I blinked, trying to process his words.
“So, you’ve been watching me?”
He nodded without a hint of apology. “Yeah. When Victoria gets involved with someone, the reason’s never good.
I wasn’t sure what she wanted from you. When I saw you sneaking into her house, I knew something was off.”
“You saw me?”
“Of course, I saw you,” he said, his tone sharp but not unkind. “I followed you.
Then I heard them. David came because of his wife, because of you! But how did Victoria find the connection between you and David?”
“David’s photo… I showed it to Victoria.
That’s why she disappeared!”
Collin frowned. “I see. That’s why I couldn’t let you go back to your house alone.
Victoria is dangerous, Clara. She’s manipulative and ruthless. You’re a target for her.”
I stared at him, my pulse pounding in my ears.
His words made too much sense. Victoria had been so warm, so charming, but it was all a game to her. The weight of his words pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
“What can I do now?
I escaped from David here. But thanks to Victoria, he could find me.” I finally whispered, tears stinging my eyes.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already called the police.
They’ll be here soon. And trust me, David never hurt you again.”
His humor, absurd as it was, somehow broke through my fear.
“You’re taking this awfully lightly,” I said, managing a weak smile as I wiped my face.
“Experience,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “When you’ve survived Victoria, you either find a sense of humor or go completely mad.
I chose a little of both.”
A laugh escaped me, startling in its loudness. It felt strange, laughing in the middle of chaos. But Collin’s strange blend of cynicism and kindness was exactly what I needed.
As the sound of sirens grew louder, Collin stood and gestured toward the door.
“Time to face it, huh?”
I nodded, rising on shaky legs. “Yeah. Time to face it.”
I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath, and stepped outside.
The flashing red and blue lights painted the night sky, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt ready to confront my past and leave it behind.
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