It's been a month since Silver and Charlie traveled back in time. Since then, the Miller family has noticed a clear change in Silver. She has become more cautious, not just around strangers but also around people she once trusted. Her mother has grown concerned and brought it up with her husband one evening. He listened quietly, then gently suggested they give Silver some space. He believed that she would open up in her own time, once she felt ready.
Silver is a fashion designer, steadily building her future under her mother's guidance. She's been learning the ins and outs of the business, preparing to one day take over the fashion line when her mother retires. Her older sister, Parel, is set to inherit their father's business. The family has always encouraged both daughters to pursue their paths.
Spring is just around the corner, only a week away. Silver and her mother have been busy preparing a new spring collection. The long hours and creative focus have helped keep Silver distracted, but the weight of the past still lingers. At night, she often wakes up from nightmares, flashes of memories she cannot fully piece together. She suspects it is because they were killed during the end of spring, and something in her body remembers, even if her mind struggles to keep up.
Despite everything, Silver's relationship with Charlie is growing stronger. They have been spending time together on small, quiet dates, using those moments to learn more about each other while continuing their search for the truth. Charlie has been supportive, though his own work has kept him busy lately. Still, they make time for each other, holding on to whatever comfort they can find in the middle of the uncertainty.
Today, Parel was introducing her boyfriend to the family for the first time. This had also happened in their past lives, but Silver couldn't remember it clearly. Still, something about it made her uneasy. A strange feeling tugged at her chest, like a warning she couldn't explain.
Mrs. Miller stood just a few steps away from her husband, who was seated comfortably on the sofa. She lifted her chin slightly and asked, "What do you think?"
She wore a soft cream-colored silk blouse, tailored to fit comfortably yet elegantly, tucked into a classic black pencil skirt that fell just below her knees. Her accessories were tasteful and refined: simple gold earrings, a slender gold bracelet, a sleek black watch on her wrist, and a matching gold necklace that added a subtle shine. Her hair, a natural shade of warm blonde with hints of silver, was swept back into a low chignon at the nape of her neck, with a few soft tendrils gently framing her warm hazel eyes. Her gold wedding ring sparkled quietly on her finger as she awaited her husband's reply.
Mr. Miller stood up and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. He wore a well-tailored charcoal gray suit paired with a crisp white dress shirt and a muted navy blue tie, neatly knotted at the collar. His short brown hair, showing subtle streaks of gray at the temples, was neatly combed back in a simple, classic style. His warm green eyes were focused entirely on his wife. Smiling softly, he replied, "You look stunning, as always. Absolutely perfect for the evening."
"Mom, Dad, please go to your room. I'm still not an adult," Ruby said, covering her face with her small hands, her voice full of embarrassment. Silver looked at her little sister with love. Ruby looked like a princess today, dressed in a pale pink dress with little matching shoes. Her curly golden hair was styled in a half-updo, with a few loose strands falling around her cheeks.
Today, Ruby looked like a little princess. She wore a pale pink cotton dress that fell just below her knees, the entire fabric dusted with fine glitter that shimmered softly in the light. The short sleeves were tied at the shoulders, adding a sweet and playful touch to the dress. Her soft curls were left loose, but a matching pink headband kept her hair neatly away from her face. She wore only a pair of simple diamond earrings and light makeup, which their mother had helped her apply.
"I promise, little sister, I'll never let them hurt you again," Silver whispered to herself, her eyes lingering on Ruby a little longer before she turned back to her room.
Silver moved to her dressing table and looked into the mirror. She was wearing a knee-length emerald green dress with long, fitted sleeves and a wide, flowing skirt that added graceful movement to her silhouette. Her curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She completed the look with delicate silver jewelry: a pair of earrings and a simple bracelet on one wrist.
Just then, Parel burst into her room, calling out, "Dad, Mom, he'll be here in five minutes! Get ready!" before closing the door behind her. She was dressed in a short midnight blue dress with delicate short sleeves, complemented by diamond jewelry including earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet on one wrist. Her long, curly brown hair was loose but pulled back neatly. Excitement and nervous anticipation shone in her warm hazel eyes.
"Silver, can I borrow your red lipstick? Mine's dried out," Parel asked.
Silver nodded and smiled softly, then glanced toward the dressing table nearby. She lifted her hand and pointed in its direction. "It's right over there," she said, her voice calm and steady. The small collection of makeup sat neatly arranged on the polished surface, the lipstick standing out among the brushes and compact powders.
