Chapter 16 – The Threat
The phone buzzed again.
Aria sat on the couch, her arms folded protectively over her slightly swollen belly, staring at the screen. Her heart hammered in her chest. The unknown number that had called her earlier was now sending messages.
"Leave him before it's too late."
She blinked, unsure she read it right. The message was vague but chilling. She opened it again.
"You've been warned, Aria. Stay away from Kade Val or suffer the consequences."
Her fingers trembled as she lowered the phone. The TV murmured in the background, but all she could hear was the echo of that message.
Who would send this? And how did they know her name?
She hadn't used her real name in registering the apartment. Kade had handled the lease for her, and it was under a different alias. Only a handful of people knew where she lived now—and most of them didn't even know her connection to Kade.
Unless…
She shook her head. No, Kade wouldn't tell anyone. He'd been too careful, almost obsessively so. He hadn't even visited her in three days, though he'd sent food and prenatal vitamins every morning.
This wasn't from him. It felt like a warning. A threat.
Her first instinct was to call him. To let him know. But she stopped herself. That's exactly what they wanted—her to run to him. The voice of the past few weeks echoed in her head.
"You can't raise a child with a cheater."
Aria rose to her feet, pacing the small living room in her oversized hoodie and slippers. The walls felt closer now, the shadows darker.
She had fought so hard to rebuild her life after what Kade did to her two years ago. She wasn't going to let some faceless threat tear her apart again.
Still… what if they meant it?
She bit her bottom lip and opened the curtains to peer outside. The street below looked normal. People walking, traffic humming, a man walking his dog. Nothing suspicious.
But the sinking feeling in her chest didn't leave.
Later that evening, she sat curled up in the corner of her couch, knees drawn to her chest, watching the baby's ultrasound picture on her phone. The first glimpse of the tiny flicker that would soon become a heartbeat. Her baby. Her responsibility.
Whoever sent the threat didn't scare her for herself—but for her child? That was different.
Her phone vibrated again. This time it wasn't the unknown number.
Kade Val: Are you okay? Haven't heard from you today. Should I come over?
She stared at the message, fighting the sudden flood of emotions. She didn't want him here. But at the same time, she didn't want to be alone—not tonight.
But no. If she let him come over every time something scared her, she'd never break free of him. She had to be stronger than that.
Instead, she typed:
I'm fine. Just tired. Don't come tonight.
She sent it before she could second-guess herself.
Moments later, a reply came:
Okay. But if you need anything, you know I'm a call away.
She didn't reply.
Later that night, Aria finally fell asleep, but it was anything but peaceful. She kept waking to small sounds—the creak of the pipes, the rustle of wind against the window. Every noise felt like a threat. She locked her doors twice and placed a chair beneath the doorknob, just in case.
Morning came too slowly.
The next day, Aria skipped work. She sat in the sunlight that streamed through her small window, sipping herbal tea while scrolling through her phone. The number hadn't called again. No new messages either.
But the tension never left her body.
That evening, when the delivery man came with her groceries—sent by Kade—she hesitated before opening the door. Only after confirming his face from the peephole did she crack it open.
She took the bag quickly, mumbling a thank you.
The man gave her a polite smile and turned to leave, but just before walking away, he paused.
He turned back and said, "Miss Aria, someone was asking about you downstairs this morning."
She stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"Some lady. Expensive perfume. Fancy car. She asked if someone named Aria Lode lived in this building."
Her heart dropped.
"Did you tell her anything?"
He shook his head. "No, ma'am. Management warned us not to give out details. Especially after Mr. Val came by last week."
Aria gripped the grocery bag tightly. Her hands were starting to sweat.
She forced a smile. "Thanks."
When the door closed behind her, she dropped the bag on the floor, groceries forgotten. Her mind was already racing.
Someone was looking for her. And they knew her name.
Not the fake one on the lease.
Not just "Kade Val's girl."
Her real name: Aria Lode.
She reached for her phone and opened the message again.
"Leave him before it's too late."
Then she did something she never thought she would—she called Kade.
The phone rang only once before he picked up.
"Aria?" His voice was soft, hopeful.
But she wasn't in the mood for his sweetness.
"Did you tell anyone where I live?"
"What? No. Of course not. Why? What happened?"
"Someone knows where I am, Kade. Someone was here."
His voice shifted. Cold and alert. "Who?"
"I don't know. A woman. She asked the delivery guy downstairs about me."
Silence.
"Aria, I'm coming over."
"No. Don't."
"Aria—"
She cut the call.
She had no idea who the woman was, or why she was watching her.
But she was done being the girl who waited to be rescued.
She would find out the truth herself.
Even if it scared her.
Even if it led her right back into the arms of the man she was trying so hard to forget.
That night, while Aria sat alone, scrolling through the messages again, her phone buzzed one more time.
Unknown Number: We warned you. You didn't listen.
Her hand flew to her stomach.
And just outside her apartment, a shadow waited.