Chapter 152
Rewind: The Moments Before Eliana Left for the UK
Seven days earlier, the city throbbed with its usual chaos—honking horns, glowing billboards, the steady hum of life that never seemed to pause. But for Henry Jackson, the noise barely registered. The world around him felt strangely still, as if holding its breath.
The sun was sinking low, painting the skyline in hues of amber and rose as he pulled into the parking lot of his apartment building. The day had been relentless—meetings, packing, signing documents, making sure every last detail of the relocation was perfect. By the time he turned off the engine, his body was exhausted, but his mind refused to rest. The thought of starting over in the UK with Eliana and her father was both thrilling and terrifying.
He stepped out of the car, stretching his shoulders when something flickered in his peripheral vision—a black van parked a few meters away. It looked ordinary enough, but its dark, tinted windows gleamed eerily under the fading light, reflecting the sunset like watchful eyes. Henry froze for a moment, keys hanging loosely in his hand as a quiet unease crept up his spine.
“Probably nothing,” he muttered under his breath, forcing a shaky laugh. It was just a van. Cities were full of them. Still, the feeling lingered as he made his way to the building entrance. The door shut behind him with a soft click, muffling the city’s clamor—but the image stayed with him, like a whisper lodged somewhere deep in his chest.
That night, Henry lay awake, the ceiling dimly lit by the streetlight filtering through his blinds. His thoughts refused to quiet down. The move to the UK was supposed to be a clean slate, a chance to leave behind everything that had gone wrong—the secrets, the sadness, and Rafael Vexley’s suffocating shadow.
He exhaled slowly, eyes tracing the cracks in the ceiling. “Friday’s the big day,” he murmured into the dark, as if saying it aloud might make it feel more real. Yet beneath the hope stirring in his chest, something colder lingered—an inexplicable sense that change was coming, and not all of it would be good.
The next morning dawned crisp and bright, the kind of day that begged for fresh starts. Henry woke early, the scent of brewing coffee wafting through the apartment. He padded into the kitchen to find Eliana already there, her slender frame moving with graceful efficiency as she flipped pancakes on the stove. Her warm brown skin glowed under the morning light filtering through the window, her brown eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She wore a simple sundress, modest and worn at the edges, but it hugged her curves in a way that made Henry’s heart stutter. “Eliana? What’s all this?” he asked, his voice warm and surprised, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
She turned from the stove, forcing a hopeful smile that hid the storm inside. “Just thought I’d switch things up for once. You’ve been doing everything for us—cooking, shopping, planning. It’s my turn to spoil you a bit.” Her voice was soft, laced with genuine gratitude, but her eyes darted away, avoiding the depth of his gaze. Henry had always been there, a steadfast friend, his undying crush evident in every thoughtful gesture.
He chuckled, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Well, I’m not complaining. This smells amazing.” As he dug in, his fork scraping the plate, he glanced up at her. “You okay? You look like you didn’t sleep a wink p>
“I’m fine,” she lied smoothly, joining him at the table with her own plate. “Just excited about the trip. Nervous energy, you know?” She poked at her eggs, her appetite nonexistent.
Henry nodded, swallowing a bite. “Yeah, I get it. London’s going to be a fresh start for all of us. Schools for you, better doctors for your father… it’ll be good.” He reached across the table, squeezing her hand briefly—a touch that lingered just a second too long, revealing the years of hidden affection. “You’ve been through hell, Eli. You deserve this p>
Eliana’s heart ached at his words, the emotional wounds from her mother’s abandonment, hatred and recent betrayals surfacing like fresh bruises. But she pulled back gently, changing the subject. “Speaking of the trip… are you going out this morning? You mentioned wrapping things up p>
Henry wiped his mouth with a napkin, leaning back. “Yeah, actually. Got a few last errands—pick up the final paperwork from the travel agent, confirm the flat rental. Should be back by early afternoon. Why? Something wrong p>
She shook her head, her sweet smile disarming any suspicion. “No, no problem at all. Just curious. You know me—always planning ahead.” Her laughter was light, but inside, relief flooded her.