Parel smiled in thanks and walked over to the dressing table while Silver went to sit on her bed. She picked up her phone and began scrolling through her messages. Suddenly, a new message appeared from Charlie. It was a photo of him sitting at his desk, looking handsome as he stared directly into the camera. Beneath the picture, he had typed a simple yet encouraging message: "Good luck." Silver smiled softly and quickly typed back, "Thank you." Then she snapped a quick selfie and sent it to him.
Charlie replied almost immediately, "You look beautiful, my angel."
Silver blushed and quickly typed back, "Thank you! And you look handsome too, my lion."
Angel and lion were nicknames they had given each other.
"Why are you smiling? And who are you chatting with?" Parel asked, turning to look at her sister and raising an eyebrow. She had just finished applying the lipstick, which made her look stunning.
"No one, sister. Just saw a cute lion picture," Silver said casually, trying to sound normal.
"Let me see, too," Parel said, stepping closer.
"Sorry, it's private," Silver replied, quickly hiding her phone behind her back.
"Since when did you become so secretive, huh?" Parel asked, hands on her hips. Silver looked nervous, but after a moment, Parel smiled and relaxed. "Introduce him to us soon." She turned toward the door but paused after opening it. "And thanks for the lipstick," she added before walking out to greet the guest who had just arrived.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Silver buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed with embarrassment. It was obvious her older sister had figured out she was talking about a man.
A moment later, a deep male voice echoed from the hallway as Silver joined her parents in the living room.
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Miller," the man said politely.
"Don't be so formal, Jayden," Mrs. Miller replied with a warm smile, wrapping him in a hug.
They pulled away as the man smiled and said, "It's truly a pleasure to finally meet you both."
Then he turned around, and Silver froze when she saw his face. Her blood turned cold. That voice. That smile. That face. She knew him.
Suddenly, terrifying memories surged like a flood, crashing through her mind in a whirlwind of pain, fear, and helplessness. Her stomach clenched tightly as the past came roaring back to life, vivid and unforgiving. In that instant, Silver remembered everything.
"I hope you won't disappoint us. My daughter has praised you a lot," Mr. Miller said, shaking Jayden's hand.
"I won't disappoint you, sir," Jayden answered, his tone calm and respectful. Father Miller gave him an approving nod.
"This is Ruby, our youngest daughter," Mrs. Miller said with a smile as she introduced the seven-year-old girl to him.
Ruby looked up at Jayden with wide, curious eyes. He smiled back gently. But to Silver, it wasn't gentle; it was dangerous.
No, don't look at him, Silver thought, her heart pounding. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. She remembered what he had done to her and her whole family. The horror of it made her throat tighten.
"Do you love my big sister?" Ruby asked, her voice soft, her eyes fixed on Jayden.
"Of course I do. I love her a lot," Jayden replied, smiling again, so sincere and smooth it almost sounded rehearsed.
Without missing a beat, he knelt down in front of Ruby, bringing himself to her eye level. The gesture was gentle, almost too practiced. He placed a hand over his chest, as if making a solemn vow. "Your big sister means everything to me. I would never do anything to hurt her. I promise you that."
At those words, her parents looked pleased, and Parel blushed, clearly touched. But Silver watched the exchange with a tight jaw and narrowed eyes. She didn't believe him for a second. This man wasn't what he pretended to be in front of her family. Behind that polished smile lurked memories she couldn't outrun, truths only she knew.
Jayden extended a hand to the little girl. "May I be your friend, Ruby?"
Ruby hesitated. Her eyes flicked from his hand to his face. Her fingers curled tightly around the hem of her dress. There was no threat in his tone, no obvious reason to be afraid. But deep down, something told her to back away.
Instead, she edged closer to her mother, seeking the safety of her presence.
"I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jayden tilted his head, his smile still intact, though for a brief second, something in his eyes shifted. The warmth dimmed. "That's okay. Friends take time, right?" he said, then stood up smoothly.
Ruby gave a small nod, but she didn't smile. Her gaze lingered on Jayden, wide and uncertain. Something about him made her want to run. She couldn't explain why. She just didn't feel safe around him.
"And this is my second daughter, Silver," Father Miller added, gesturing toward her.
Jayden turned to face her, his smile polite but practiced. "Hi, Silver. I'm Jayden Nellon," he said, extending his hand.
He was very handsome, with deep navy blue hair that was neatly styled and sharp gray eyes that stood out against his pale skin. When he smiled, dimples appeared in his cheeks, something that might have looked sweet to someone else. It was easy to see how he had charmed her older sister. But to Silver, the smile felt fake, like he was only pretending to be human.
All she could see was the monster beneath the surface.
Her breath caught. For a moment, the room faded around her. His voice, though calm now, echoed in her mind as something else entirely, cold, cruel, laughing as everything fell apart. Her pulse began to race. Her limbs turned heavy and numb.
