Chapter 248
Chapter 248
Emily's POV
I stared at my phone screen, my finger hovering over the words "Saas-Fee ski resort in Switzerland."
Stefan did go to that resort every year. Every single winter, without fail. He said the scenery was beautiful, that it was his favorite place. The air was crisp, the snow perfect.
But he'd never mentioned it was because of a girl.
I thought back to how he looked every time he returned from Switzerland. Calm, relaxed, even better than before he left. No signs of anything unusual. No weighted stares, no spacing out, no sudden silences.
If there really was some girl he couldn't forget, would he come back looking like that?
I put the phone down, then picked it up again, rereading those messages over and over.
"Is this just a scam?" I muttered to myself.
There were all kinds of fraud schemes these days. Maybe someone had researched Stefan's travel patterns, knew he went to Switzerland regularly, and made up a story to mess with our relationship. For what? Blackmail? Revenge?
I needed to find out who sent this.
Pulling up my contacts, I found the encrypted number of the private investigator I'd used during my revenge plans. My finger paused on the screen for a few seconds—should I take this step? Did this mean I didn't trust Stefan?
God, what was I thinking.
I just wanted to know who was messaging me. This was normal precaution. It didn't mean I doubted Stefan.
I took a screenshot of that unknown number and sent it to the investigator, requesting the account holder's information and IP address.
After sending it, I stood up and paced around the room. My footsteps were quiet on the floor, but I could hear my heartbeat. Once, twice, faster than usual.
The phone sat on the desk, screen facing up. Every few steps, I glanced at it, waiting for a response.
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty minutes.
I sat down on the sofa by the window, trying to calm myself. Deep breath. Once, twice.
If I could find out who this was, I could figure out if the message was real.
If it was a scammer, I'd report them to the police.
If it was someone who knew Stefan...
My phone buzzed.
I practically jumped to the desk. The investigator had sent back the results.
IP address located within Washington, D.C. Unable to pinpoint exact location—the sender had used multiple proxy layers.
Phone card registered owner: Anna Ashford.
I stared at that name, feeling my blood turn cold.
Anna. Stefan's aunt.
Why would she send me something like this?
I sat back in the chair, my mind racing. Jonathan had mentioned that Anna escaped last week and was being hunted. She was hiding in Washington, yet deliberately sent me this message to stir up trouble.
What was she trying to accomplish?
Destroy my relationship with Stefan? Make me doubt him? Or did she... actually know something?
I remembered the first time I met Anna. She'd made me peel chestnuts with my bare hands, her tone dripping with contempt. She thought I wasn't good enough for Stefan, thought I was some kind of threat.
But if she really had this "ace up her sleeve" about Stefan having someone else in his heart, why not use it then? Why wait until now?
Unless... unless she wasn't sure then. Or she just found out. Or she was betting on me falling apart on my own.
"Damn it." I pressed my palm to my forehead.
Pregnancy made me more emotional. I knew this. Hormonal changes, the doctor had explained. But knowing was one thing, controlling it was another.
I checked the time. 4:30 PM.
Stefan usually got home around six. I could wait for him at the gate, like I normally did. Then observe his reaction.
Or I could just ask him about Anna.
But if I asked, would he think I was doubting him?
I rubbed my eyes. My head hurt a little.
Fine. I'd wait until he got home.
---
The sunset painted the courtyard orange-yellow. I stood at the gate, hands in my coat pockets. October evenings were already getting chilly, but I needed fresh air.
A familiar black car appeared in the distance.
My heart started racing again. I took a deep breath, forcing my shoulders to relax.
The car stopped at the gate and Stefan stepped out from the back seat. When he saw me, his eyebrows lifted slightly, and he walked quickly over, his arm naturally wrapping around my waist.
"How come you're waiting outside?" His voice was warm. "It's getting cold."
I felt the heat from his palm through my clothes. That familiar touch, that familiar tone of concern.
He looked completely normal. Caring about me, just like always.
"Just wanted some air," I said, leaning into him. "How was your day?"
"Not bad." He kissed my forehead. "Meetings ran a bit long, but everything's handled. What about you? Did you rest well?"
"Yeah. Slept for over an hour."
We walked toward the house side by side, his hand still around my waist.
Should I ask? Now?
"I heard Anna left last week?" When the words came out, my voice was calmer than I expected.
Stefan's stride didn't change. "Yeah, I know. Have people looking for her."
"You... didn't tell me before."
He turned to look at me, brow furrowing slightly. "Didn't want you worrying about these trivial matters. You need to focus on the pregnancy and staying healthy."
His tone was open. No evasion, no hesitation.
"Anna's irrelevant," he added. "I'll handle it."
I studied his expression carefully. His face was natural, his tone calm, his eyes meeting mine without flinching.
Maybe he really was just trying to keep me from worrying?
Maybe everything Anna said was a lie?
"Okay." I nodded. "I was just curious why she suddenly left."
"She has her own life to live," Stefan said, pushing open the door. "Don't overthink it. Are you hungry? Jonathan said dinner's almost ready."
I followed him inside, my fingers clenched into fists in my coat pockets.
He'd been completely natural talking about Anna. No abnormal reactions. No nervousness, no guilt.
But why would Anna mention that girl? Was what she said true or just made up?
---
After dinner, Stefan went to his second-floor study to handle some urgent work. I walked alone in the courtyard.
October nights were quiet. Moonlight spilled across the stone path, and the daisy leaves swayed gently in the breeze.
Anna said that girl wasn't dead. Said she knew where she was. Said she'd tell Stefan before 8 PM tonight.
If there really was such a girl, how would Stefan react?
He would... what would he do?
I stopped walking, my hand resting on my stomach.
Was I really just his "second choice" because he couldn't have her?
No. That's not right.
I remembered what he asked me in that hospital hallway: "After the baby comes, will you still love me?"
I remembered how he said "I love you" almost every morning.
I remembered him holding my hand, the fear and longing in his eyes.
That wasn't acting. That was real.
But what if he did have some "stunning first love" in his heart? That wouldn't contradict him loving me now. People could have memories of the past and feelings in the present at the same time.
The question was... had he told me about it?
Had he hidden it from me?
I circled the courtyard once, then again. The cool breeze on my face cleared my head a little.
Back in the master bedroom, I took a hot shower. Hot water poured over my shoulders, steam filling the bathroom. But it didn't wash away the unease.
Wrapped in my bathrobe, I sat on the edge of the bed, looking at my phone.
7:15 PM.
Forty-five minutes until eight o'clock.
I couldn't keep spiraling like this.
Instead of waiting, I should just ask him directly.
I stood up, taking a deep breath. Straightened the collar of my bathrobe, making sure I looked calm enough.
Walking to the vanity, I looked at myself in the mirror. My face was a bit pale, my eyes showing anxiety I couldn't hide.
"You trust Stefan," I whispered to myself. "You two shouldn't have secrets."
Another deep breath.
Okay. Go ask him.
I left the master bedroom and walked down the hallway toward the study. Each step was firm, but my palms were sweating.
When I reached the study door, I found it slightly ajar.
Through the gap, I saw Stefan sitting at his desk, working on documents. The desk lamp cast light on his profile, and he was frowning, looking very focused.