My hands were still trembling when I unlocked the door to my apartment, the echo of Alex’s message reverberating in my mind. *We need to talk. It’s about Lucas.* The words had burned into my thoughts like a brand, searing away any sense of peace I had managed to hold onto.
I dropped my keys on the counter and leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. My phone buzzed again in my hand, and I flinched, half-expecting another message from Alex. But it wasn’t him. It was Lucas.
From: Lucas
Are you okay? I’m sorry for springing that on you.
I stared at the message, a flurry of emotions swirling inside me. Part of me wanted to respond, to reach out for the comfort Lucas had offered earlier, but another part was wary—cautious. I needed time to think, to figure out what was going on between Lucas and Alex, and more importantly, what it meant for me.
To: Lucas
I just need some time, Lucas. I’ll be in touch.
I sent the message before I could second-guess myself and then put my phone down, ignoring the way it buzzed with a response. I needed to focus, to clear my head and figure out what to do next.
Walking over to the living room, I sank into the couch and stared out the window. The city was alive with lights, the world carrying on as if nothing had changed, but for me, everything felt different. The easy trust I had started to feel toward Lucas had been shattered, and the cracks in my heart from Alex’s betrayal seemed to widen, letting in a flood of doubt and fear.
I didn’t want to go back to that place—to the sleepless nights and endless questions that had plagued me after Alex had left. But now, with Lucas’s revelation, it felt like I was being pulled back into the darkness I had fought so hard to escape.
My thoughts drifted to the years I had spent with Alex. We had met in college, and what began as a whirlwind romance quickly turned into a partnership, both personally and professionally. I had believed in him, trusted him, and in return, he had made promises—promises of a future together, of a life we would build side by side. But then it all fell apart. The lies, the secrets, the manipulation—I had been blindsided, and by the time I realized the truth, it was too late.
And now, here I was, faced with the possibility that history was repeating itself.
But this time, I wasn’t going to let myself be blindsided. I wasn’t the same person I had been back then. I had grown stronger, learned to rely on myself, and most importantly, learned to recognize the warning signs.
If Lucas was hiding something—if there was more to his story with Alex—I needed to know. And I needed to know now.
Taking a deep breath, I reached for my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found the number I was looking for. I hadn’t spoken to him in months, not since Alex and I had broken up, but if there was anyone who could shed light on what was going on, it was him.
The phone rang once, twice, and then a familiar voice answered.
"Aria, it’s been a while."
"Hi, Michael," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "I need to ask you something. It’s about Alex."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and when Michael spoke again, his tone was cautious. "What’s going on, Aria? I thought you and Alex were done."
"We are," I replied quickly. "But something’s come up, something I think you might know more about. It’s about his business dealings—and Lucas Reyes."
At the mention of Lucas’s name, there was another pause, longer this time. When Michael finally spoke, his voice was lower, almost a whisper. "Aria, if Lucas is involved, you need to be careful. There’s a lot more going on than you realize."
My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? What’s going on?"
"Look, I can’t get into details over the phone, but Lucas and Alex... they’re not just former business partners. There’s a lot of bad blood between them, and if Lucas is reaching out to you now, it’s probably because he needs something from you."
My mind raced, trying to make sense of what Michael was saying. "But Lucas said he hasn’t spoken to Alex in years. He made it sound like they were just old friends who drifted apart."
"That’s what he wants you to believe," Michael said, his voice tense. "But the truth is, they had a falling out—one that nearly ruined both of them. Alex blames Lucas for what happened, and Lucas... well, let’s just say he has his reasons for staying away."
"But why would Lucas come to me? What does he want?"
"That’s the question, isn’t it?" Michael said with a hint of frustration. "I don’t have all the answers, Aria, but I do know this: if Lucas is back in the picture, it means there’s something he’s after, and whatever it is, it’s connected to you."
A cold shiver ran down my spine as Michael’s words sank in. What was Lucas after? And why did it involve me? The questions swirled in my mind, and with them, a rising sense of dread.
"Michael," I said after a moment, my voice barely above a whisper, "what should I do?"
There was a brief pause before Michael responded. "Meet with Alex. Find out what he knows, but be careful. And whatever you do, don’t trust Lucas until you’re sure of his intentions."
"Okay," I agreed, though the thought of meeting Alex again filled me with a mix of fear and anger. But I knew Michael was right. If I wanted answers, I needed to face this head-on, no matter how much it hurt.
"Thanks, Michael," I said quietly. "I appreciate your help."
"Just be careful, Aria," he said, his tone softening. "You’ve been through enough already. Don’t let them drag you back into their mess."
We ended the call, and I sat there for a moment, trying to steady my nerves. I knew what I had to do, but the thought of seeing Alex again made my stomach churn. I had spent so long trying to move on from him, to build a life that wasn’t defined by the pain he had caused. But now, it seemed like I had no choice but to confront the very thing I had been running from.
With a deep breath, I picked up my phone again and opened the message from Alex. *We need to talk. It’s about Lucas.* My fingers hovered over the screen as I typed out a response.
*Aria:* "Fine. Let’s talk. Tomorrow. 7 PM. The usual place."
I hit send before I could change my mind, and then leaned back against the couch, the weight of what was coming crashing down on me. Tomorrow, I would meet with Alex. I would get the answers I needed. And I would find out once and for all what role Lucas played in all of this.
But as I sat there, the silence of my apartment closing in around me, one thought kept echoing in my mind: what if I was walking straight into another trap?
***