[JASMINE – POV]
I couldn't sleep.
Every creak in the hallway, every vibration of my phone—it all made my heart race. Ayo's note had done its job. It wasn't just a warning—it was a message.
He was watching.
Lucas had stayed on call with me all night, even dozed off with his voice still in my ear. Just knowing he was there helped. But the truth was, there were things I hadn't told him. Things about Ayo… and about me.
I wasn't always the strong girl who walked into Kingston High like I owned it.
Back in Lagos, I let Ayo control too much. My time, my words, my smile. And when I finally broke free, he made sure I paid for it.
That's what scares me the most.
If I tell Lucas the full story—will he see me as weak?
[LUCAS – POV]
I could feel her slipping into silence.
Jasmine was good at hiding things. Too good. But I knew something was coming, and I couldn't protect her from shadows if I didn't know what they were.
So the next morning, I pulled her aside before class and said it straight:
"Talk to me."
Her eyes flicked up to mine, unsure. Guarded.
"If you want me to protect you, Jasmine, I need to know what I'm protecting you from."
She hesitated… then looked down.
And finally, she began to tell me everything.