Henry nodded, forcing himself to sit and eat, though his appetite was tempered by the nagging worry from the night before. As he finished, he glanced out the window—and there it was. The van. Still parked in the same spot, engine off, but somehow more ominous in the daylight. His fork clattered against the plate. “Hey, Eliana, have you noticed that van out there? Black one, tinted windows p>
She peered out, her brow furrowing slightly. “Not really. Why? Is something wrong p>
He hesitated, not wanting to alarm her. “Probably just paranoia… forget it.” Henry grinned, finishing his meal with enthusiasm. “Alright, then. Thanks for breakfast—this was the best surprise.” He stood, leaning down to plant a quick, friendly kiss on her cheek. The contact made her flush slightly, a mix of appreciation and unease. As he grabbed his keys and headed for the door, he called back, “Tell Frank I said hi. See you soon p>
Stepping outside, Henry couldn’t shake the disturbance. The van’s presence felt deliberate now, like a predator lying in wait. He climbed into his car, but instead of driving off immediately, he pulled out his phone. His family’s wealth came with perks, including discreet security. Tyler, one of the personnel assigned to shadow him from afar, he alway had them since he was a kid. The nearest one was just a call away. “Tyler, it’s Henry,” he said, keeping his voice low. “There’s a black van parked near my building—license plate ends in 7KX. It’s been here since last night. Keep an eye on it, and on Eliana. Don’t let her know you’re there, but if anything seems off p>
“Got it, Mr. Jackson,” Tyler replied, his tone professional and reassuring. “I’ll station myself nearby. Your usual detail will tail you p>
“Thanks,” Henry said, exhaling as he started the engine. He drove off to tie up the loose ends of their travel plans—visas, tickets, medical clearances for Eliana’s father—trying to focus. But his mind kept drifting back to the van, to Eliana and her father alone in the apartment.
It wasn’t even thirty minutes later when his phone buzzed. Tyler’s name flashed on the screen. Henry’s heart rate spiked as he answered. “What’s going on p>
“Sir, Miss Eliana just left the building in a hurry. She hailed a taxi and took off. The van… it’s following her. Pulled out right after the cab did p>
Henry’s grip tightened on the wheel, shock rippling through him like ice water. “She didn’t say anything about going out today. Damn it, why wouldn’t she tell me?” Fear mingled with a pang of sadness—did she not trust him enough? “Take photos of the van’s plate and the taxi’s. Follow them, Tyler. Keep me updated p>
“Already on it,” Tyler assured him. “Sending the plates now p>
Henry abandoned his errands mid-stride, his mind racing. Who would stalk Eliana? Why? The pieces didn’t fit, but the dread was real. “Text me her location,” he demanded, his voice edged with panic. “I’m heading that way p>
As Tyler tailed them discreetly, he narrated over the phone. “They’re heading downtown. Taxi just stopped in front of a convenience store. Eliana’s getting out—wait, no, hold on. She’s still inside. The van’s hanging back, but… oh, hell, a car just pulled up and blocked their view p>
Henry’s pulse thundered in his ears. “Stay on her, Tyler. Don’t lose sight p>
Minutes ticked by like hours. Then Tyler’s voice came back, urgent. “The taxi’s moving again. Van’s accelerating—wait, they’re closing in fast. Oh God, the van just sideswiped the cab! It’s spinning out—flipped! Sir, it’s bad. Elm and Broad intersection. I think Eliana’s still in there p>
Henry’s world shattered. “No… no, Eliana!” He floored the accelerator, weaving through traffic, horns blaring around him. Tears stung his eyes, fear clawing at his chest. “Call 911! I’m on my way p>
By the time Henry screeched to a halt at the scene, chaos reigned—sirens wailing, onlookers gaping, twisted metal smoking on the asphalt. He bolted from his car, shoving through the crowd. “Eliana! Where is she?” His voice broke as he reached the wreckage.
But as he knelt beside the mangled cab, peering through the shattered window, his breath caught. It wasn’t Eliana trapped inside. It was a young woman with similar build, her face pale and bloodied, eyes wide with terror. “Ruth?” he gasped, recognition dawning. The volunteer from the clinic.
“Henry? Is that you?” she whispered, her voice weak, hand reaching out.
To be continued p>