The words of the note, saying, "Secrets never stay buried," kept echoing through Sara's head even after Ethan had finished reading it out loud. She lay on the couch in a stiff posture, cradling Noah who slept in her arms. City lights sparked through the penthouse windows, but the luxurious view offered no comfort.Ethan paced restlessly near the firelit fireplace. His demeanor, usually temperate, was fraying, with his jaw clenched while he stared at his mobile. "This isn't random," he said. "Someone's targeting you for a reason, Sara. And they're using me to get to you."She raised her voice, low and bitter about it. "Maybe they want to uncover the truth, something you have so hastily begun to unearth."Ethan stopped pacing, narrowing his eyes at her. "I didn't hire somebody to follow you or leave cryptic threats, Sara.: I ever wanted to find out about the truth regarding Noah." His gaze softened slightly. "Now that I've been made aware, I want to protect you both."Sara sighed, her defenses crumbling despite herself. "I have protected Noah for years. I don't need—" A loud crash boomed and shattered the fragile silence. Both turned sharply towards the noise coming from the balcony. Ethan immediately tensed as he leaned forward and picked up a poker from beside the fireplace, motioning Sara to stay back.Stay here, he hissed. But that wouldn't work for Sara. Her heart was too much in her throat as she carefully laid Noah on the couch and went after Ethan at a safe distance.The balcony glass door was ajar and swaying slightly in the breeze outside, where Ethan pushed it open and smiled stepping outside.Empty balcony.Her breath caught between her lungs as she joined him, cautiously glancing over the dark vast landscape that was the city below. "Did someone...?"Ethan signaled to the far corner of the balcony, where a small folded paper brushed against the railing as if it were fluttering in the wind.His expression stiffened as he opened the folded note. He picked it up, and then Sara inclined toward him, reading over his shoulder.Here is what was written, "Lies destroy lives. The truth will destroy your own."A chill swept through her, as her fingers clung onto Ethan's arm while she quivered in voice. "What does this mean? Who's doing this?"Ethan clenched his jaws and crushed the paper in his fist. "I don't know. But whoever they are, they have no idea who they're dealing with."-Throughout the night, Ethan broadcast calls to his security team, demanding round-the-clock surveillance on the penthouse. He was left apprehensive about as late as ever. Sara, however, was unable to sleep, sitting on the edge of the bed in the guest room, watching little Noah fast asleep.Her mind buzzed with feverish thoughts. Who would come up with these threats? Was it possible that someone from Ethan's past was behind it? Or worse: maybe someone knew her secrets and was using them against her?A gentle knock from the door startled her."It's me," came Ethan's voice from the other side.She flung the door open, verdure of a worried face, and Ethan walked inside, not as harsh as he was minutes ago. "I just wanted to check on you.""We're fine," she murmured, but her voice betrayed her fear.He sat back, in the armchair by the bed, staring at her. "You don't have to be brave all the time, Sara. I can see you are really scared."She sucked her lip and almost broke up. "Of course I'm scared! Someone is watching out for us, and leaving notes as well as threats to ruin our lives. How am I not supposed to be scared?"Ethan leaned a little closer, his low voice becoming firmer as he spoke. "You are not alone with all this anymore. Nothing will happen to you at all, nor Noah. I assure you."Sara's eyes mirrored that of his. At the same time, it was like flickering after many years. The vulnerability of the gaze really made her let go, and she couldn't hold herself back from whispering," Why do you care so much, Ethan? You walked away once before."His expression grew dark with regret. "Because I made a mistake, a mistake I've regretted every day since I left. I thought I was protecting you by walking away, but all I did was hurt you. And now, I have a chance to make things right."Sara caught her breath. For a small while, those many years of pain and then anger faded away, replaced by the raw truth of his words.He reached out for her hand. His clasp was warm and steady. "I care for you, Sara. I really do.""Before she could say anything," followed by a loud sound of glass breaking from the living room.Ethan shot up from his seat, protective instincts kicking in. "Stay here with Noah," he commanded before heading out the door.Sara hesitated for a moment then took her mobile phone and moved after him.By the time Sara got to the living room, Ethan was already standing near the broken window with his body all tense, scanning the room."What's going on?" she asked in a shaky whisper.Picking up a brick that had been hurled through the window, Ethan read off a note tied to it. He ripped it open, narrowing his eyes as he read:"It always runs after you, be it good or evil. Do you think you are ready to forfeit?" Ethan turned on his heel to face Sara. "They're after you no longer, darling. They've turned"Sara felt her whole body drained of blood. "What do we now do?"He closed in further as he spoke, his voice even yet intense. "We know who and what the enemy is. We don't allow them to prove their words by destroying everything."---To Be Continued...