Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Unknown Number
Marcus stared at his phone.
“Ask her about me.””
Four words.
That was all.
No name.
No explanation.
Just another piece of a puzzle that seemed designed to keep him confused.
He looked at Naomi.
She noticed his expression immediately.
“What happened?””
Marcus hesitated.
He hated the feeling growing inside him.
Because he wanted to trust her.
He wanted to believe that the woman who challenged him, laughed with him, and spoke with such certainty was exactly who she appeared to be.
But every time he got closer, another secret appeared.
He turned the phone around.
Naomi read the message.
And this time, her reaction was different.
Her face went completely still.
Not confused.
Not surprised.
Terrified.
Marcus caught it.
“You know who this is.””
Naomi looked away.
“Naomi.””
She didn’t answer.
“Who is it?””
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus stared at her.
“That’s not the face of someone who doesn’t know.””
She looked back at him.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
“Sometimes knowing the truth doesn’t make things better.””
“Maybe not. But not knowing is worse.””
Naomi looked down.
For a moment, she seemed like she was deciding whether to trust him.
Finally, she whispered:
“His name is Adrian.””
Marcus waited.
“Who is Adrian?””
Naomi swallowed.
“He was the reason Ethan and I started having problems.””
Marcus leaned back.
The story was getting darker.
“How?””
She took a slow breath.
“Because Adrian knew Ethan before I did.””
“Friend?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
Naomi looked through the window.
“He was Ethan’s business partner.””
Marcus frowned.
“And you think he sent those messages?””
“I don’t know.””
“But you think he might.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked at him.
“Because Adrian has a reason to hate me.””
Marcus studied her face.
“What reason?””
Naomi’s voice became quieter.
“Because Ethan chose me over him.””
Marcus didn’t say anything.
Naomi continued.
“When Ethan and Adrian started their company, they were best friends. They built everything together. But after Ethan met me, things changed.””
“How?””
“Ethan wanted a different life.””
Marcus listened.
“He stopped working every night until midnight. He started spending time with family. He started talking about slowing down.””
“And Adrian didn’t like that?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Adrian believed success was everything.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
He had met people like that.
People who saw relationships as distractions.
People who measured life only by achievements.
“So Adrian blamed you.””
“Yes.””
“For changing Ethan?””
“For taking him away.””
Marcus looked at his phone.
“And now he’s sending me messages.””
Naomi nodded.
“I think so.””
“Why would he care about me?””
That question made her quiet.
Too quiet.
Marcus noticed.
“What?””
She looked at him.
“I don’t know.””
“You’re lying.””
“I’m not.””
“You’re avoiding.””
Naomi looked frustrated.
“You’re asking questions I don’t have answers to.””
“Then tell me what you do know.””
She looked down.
“I know Adrian never forgave me.””
The café suddenly felt colder.
Marcus stared at her.
“Have you seen him since Ethan disappeared?””
Naomi didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
Marcus froze.
“Yesterday?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“Outside my apartment.””
His expression changed.
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I barely know you.””
“That’s not the point.””
“Then what is?””
“The point is someone who might be dangerous showed up at your home.””
Naomi looked at him.
For a second, she seemed surprised.
Not by his words.
By his concern.
“I can handle myself.””
Marcus smiled slightly.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The confidence.””
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Then she looked away.
“But confidence doesn’t mean nothing hurts.””
The honesty caught him.
This was the first time she admitted weakness.
Marcus softened.
“Tell me what happened yesterday.””
Naomi was quiet for a moment.
Then she began.
“I was coming home from work. I saw him standing near my building.””
“Did he approach you?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“He asked if I was happy.””
Marcus frowned.
“That’s it?””
“No.””
“What else?””
Naomi’s eyes moved to the table.
“He said, ‘You always find someone new after you ruin someone’s life.’”
Marcus felt anger rise.
“And you just walked away?””
“Yes.””
“Naomi.””
“What?””
“You’re acting like this is normal.””
“It is normal for me.””
Those words bothered him more than anything else.
Because people only said things like that when they had been dealing with something for too long.
Marcus looked at her.
“How long have you been dealing with this?””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Naomi.””
“Three years.””
The answer was quiet.
Three years.
Three years of being blamed.
Three years of questions.
Three years of people believing a story she couldn’t prove was wrong.
Marcus looked at the woman sitting across from him.
The woman who joked with him by a door.
The woman who acted like nothing could shake her.
Now he understood.
Her confidence wasn’t because life had been easy.
It was because life had forced her to become strong.
Before Marcus could respond, his phone buzzed again.
Another message.
This time, it wasn’t from the unknown number.
It was a photo.
Marcus opened it.
His face changed.
Naomi noticed.
“What is it?””
He slowly turned the phone toward her.
The picture showed Marcus and Naomi sitting in the café.
Taken from outside.
Taken minutes ago.
Naomi’s expression changed instantly.
“He’s here.””
Marcus looked toward the window.
The street outside was crowded.
People walking.
Cars passing.
Normal life continuing.
But somewhere out there, someone was watching them.
“Who took this?”” Marcus asked.
Naomi didn’t answer.
“Naomi.””
Her voice dropped.
“Adrian.””
Marcus stood immediately.
“We’re leaving.””
She grabbed his arm.
“No.””
He looked at her.
“Why no?””
“Because if we run every time he appears, he wins.””
“This isn’t about winning.””
“Then what is it about?””
“Keeping you safe.””
The words came out before he could stop them.
Naomi stared at him.
For the first time, Marcus saw something he couldn’t explain.
A mix of gratitude and fear.
“You barely know me.””
“I know.””
“Then why do you care?””
Marcus looked at her.
Because that was the question he had been avoiding.
He had known her for less than two days.
But something about her felt familiar.
Not because he knew her.
Because he wanted to.
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
And surprisingly, Naomi believed him.
They left the café through the back entrance.
Neither spoke.
The city felt different now.
Every person walking past seemed like a possibility.
Every car slowing down seemed suspicious.
When they reached Marcus’s car, Naomi stopped.
“What?””
She looked at him.
“I need to tell you something before this goes any further.””
Marcus waited.
“There’s something about Ethan’s disappearance that I never told anyone.””
The way she said it made his stomach tighten.
“What?””
Naomi looked around.
Then whispered:
“Ethan didn’t disappear the night he sent that message.””
Marcus froze.
“What are you talking about?””
“He disappeared three days later.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then where was he during those three days?””
Naomi’s eyes filled with something close to fear.
“Marcus…”
“What?””
“I saw him.””
The city noise seemed to disappear.
“You saw Ethan after the message?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
She looked at him.
And before she could answer, a car engine suddenly roared behind them.
A black SUV pulled up beside the curb.
The window rolled down.
A man looked directly at Naomi.
Then at Marcus.
And smiled.
It was Daniel.
But he wasn’t alone.
Someone was sitting beside him.
Someone Marcus recognized.
Someone he never expected.
Because the person in the passenger seat was the same person who had been sending him the messages.
May you like
And then Adrian lowered the window and said:
“Marcus, you have no idea what kind of woman you’re standing next to.””
