Silver sat in her room, holding the phone tightly to her ear as Charlie spoke. His voice was heavy, filled with the weight of new information.
"The girl's name was Jae Young," Charlie said. "Her case made the news back then, but it faded fast because they couldn't prove anything. Jayden was arrested after her parents insisted, but he walked away clean."
Silver felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She already knew some of the story from Amber, but hearing it confirmed made everything feel more real and more dangerous.
Silver's grip on the phone tightened as she listened. She could feel her heart race. Even though Amber had mentioned it before, hearing it all confirmed by Charlie made her uneasy.
"So, they couldn't prove anything?" Silver asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No," Charlie replied. "They didn't have enough evidence to keep him. The police had to let him go, and after that, the case just... disappeared."
Silver sat back, feeling a cold chill run down her spine. Jayden had slipped through the cracks, and now, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than anyone knew.
"I'm scared, Charlie," Silver whispered, her voice trembling. "Today, when I came home, I found out that Ruby was out with Parel and Jayden. That never happened in our first life. That man is dangerous, and things are changing. What if he decides to make a move earlier this time?"
Charlie's voice was calm but urgent. "Silver, I understand how unsettling this is. Jayden is a serious threat, and these changes are worrying. We need to act quickly and make sure we're prepared. I'll keep an eye on him. We have a chance to change the outcome, and we won't let him get the upper hand. Stay strong and trust that we're doing everything we can to protect you and your family."
Silver took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Okay, Charlie. I'll do my best. But what should I do in the meantime? I feel so helpless."
Charlie's voice was thoughtful. "I think we need to inform your family about what we've discovered. They need to be aware of the situation, especially if Jayden is involved. It's important they understand the potential danger."
Silver hesitated for a moment. "Do you really think that's necessary?"
"Yes," Charlie said firmly. "The more they know, the better prepared they'll be. They need to take precautions, too. I'll work on gathering more information, and you should talk to them as soon as you can."
Silver nodded, feeling a mix of relief and unease. "Alright, I'll tell them. Thanks, Charlie."
"Stay strong," Charlie said. "We'll get through this together. I promise nothing will happen to you or your family. Bye, my angel." His voice softened with affection.
"Bye, my lion," Silver replied with a smile before hanging up. As she set the phone down, she couldn't shake the worry: would her family even believe her?
"Silver, come out," her mother called.
"Yes, Ma," Silver replied, stepping into the living room. She sighed in relief when she saw Parel and Ruby unharmed. She went to sit next to Ruby on the couch, noticing Parel standing nervously before them.
Jayden was also there and greeted her with a polite, "Hi, Silver." Silver responded with a brief, stiff nod.
Silver's mother looked at Parel with a serious expression. "Parel, what is it you wanted to tell us?" she asked.
Parel shifted nervously and glanced at Ruby, then at Jayden, who gave her a reassuring nod. "I think we should wait for Dad," she said quietly.
A few minutes later, Silver's father walked in, looking curious. "Alright, I'm here. What's going on?"
Once everyone was seated, Parel took a deep breath and spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm pregnant," she said, watching their reactions carefully. "And... Jayden proposed to me. We want to get married."
The room fell silent as everyone processed the news.
Silver watched as her mother and father's faces lit up with joy.
"Oh, Parel, that's wonderful news!" her mother exclaimed, hugging her tightly.
Her father beamed with pride. "Congratulations, both of you. I'm going to be a granddad! This is something to celebrate."
Ruby jumped up with excitement. "Big sister is going to be a mommy!"
But Silver couldn't bring herself to smile. She felt frozen in place, her stomach twisting in tight knots. Jayden, sitting across from her, pretended to be happy, but only she knew the truth.
Parel, noticing Silver's silence, turned to her with a hopeful look. "Aren't you happy for us, Silver?"
Silver forced a smile, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Yeah... I'm happy."
But deep down, fear clawed at her. How could she ever tell them the truth?