NovelEnglishDaphne's lips trembled as she spoke. Her eyes were reddened, and her voice sounded ragged and cracking.
"You're the reason my boyfriend got exiled by Julian! You ruined his whole damn life. And now | find out that the
mystery number was you the whole time? This was all your setup! Grace, | hate you!"
The hatred in her eyes burned hot, but fear kept her rooted. The blade in Grace's hand glinted under the
streetlamp, keeping her at bay.
Grace crouched beside her, gaze sharp. "You sure you've never been in contact with Jodie?"
Daphne's expression shifted. She had been in contact with Jodie-of course she had. But she wasn't about to
admit that now.
Before Grace could press further, she spotted a figure standing near the front of the house. It was Ed.
She stood up quickly and tossed the knife back into the car. Looking at Lyle, she said, "Keep an eye on her. I'm
going to talk to Ed."
Lyle had already seen the figure. The moment he recognized Ed, his whole body stiffened, his hand clenching
into a fist so tightly it looked like his knuckles might split.
Grace walked toward the house, but Ed had already stepped inside.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
She followed him in, quietly shutting the door behind her. "Did | scare you?"
He'd probably seen her holding that knife-maybe that was what rattled him.
His voice was calm, but there was a hint of unease. "I didn't see anything. | just... I've been scared."
"Scared of what?"
"I think someone's been inside my house lately."
Grace's brows drew together. Out here? In the middle of nowhere? No one had any reason to be near this place,
much less break in. It wasn't exactly high-value real estate.
And Ed barely socialized. Who would even want to mess with him?
Suddenly, he pulled her into a hug, his voice tired. "I don't know what it is, but whenever you're here, it stops."
Grace stood still, a chill climbing up her spine. Something about this didn't sit right. She asked, "Have you ever
gone to a real hospital about your condition?" The room fell silent.
Then Ed spoke, slow and low. "It's not that bad anymore. I'm almost over it. But... there's someone who still
wantsgone."
His voice trailed off, and then his body slumped forward. He landed quietly against her lap, eyes fluttering shut.
"I'm fine, Grace. | swear I'm okay."
She held his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin, the ring on his finger, and the red thread bracelet on his wrist.
For a moment, her heart softened.
"Why don't you cstay withfor a while?" she suggested.
He didn't answer. He just traced her fingertip with his, slow and deliberate.
After a long pause, his voice rasped out again. He said, "If you really care about me... then stay away from other
men. Especially the one sitting in your car right now."
Her heart stopped for a beat. Lyle hadn't even gotten out of the car.
"You're tracking me?"
She hadn't planned to bring Lyle along, and the whole thing was last-minute. How could Ed have known?
"I heard someone breathing in the background when | called," he said. "Someone else was in the car."
Grace sighed. Of course, he'd notice something like that. He spent so much talone that his senses were
probably razor-sharp.
She was about to speak again when she heard Lyle's voice shouting from outside. "Grace! Grace, get out here!"
She stood quickly, but Ed grabbed her wrist. Without thinking, she twisted free and rushed out.
The second she stepped outside, she saw Lyle standing near the car.
Daphne lay collapsed at his feet, motionless.
Grace's heart nearly stopped. She ran over. "What happened?"
Lyle was still gripping the knife she'd given him earlier, brows furrowed in disbelief.
"I don't know," he said. "She just collapsed."
Grace crouched beside Daphne and checked her breathing. But she couldn't feel anything.
Daphne was dead. Grace's mind reeled. That cut on Daphne's neck-she'd made
it shallow on purpose. Just enough to scare her. It wasn't fatal.
So, how the hell did she die?
She turned her eyes toward the knife in Lyle's hand.
Lyle went pale. "Wait, are you thinking I killed her?"
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