Chapter 14: The Eyes That Watch
Marcus completely changed after that night.
It wasn't obvious at first. He still smiled. He still kissed Rosalyn's forehead before leaving the house. But his eyes stayed on her longer, sharper, as if he were searching for something she wasn't saying. He didn't completely trust or understand her.
Rosalyn noticed everything, but refused to say. silence is superior
He began asking small questions. Where she was going. Who she spoke to. Why she came home a little later than usual. His tone was soft, but the questions never stopped.
"You seem distant," Marcus said one morning while pouring coffee. "Did I do something wrong?"
She met his eyes and smiled gently. "You're just imagining things."
He watched her closely, as if testing the answer. Then he nodded. "Maybe."
But he didn't believe it.
That afternoon, Marcus went through her phone while she showered. He didn't find what he was looking for. Rosalyn had already erased everything that mattered. Still, the fact that he checked told her one thing.
He was afraid.
Fear made men reckless.
At the café, Rosalyn felt his presence before she saw him. Marcus sat near the window, pretending to work on his laptop, but his attention stayed on her. Every laugh she gave a customer, every glance toward the door, he noticed.
When her shift ended, he stood up immediately.
"I'll walk you home," he said.
"I can manage," she replied.
"I insist."
The word landed heavy.
They walked in silence. The streetlights flickered on as the sky darkened. Marcus finally spoke.
"You've been quieter lately," he said. "You don't tell me things anymore."
Rosalyn stopped walking. "Do you want the truth?"
"Yes."
"I'm tired," she said simply. "And I feel watched." eyes rolled lazily
His face tightened. "I watch because I care." his tone neutral.
"No," she said softly. "You watch because you're scared."
The words hit him harder than she expected.
"I'm scared of losing you," he admitted.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Then stop pushing me away with fear."
Marcus swallowed. He nodded, but something in his eyes didn't settle. Promises came easily to him. Change did not.he still felt suspicious of her.
That night, Rosalyn lay awake again. Marcus slept beside her, but his arm no longer rested gently. It held her too firmly, like a reminder.
She stared into the dark and understood something clearly.
Marcus didn't suspect the truth yet.
But he suspected change.
And change was enough to make him dangerous.
Across the city, Sebastian stood on his balcony, looking at his phone. He hadn't heard from Rosalyn, and that worried him. She was careful. Too careful.
Marcus Hale was tightening his grip.
And when men like Marcus felt control slipping, they didn't ask questions anymore.
They acted.
Rosalyn closed her eyes, knowing one thing for certain.
The game was no longer quiet.
And soon, someone would get hurt.
Fear of losing someone might scare you but fear of losing control is something else.