"Silver?" Parel's voice pierced the fog, light but laced with concern. She had noticed the shift.
Silver blinked rapidly, forcing herself back into the present. "Sorry," she said too quickly.
Parel stepped in smoothly. "Silver's just not good with strangers. She'll warm up to you."
Silver saw his hand still extended, so she reached out. Her hand was hesitant and slow, as if it weighed a thousand pounds. When her fingers touched his, a chill crawled up her spine. She felt like she had just shaken hands with something cold.
No. With their killer.
Dinner passed, quiet but thick with tension. Jayden chatted easily with her parents, but his gaze flicked to Silver often. She sat straight in her chair, her eyes fixed on him, never softening. She studied every movement, every twitch of his mouth, every rise and fall of his voice.
He noticed.
And he smiled at that, amused by her scrutiny.
To him, Silver was more interesting than Parel. Her silence, her suspicion, the sharpness in her eyes, it fascinated him. She had fire. But she was still a Miller, and that was enough reason to hate her. Just like the rest of them.
When Jayden finally left at 8:30 pm, Silver stayed by the front window until his car disappeared down the street. Only then did she let out a long breath.
But the tightness in her chest didn't leave. It stayed there, pressed against her lungs like a weight. Her mind screamed warnings her body already felt. She paced around the house, unable to sit still. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. She felt trapped.
By 9:00 pm, the house was quiet. Dishes dried in the rack. Her parents and sisters had gone to bed, and the hallway lights were dim.
Silver stood alone in the kitchen, clutching her phone. Her thumb hovered above one contact.
She pressed it.
"Can you meet me at the bar near Willow Street?" she asked. Her voice came out too tight.
Charlie didn't ask why. He just said he'd be there.
Ten minutes later, she had changed into a simple black dress that fit her frame softly. The flats she wore made no sound as she walked. Her makeup was light except for the red lipstick, a small layer of armor.
She looked at herself in the mirror by the door before leaving. Her face was pale. Her expression unreadable. She took her keys and left without another word.
At the bar, the lights were low and warm. A soft hum of conversation drifted through the air. Wooden tables, worn from years of use, gave the place a lived-in charm. Acoustic music played quietly in the background.
Silver sat alone at the counter, staring into her glass of cranberry vodka. Her curly hair framed her face, falling past her shoulders in loose waves. She looked elegant, like a painting. But her eyes betrayed her exhaustion.
Charlie arrived a few minutes later. He spotted her instantly.
His smile, automatic and gentle, faded the moment he saw a man approaching her.
The stranger leaned in close, voice sticky with overconfidence. "Excuse me, pretty lady. Mind if I keep you company?"
Silver didn't respond. Her body tensed.
Before she could say a word, another voice cut in, low and firm.
"No. She doesn't need your company. Leave."
Charlie was suddenly there, placing himself between them.
The man turned with a scowl. "Who are you? Her boyfriend or something?"
"Yes," Charlie replied, calm but unyielding. "I'm her boyfriend. Now walk away."
The man stared at him for a second, then muttered something under his breath and slunk off.
Charlie turned back to Silver and sat beside her.
"You okay?" he asked, lowering his voice.
Silver looked at him. Her face was paler than usual, lips pressed into a tight line. Then she glanced down at her glass, and her fingers trembled as they wrapped around it.
"He's here," she whispered.
Charlie leaned in, his brow furrowing with concern. "Who?"
Her eyes met his, wide, haunted, and filled with fear.
"The killer," she said. The words barely made it past her lips.
Charlie froze. His body went still, every muscle tense. His gaze swept over the bar instinctively, sharp and alert. But there was no one. No immediate threat. Just murmurs, laughter, and clinking glasses. Just a normal night.
Silver's voice pulled him back.
"The one who murdered my family. And me. We saw him earlier today." Her voice cracked as she spoke, but her eyes never left his.
He looked at her, confusion and dread creeping into his expression. "Where?" he asked, his voice tight.
Silver turned and leaned in closer, grabbing his hands with a desperate grip, needing someone to ground her.
Charlie flinched slightly at the sudden contact, then quickly wrapped his hands around hers, steady and firm. His thumbs gently rubbed the backs of her hands, trying to calm the tremble in her fingers.
"He came to my house today," she said, her breath unsteady. "It was him. Jayden Nellon. My sister's boyfriend, the one she introduced to us today. He's the one who killed us."
Charlie's eyes widened in disbelief, then darkened with rage. He searched her face, desperate to understand. "Do you remember everything, Silver?"
She nodded slowly, tears welling in her eyes.
"Tell me everything. Every detail," Charlie urged gently.