At most, I’m just her sister-in-law, but lately? I’ve felt more like her mom. Maybe it’s some latent maternal instinct, or maybe it’s just the time I started thinking about having a kid of my own. It’s strange, though – I’ve been thinking about it a lot more lately.

“No need. I just wanted to say thank you,” Yuna said suddenly, catching me off guard. I knew what she meant. It wasn’t easy for her to stay mad at me yet still offer a genuine thanks. Yuna’s always been direct – clear about what she likes and dislikes. I gave her a small nod, accepting her gratitude without overcomplicating it.

“Where’s Hayden? Did he get himself into trouble again?” she asked out of nowhere.

I internally groaned. Questions about Hayden were a nightmare. Yuna was relentless, and once she started digging, there was no stopping her. But when it came to him, there wasn’t much I could share.

“Nothing’s going on,” I said, sticking to Hayden’s rule about keeping her out of it.

“You two love lying to me, don’t you? Recently, I noticed people showing up in Pencetown, near where I used to live. They looked like they were searching for something.”

My heart dropped. Those people actually made it there? Were they seriously planning to dig up the grave? To steal the ashes?

“So, are you going to tell me now?” she pressed.

Yuna wasn’t the same girl she used to be. There was a sharpness to her now – a maturity that caught me off guard.

I didn’t respond right away. My mind was racing. Should I go back to Hayden’s hometown? But doing that might only attract more attention.

While I hesitated, Yuna spoke again. “You’re staying quiet because you’re trying to protect me, right? Trying not to scare or involve me? But I’m not as fragile as you think. I deserve to know what’s going on. That way, if someone comes after me, I’ll be ready.”

She was sharp, clear-headed, and completely rational. Since she’d already called me out, there was no point in hiding it. I told her everything.

She listened in silence, absorbing it all. When I finished, she asked just one question: “You hid that thing in our hometown, didn’t you?”

I smirked, deflecting. “Better you don’t know. What if someone grabs you and you’re too scared to keep quiet?”

Yuna didn’t argue. She just said, “When Hayden comes back, tell him to come see me.”

“Okay,” I agreed and drove her home. The ride was quiet, neither of us saying a word. After dropping her off, I headed back to my apartment. But instead of going inside, I stayed in the car.

I was exhausted, but I didn’t feel like going upstairs. And honestly? Why not just sleep in the car? Being alone meant I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. There was something freeing about it – no one to answer to, no one to tell me what to do. Just me, myself, and the quiet night.

I adjusted my seat, ready to lie down, when I caught a flash of light from my upstairs window. It was quick – so fast I almost brushed it off as my imagination. I frowned, still leaning back, but kept my eyes locked on the window. Then, another flash. It wasn’t bright, just the faint beam of a phone’s flashlight. But this time, I was sure.

Someone was in my apartment. The only person who could enter freely was Hayden, but… could it really be him?

All my sleepiness disappeared in an instant. My first instinct was to jump out of the car and rush upstairs. But as my hand gripped the door handle, I froze. Something felt off. If it were Hayden, he would’ve let me know.

Which meant… it wasn’t him. Yuna’s words about strangers showing up in Pencetown came rushing back. It clicked: whoever was in my apartment was looking for something.

I stepped out of the car, popped open the trunk, and grabbed a baseball bat. Then I stationed myself in the hallway near the stairs, waiting. Minutes ticked by, each one dragging longer than the last. Finally, I heard footsteps coming down. The second the figure came into view, I didn’t hesitate – I swung the bat hard.