CHAPTER 75

Philip’s heart pounded as he stared at the text message from Jessica. Her words echoed in his mind: *“Something’s wrong. Please, hurry.”* Every instinct in his body screamed at him to drop everything and rush to her side, but the nagging voice of caution urged him to slow down and think. After the threats he had just received, he couldn’t afford to walk into a trap. But could he really risk leaving Jessica in danger?

He grabbed his car keys and hurried out of the house, locking the door behind him. As he slid into the driver’s seat, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. The memory of the mysterious phone call lingered in his mind, feeding his paranoia. He quickly scanned the street, but everything seemed normal—just the quiet suburban neighborhood he had lived in for years. Still, the unease remained.

Philip started the car and pulled out of the driveway, heading straight for Jessica’s apartment. The streets passed in a blur as his mind raced with possibilities. Wha