Chapter 587

Lena sent another message: [Seriously, if you hadn’t responded in another hour, I was going to call the cops. Do you even know what was going through my head? I was low-key convinced Jace had done you in after, you know, having his way with you.]

I had to laugh. Lena’s imagination was next level. I just hit her with a thumbs-up emoji.

Lena: [It’s not that crazy. Stuff like that makes the news all the time, you know? Anyway, when are you coming back? Are you flying home today? Did Steve win the competition??]

I glanced at her barrage of questions, then at my situation, and hit her back with the safest reply I could think of: [Not sure yet.]

Lena: [777]

Me: [Might stay here a bit longer. Not sure I’ll be back to this place anytime soon.]

I didn’t want Lena to freak out, so I threw in a little white lie.

Lena: [Alright, live your best life then. Let me know when you’re back—I’ll throw a mega welcome-back party!*]

Reading her message, I suddenly felt this weird, heavy feeling in my chest. Like, this irrational fear that I might not make it back. It hit me out of nowhere. I didn’t know where it came from, but I couldn’t shake it. So I sent her a voice note:

“Lena, the password to all my bank accounts is the date my parents passed away. If anything happens to me, you’re in charge of…well, everything. Keep half as, like, my gift for you or whatever, and donate the rest. To people who need it. Or sick kids. I don’t know. You’ll figure it out.”

No sooner had I hit send than my phone started ringing with a video call from Lena. I knew she was probably freaking out, so I quickly picked up.

“What do you mean, leaving stuff behind? What is going on? Where are you right now?” Lena’s voice was full-on panicked.

I turned the camera around to show Wayne’s massive villa. “See? I’m in a giant mansion, totally safe and sound.”

“Then why are you talking like that? You nearly gave me a heart attack,” she said, looking way more relieved now, though she was still in her surgical scrubs. I couldn’t tell if she was heading into surgery or just coming out.

“I was just being careful. You were the one who mentioned how crazy things have been lately, and with all these plane crashes…I figured I’d let you know, just in case…”

“Just in case what?” Lena interrupted. “Turn the camera around so I can see your face.”

Guess she wasn’t going to relax until she saw me for real. I flipped the camera to show myself, throwing in a goofy peace sign for extra reassurance.

After a long, serious stare, Lena finally chilled. “If you ever pull something like this again, I’ll literally murder you.”

“Go for it,” I teased, moving my face closer to the screen.

“Out it out. So whose mansion are you staying at? Is it Jace’s?” Her curiosity was off the charts now.

“Nope. It’s Wayne’s.”

“Oh.” Lena sounded totally caught off guard. Then she asked, “Why are you staying at his place?”

I couldn’t exactly spill the beans, so I lied. “It’s safer here than in a hotel.”

“Fair point. Just don’t let Jace get any weird ideas,” she said, all smug, which deserved exactly one response from me.

“Shut up.”

Lena burst out laughing, but then she got all serious. “Hey, you should totally bring home an American boyfriend while you’re there.”

I knew exactly what she was getting at—it was her subtle way of bringing up Hayden and his engagement to Yara.

“That’s the plan. Why do you think I’m not rushing back?” I said, hoping it’d put her mind at ease.

“Alright, I’ll be waiting to meet your American boyfriend.” Lena joked, but right then someone called for her, and she had to head into the operating room.

When the video call ended, I felt that goofy smile slip right off my face. I glanced down at Demi’s latest message. It was just one line, but it made my heart stop.

Chapter 588