Penelope's POV
The second I see the photo on Nick's phone, my stomach drops so hard I think I might throw up.
The photo is of me in my bed. In my bedroom at home.
And that man. That stranger with dark hair and a smile that says he knows exactly what this looks like.
The angle is too intimate and deliberate. My head is tilted toward him, his hand close enough to look like it's cupping my jaw.
It's a lie. But it's the kind of lie people believe without asking questions.
The message under it burns into my brain: Round two. Choose faster.
Nick's already glaring at me like I've personally committed a war crime. "Who the hell is this guy?"
"I don't know!" I say, too fast, too loud. "I've never seen him before in my life!"
"Yeah, right," he snaps. "And the photo just magically appeared?"
Andrew steps in, voice hard. "She said she doesn't know him."
Nick snaps at him. "Stay out of this, Andrew."
"Not a chance," Andrew cuts in. "This is about both of us now."
Savannah, who's been leaning against the counter like she's enjoying a soap opera, tilts her head and says softly, "It's amazing how fast things can spiral when there's… temptation."
Her eyes flick to Andrew when she says it, slow and deliberate.
I want to scratch that smirk off her face.
"Enough," I snap. "We need to figure out who's behind this."
Nick folds his arms. "We? No, Penny. You need to come home so we can deal with this without making it worse."
"I'm not leaving Andrew."
"You might not have a choice," he fires back.
"Try me."
Andrew's hand brushes my lower back in silent support, but his jaw is tight.
Savannah clears her throat. "Maybe you two should take this conversation somewhere private."
"Maybe you should leave," I shoot back.
She smiles sweetly. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere. Not when I might be the only one here who can help."
****
Andrew's POV
I hate that she's right. Savannah knows this world too well. She knows the people who play these games.
But I also know her, and helping isn't her only agenda.
When Nick storms out, muttering something about "getting Mom involved," Savannah drifts closer. Too close.
"You're slipping, Drew," she says quietly so Penny won't hear. "The old you would've shut this down before it started."
I glare at her. "The old me didn't have Penny."
Her smile is slow, sly. "And yet… here we are."
She trails her fingers along the edge of the counter, like she's thinking about trailing them on my body instead. "If you really want to protect her, you're going to have to think like the people coming after you. And you know I'm the only one who can teach you how."
It's calculated. The closeness, the low tone, the way she says teach like it's an invitation to something dangerous.
And yeah, a part of me still remembers what it felt like to be hers.
But that's not the part I listen to.
"I'm not yours anymore, Savannah," I say.
Her eyes glint, smiling. "We'll see." She says, like she believes I will get back together with her.
****
Penelope's POV
By the time we get to my parents' house, the tension is so thick I can almost taste it.
Mom's in the kitchen, phone in hand like she's been waiting for us. Dad's home too which is rare, and that alone tells me this is about to turn into a full-on intervention.
Nick's pacing like a caged animal. "Tell them," he says the second I walk in. "Tell them about the photo."
I slam my bag on the table. "I already told you I don't know him."
Mom's voice is cool. "That's not what it looks like, Penny."
"Since when do you believe anonymous threats over your own daughter?" I snap.
"Since my daughter started making choices that put her face in tabloid trash," she fires back.
Andrew's jaw flexes, but he doesn't speak.
Dad finally looks up from his coffee. "Penny, you've always been smart. Don't let pride ruin that now. Sometimes walking away is the safest option."
"And what, dad? Let whoever's doing this win? No. That's not happening."
Mom's gaze moves to Andrew. "You're the reason she's in danger."
"That's not true," he says, voice low but steady.
"It is," she says, and there's no softness in it. "And if you cared about her, you'd let her go."
I can feel Andrew's temper spike, but before he can speak, Savannah walks in like she belongs here.
"Sorry I'm late," she says smoothly. "Traffic."
Nick looks smug. Mom looks relieved.
And I look like I might commit a felony.
****
Andrew's POV
I don't know what game Savannah's playing here, but she's playing it well.
She slips into the seat next to Mom, all sympathy and soft words. "I know what it's like to care about him," she says, tilting her head toward me. "And I know what it's like to get burned because of it."
Mom eats it up. "Exactly. She's young. She doesn't see the danger yet."
Savannah's eyes flick to me just for a second before she says, "Maybe she needs space to see clearly."
It's subtle and calculated.
Penny catches it too, because her hand curls into a fist.
"This isn't your business," Penny says tightly.
Savannah just smiles. "Everything's my business when it comes to Andrew."
****
Penelope's POV
It's like someone poured gasoline in the room and Savannah just lit the match.
Andrew shifts toward me, his knee brushing mine, but I can't focus on the comfort. Not when she's looking at him like that. Like he is some snack for her to feast on.
Nick slams his hand on the table. "Enough. Either she comes home and stays here where we can keep her safe, or... "
"Or what?" I bite out.
"Or I make sure Andrew's not in the picture anymore."
The words hang there like a threat.
Andrew stands so fast his chair tips over. "You want to take a swing at me, Nick? Do it."
Nick's already moving, but Dad steps in, blocking him. "Both of you, sit down before this gets worse."
Too late. It's already worse.
Savannah's watching me like she's waiting for me to crack.
And I do but not the way she expects.
"You know what?" I say, standing. "If you all think you can make my choices for me, go ahead. But you're going to regret it. I am the oldest person here besides mom and dad for God's sake. You all keep wanting to make my choices for me!"
Andrew follows me out, but not before Savannah leans in and whispers something to him. I don't hear it. I don't want to.
****
Andrew's POV
I catch up to her outside. "Penny... "
"Please... Don't," she says, not looking at me.
"Don't what?"
"Don't tell me to calm down. Don't tell me Savannah's on our side. Don't tell me you didn't notice her practically undressing you with her eyes in front of my mother."
I step in front of her, blocking the sidewalk. "I'm with you. Not her."
"Then prove it."
Her voice is sharp, but there's something under it like fear, maybe.
So I do the only thing I know will cut through all of her worries. I pull her closer to me and kiss her deeply and hard.
It's not sweet. It's not even gentle. It's messy and hot and so full of defiance that when she kisses me back, I know we're both thinking the same thing: screw them all.
But when we pull apart, she says, "If she gets between us, I'm gone before you know it."
And I believe her.
****
Penelope's POV
We make it back to his place in silence. The air's still electric from that kiss, but my chest feels tight.
I can't shake the image of Savannah leaning in to whisper to him.
We're barely inside when there's a knock at the door.
Andrew opens it and there she is, again.
Savannah.
And she's alone.
"Can we talk?" she says to him, ignoring me completely.
"I'm busy," he says.
She steps inside anyway, closing the door behind her. "Five minutes. That's all I need."
I should leave but I don't.
I watch as she moves closer to him, slow and deliberate, until there's barely space to breath between them.
Her hand brushes his arm gently but intimate. "I remember when you used to let me help you. When you used to trust me. I could make this go away, Andrew. All of it. But you have to want my help."
It's not just words. It's pure seduction coated in concern.
I can feel my nails digging into my palms.
Andrew steps back. "Not like this."
She smiles faintly. "I hope you change your mind."
She leaves without looking at me.
Andrew turns to me but before he can speak, my phone buzzes.
A new message. A new photo.
This time, it's not me.
It's Andrew and Savannah on his balcony.
From an angle that makes it look like they're kissing.
Message: Final round. Pick your side.