and controlled. Like he’d been expecting this.
Lila looked up at him with wet eyes, blinking fast to stop more tears from falling. She failed.
Asher exhaled heavily and walked toward her. “You heard.”
She nodded, unable to speak.
He crouched beside her desk so he was eye level. “I warned you about him. And now you see it, don’t you?”
Her lips parted. “Asher.”
“You see it now,” he repeated, more forcefully this time. “Damian keeps getting involved right before something terrible happens. Your sister, Ruby, Ava, and now Tessa. You think that’s a coincidence?”
“It is a coincidence,” she insisted, voice cracking. “Damian didn’t kill anyone!”
Asher’s jaw tightened. His eyes, usually unreadable, were sharpened with frustration.
“Lila, be serious.”
“I am serious!” Her voice rose, sounding like a breaking wave. “He wouldn’t strangle someone. He wouldn’t, he wouldn't stage roses on someone’s chest. That's sick and twisted, that's not Damian.”
That’s the man who killed Serena, she almost added. But the words stuck in her throat, thick with dread.
Asher studied her for a long moment.
Then he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
“You’re crying over him,” he said softly.
“I’m crying because someone innocent is being blamed.”
“So you trust him?”
“More than anyone right now,” she whispered.
A shadow crossed Asher’s face. A flash of something like hurt, maybe but it vanished too quickly for her to be sure.
He stood up abruptly. The movement startled her.
“And what if you’re wrong?” he asked.
“Then what, Lila? What if you’re defending someone dangerous?”
She shook her head again and again. “Damian is not dangerous.”
Asher didn’t respond right away. He looked away, jaw clenched, thoughts clearly racing.
She’s blinded. He’s gotten too close to her.
If he’s guilty, she’ll be next. If he’s not, then why does trouble follow her everywhere?
Why does every red-haired girl drop dead?
Asher swallowed hard.
“I don’t want you getting hurt,” he said finally.
“I already am,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes for a moment. Then, in a quiet voice she almost didn’t hear. “I hate seeing you like this.”
Lila’s breath hitched.
Asher turned back to her, expression tightening into something more protective than annoyed. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here before Mercer starts asking questions.”
She let him help her up. Her knees were still weak. He steadied her with a hand on her elbow gently and carefully like she was fragile glass.
They walked out together, silence thick between them. Students watched them pass, whispering but Lila barely heard them.
Her mind was still back in that interrogation room she imagined for Damian, a cold metal chair, harsh lights, accusing eyes.
“He must be terrified. He must feel alone.
I should go to the station. I should..”
Asher stopped walking, suddenly interrupting her thoughts.
“Lila.”
She blinked. “What?”
“There’s something else you should know.”
His voice dropped lower.
“What… what is it?”
Asher hesitated.
For the first time since she’d known him, he looked uncertain like he was debating whether telling her would protect her or destroy her.
“Earlier,” he said slowly, “I overheard two officers talking in the parking lot. About the crime scene.”
Lila’s heartbeat spiked.
“What about it?”
Asher swallowed, then met her eyes.
“They said there was a fourth gift.”
“What.. what do you mean?”
Asher exhaled shakily. “They said the killer left something else behind at the bleachers. Something small. Something they didn’t release to the public.”
Lila’s blood ran cold.
“What was it?” she whispered.
Asher’s voice dropped to barely a breath.
“A photo.” He paused. “A photo of you.”
Lila stopped walking.
Asher watched fear wash over her face, his own stomach tightening with something dark.
He stepped closer. “Lila, I think he’s tightening the circle around you.”
Her lungs felt too tight, like she couldn’t pull in enough air. Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
The killer left a photo of her with Tessa’s body. Why? Why now? Why her?
Her voice came out faint and shattered.
“Asher, what kind of photo?”
He hesitated. Then, barely audible: “One taken recently.” His eyes locked onto hers.
“Taken when you didn’t even know someone was watching.”
Before Lila could speak, before she could even process the horror sinking into her bones.
Asher’s phone buzzed.
He checked it.
His entire expression changed.
“What is it?” Lila whispered.
Asher stared at the screen, color draining from his face.
“It’s… it’s from an unknown number.”
He slowly turned the phone so she could see.
A single message:
“Tell her I’ll be picking her up soon.”
Then a second message appeared right in front of them as if the sender knew she was reading.
A live photo of Lila taken from outside her dorm window.
Lila’s breath stopped.
And Asher whispered, voice trembling.
“Lila… he’s here.”