"Ahhhh… that was no one, Ross. Just someone who wants to pass the time because he's bored. It's harmless talk, I swear!" Jessica's lips trembled.
"I don't doubt you, Jessica," Ross replied, his voice calm but unnervingly firm. "But I'm curious about your friend. I'd like to know him better too. Invite him over tomorrow—I'd love to meet him. Make it happen."
Though his tone seemed casual, Jessica couldn't shake the weight of his words. It felt more like an order than a request. She wanted to argue, to defend herself further, but a terrifying pressure suddenly bore down on her. Her chest tightened, and she struggled to breathe, let alone speak.
Before she could gather herself, Ross's final words sliced through the suffocating silence:
