Chapter 211 Declan the stalker?

Chapter 211 Declan the stalker?
A sudden, ice-cold chill crept slowly down my spine, pooling at the base of my neck before spreading down my arms. The noise of the busy hallway—the rustling papers, the anxious chatter, the heavy footsteps—seemed to mute into a low, distant hum.

I stared at Declan, my stomach twisting into a tight, sickening knot.

I never told him.

I had never mentioned the National Future Scholars Competition to Declan. Not once. My dream university, this specific scholarship, and my longing to apply were secrets locked tightly within the pages of my private diary.

Prior to this very moment, I had spent days convincing myself that the mysterious gifts, the nickname, and the sudden, paid application were all somehow tied to Tobias. 

He was the only person who had ever had access to my diary in the past. But now, standing under the bright fluorescent lights of the hallway, watching Declan look at me with that casual, knowing smile, the realization hit me like a physical blow.

A profound, bone-deep shock paralyzed me. My breath hitched in my throat, and I looked at him, my eyes wide with a terrifying blend of panic and suspicion.

"How do you know that, Declan?" my voice came out strained, barely above a whisper, but laced with a sharp edge.

Declan’s smile flickered slightly, but he casually shrugged one shoulder, thrusting his hands into his pockets. "What do you mean? I just guessed, Lisa. I know how smart you are, and I knew you’d want a shot at a full ride."

"You guessed?" I shook my head frantically, taking a sudden step straight into his personal space, my hands clenching into tight fists at my sides. "You don't just guess the exact name of a national scholarship program, Declan! Who told you? How do you know I wanted to write this exam?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Declan raised his hands in defense, taking a small step back, his expression shifting into one of mild alarm at my intensity. "Calm down, Lisa. It’s not that deep."

"Answer me!" I demanded, my heart hammering furiously against my ribs. "How do you know?!"

He exhaled softly, looking around the hallway as if embarrassed by the scene we were making, before turning back to me with an easy, reassuring expression. "If you really want to know... I overheard you talking to Sally about it a while back. You two were by the lockers, and you were talking about how nervous you were about the competition and whether you could ever afford to apply. I just remembered the name of the exam from that."

My mind raced, spinning into a dizzying vortex of confusion. Did I talk to Sally about it?

I pressed my lips together, my throat going completely dry. I couldn't remember ever having that specific conversation with Sally. But then again, Sally and I talked about everything. We spent hours rambling on the phone, in her car, in her bedroom—could I have brought it up months ago during a random breakdown about my future and completely forgotten about it? My brain scrambled to pull up the memory, but there was only a fog.

I stared at him, terrified, utterly confused, and astonished. Something about the way he said it felt off, but the sheer randomness of the situation left me entirely paralyzed. 

Was Declan the stalker? Was he the one leaving those gifts? Or was he just pulling at strands of overheard gossip?

Before I could open my mouth to grill him further, a sharp, piercing chime rang out from the overhead speakers, echoing down the corridor.

"Attention all candidates," an automated voice announced. "Seating arrangements are now finalized. Please enter your designated examination halls immediately. The doors will lock in five minutes."

"That's our cue," Declan said quickly, stepping back toward his designated hall down the corridor. He offered me a warm, soft look, completely ignoring the suspicion radiating off me. "Listen, go in there and smash it, okay? I'll wait for you out back after I'm done with my paper so we can catch up."

I couldn't even form words. I just stood there, watching him with a heavy, terrified weight settling in my chest as he gave me one last wave, turned on his heel, and blended into the crowd of students shuffling into the classrooms.

I stood frozen in the doorway of Room 204, my head spinning with a million terrifying possibilities. My chest heaved with shallow breaths. 

Focus, Lisa. Please, just focus. 

I closed my eyes, pressing my palms against my temples, forcing the image of Declan, the diary, and the mysterious gifts into a dark, locked box in the back of my mind. 

This exam was a one-time lifeline. I couldn't afford to ruin it now.

I pulled my phone out one last time to power it down completely, but a new notification flashed across the lock screen.

Tobias: Hey, baby. I have to head down to the police station right now to make an official statement concerning Frank and your uncle's case. It might take a couple of hours, but I'll come pick you up so we can grab lunch as soon as I'm done. Text me when you're free.

A heavy wave of profound guilt washed over me, crashing against my heart so hard it brought tears to the corners of my eyes.

Here he was, dealing with the ugly, painful aftermath of my family's mess, standing up for me, protecting me, and offering me unconditional support. And what was I doing? 

I was lying to his face. I had fabricated a story about Nurse Mandy to hide the gift basket, and now I was standing outside an examination hall he knew absolutely nothing about.

Especially after the magical, tender vulnerability we had shared at the cabin just days ago—after the way he held me, the way he looked at me like I was his entire world—keeping all these dark, tangled secrets from him felt like a terrible betrayal. 

My heart ached with a deep, hollow sadness.

I will fix this, I promised myself silently, staring at his name on the illuminated screen. I'll deal with Declan, I'll deal with the stalker, and I will tell Tobias everything the moment this exam is over.