SARAYA’S POV.
I felt hand on my shoulder and opened my eyes.
“Mom?” I rubbed my eyes gently, looking around me. It was getting dark. “Oh, I slept off.”
“You should freshen up and join us for dinner, we have a full house and it’s our dinner together since your grandmother’s birthday.”
Mary stared deeply into my eyes, sending cold shivers down my spine. “So,” she began gently, “have you and Arlan officially called it off?”
I sighed and nodded. “Yeah, it’s over.”
Her face softened with sympathy. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know it’s been tough for you.” She paused, then added, “You know what? I’ll make sure Arlan doesn’t come for Christmas this year. I don’t want you feeling uncomfortable.”
I managed a small smile, grateful for her understanding. “Thanks, Mom. That means a lot.”
She stood up, smoothing her dress. “Alright, I’ll leave you to freshen up. Let me know if yiu need help with anything, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Mom,” I said softly, watching her leave the room.
As soon as I was alone, I reached for my phone and stared at it for a moment. I had turned it off earlier to avoid Arlan’s distractions. I pressed my thumb over the power button and switched it on.
The screen lit up, and almost instantly, a notification pinged. It was an email.
I opened it, my heart pounding in my chest. As the video file loaded, my stomach dropped. It was a clip of Arlan and me kissing.
Attached to the video, was a chilling message:
“Pay $10 million, or the video goes to the media. Imagine the headline: ‘The Affair with My Father’s Best Friend.’ You have 72 hours.”
I gasped, my hands trembling as I read it again, hoping I’d misunderstood. My mind raced, panic flooding every part of me.
Without thinking, I opened my contacts, unblocked Arlan’s number, and dialed him. He picked up almost immediately.
“Saraya?” His voice was calm, as if he’d been expecting my call.
“Arlan, I-” My voice cracked. “I got an email. Someone sent a video of us…kissing. They’re blackmailing me for ten million dollars.”
There was a pause on his end before he finally spoke. “I just got the same email.” His tone was steady, almost too calm.
“What?!” I exclaimed, my voice rising. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You blocked my contact, remember?” he said firmly. “I tried calling you with another line but your phone was switched off as well but you don’t have to worry about a thing, I have it under control.”
“Under control?” I repeated, pacing the room as panic clawed at my chest. “How? This could ruin everything!”
“Listen to me,” Arlan began. “The person being this want us to panic but we shouldn’t give them that satisfaction. This is the best time to be as calm as ever. I’ve already contacted someone to trace the email. They’ll figure out who’s behind it. You don’t need to do anything. Just…breathe.”
I pressed a hand to my forehead, my thoughts spinning. “What if they release it before you can stop them?”
“They won’t,” he assured me. “Trust me, Saraya. Not when they’re asking the both of us for millions of tens of dollars. I’ll handle it.”
I sat down on the bed, trying to steady my breathing. “I don’t know if I can just sit back and wait, Arlan.”
“You have to,” he said gently. “Focus on yourself. I promise I’ll take care of this.”
His words offered a sliver of comfort, and I closed my eyes. “Okay,” I whispered.
“I’ll call you if there’s any update,” he said. “For now, try not to let it ruin your day.”
“Easier said than done,” I muttered.
“I know,” he said with a small chuckle. “But I mean it, Saraya. Relax. I’ll fix this.”
I ended the call and stared at my phone, wondering who could behind this. My mind went to Ian but a tiny voice in my head said he wasn’t in Brisbane.
Another one said he could have placed someone on my tail. “Whatever it is, I’m always in one trouble or the other anytime he sets his eyes on me.”
I dragged myself to the bathroom to freshen up, splashing cold water on my face. It helped a little, but not enough.
By the time I made my way downstairs, the dining room was already alive with chatter and laughter.
Dad was at the head of the table, his usual commanding presence impossible to miss. My grandmother, Isla, sat next to him, her sharp eyes scanning the room like a hawk. Ian sat across the table, smirking in that smug way of his that made my skin crawl.
“Ah, there she is,” Dad said, raising his glass. “Saraya, we were just talking about you.”
“All good things, I hope,” I replied, taking the empty seat beside Mary. My voice sounded lighter than I felt.
“Of course,” he said with a chuckle. “Your grandmother was just saying how lovely it is to have the family together.”
Isla’s gaze landed on me, and her expression tightened. “Yes, though some of us seem a bit…preoccupied these days.”
I felt my jaw clench, but before I could say anything, Mary chimed in smoothly, “She’s been busy, mother. You remember how demanding her work is.”
Ian snorted under his breath. “Busy with work or other things?”
My head snapped toward him. “Is there something you’d like to say, Ian?”
He leaned back in his chair, that insufferable smirk still plastered on his face. “Nothing at all, cousin.”
Mary placed a hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. She leaned in and whispered, “Don’t let him get to you.”
Dinner passed in a blur. I barely tasted the food, my thoughts circling around that email and the video. I felt like I was balancing on a knife’s edge, one wrong step away from everything crashing down.
As everyone moved to the living room for after-dinner drinks, I stayed behind, needing a moment alone. I sat at the table, staring blankly at the empty plate in front of me.
“Hey.” Mary’s voice broke through my thoughts. She appeared at my side, her brow furrowed with concern. “You okay?”
I nodded quickly, not trusting myself to say much. “Yeah, just a lot on my mind.”
“Want to talk about it?” she asked gently.
I hesitated. The words sat heavy in my throat, but how could I possibly tell her? The video, the blackmail, the sheer terror of it all-it felt too big to share.
“I’m fine,” I said finally, trying to sound convincing.
She didn’t look convinced, but she gave me a small smile anyway. “Alright. Just remember, I’m here if you need me.”
As she walked away, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and my heart skipped when I saw Arlan’s name.
I stepped into the hallway and answered immediately. “Arlan?”
“I’ve got news,” he said without hesitation. “The email came from a burner account, but I have a lead. It’s someone close to us, Saraya.”
I froze, my heart pounding. “Close to us? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know who yet,” he admitted. “But whoever it is knows too much. They’re either in your circle or mine.”
“Could this be Ian or Matilda?” I asked.
“Ian?” Arlan questioned me. “Is he around?”
“Yes, I figure out I’m always in one trouble or the other anytime he comes around.” I explained. “Who knows what he is planning with grandma this time?”
“Could be Matilda as well, she was in Brisbane with us. Who knows what they could be up to?” I added.
Arlan sighed. “Whoever it is will slip because of their greed, keep an eye on Ian and I will keep an eye on Matilda.”
I leaned against the wall, my voice barely above a whisper. “This is spiraling out of control, Arlan.”
“It’s not,” he said firmly. “I told you, I’ve got this. You have to trust me.”
My chest tightened, doubt creeping in. “And what if they leak it before you figure it out? What then?”
“They won’t,” he said with certainty. “I promise you, Saraya. I’ll handle this. Just keep your head up and act normal.”
“Act normal?” I let out a bitter laugh. “I feel like I’m walking on a minefield here, Arlan. Everyone’s watching me.”
“You’re stronger than you think,” he said softly. “We’ll get through this. Together.”