Lorna didn't even have time to knock before Michael opened the door.
She appeared pale and trembling. The tension vanished for a moment as her gaze swept over his face. She was in front of him, not as a woman he had once loved or as his therapist, but as someone who was attempting to remain strong under duress.
"Enter," he said softly.
After entering, she took the black envelope from her coat and placed it on the kitchen island as soon as the door closed.
Michael's forehead wrinkled. "What is that?"
A message. In a tight voice, she said, "From Edward." "Or one of his folks."
Michael picked it up, opened the envelope, and quickly glanced at the note, his jaw clenched. The message was typed, but it was obvious how poisonous it was:
Leave. or face the repercussions.
Lorna wrapped her arms around herself and said, "A man stopped me in the parking lot tonight as I was leaving the center." He claimed that he was speaking for someone who didn't want me to "distract you." He offered to pay me to vanish. claimed that if I avoided your life, there would be no legal problems.
Michael's eyes became gloomy. "You were threatened by him?"
"Not directly. The implication, however, was obvious. He was aware of my workplace. At what time did I depart? I'm terrified of that.
Without giving it any thought, Michael crossed to her and lightly touched her arms. "You shouldn't have been left to deal with that alone."
"I'm scared of what this means, but I'm not scared of Edward," she muttered. Michael, his intention is to harm you. And now he's doing it with me.
A storm swirled in Michael's eyes as he took a step back. "This is over now. I have already established a security team. There will always be protection for you. Henry and I will reveal everything as we build a complete case against Edward.
But to what extent is he prepared to go? Lorna's voice was shaking as she asked. "You might lose everything."
"I've lost too much already," Michael remarked. "He wins if I back down now."
Slowly, Lorna nodded as her own fire returned. "Then we work together to do it."
The air between them changed after a brief period of silence.
Michael took a step forward. "Lorna..."
Her defenses broke as she looked into his eyes. "Avoid saying anything you'll later regret."
"I won't. Not now.
However, Lorna took a step back and shook her head. "You've already pulled away once. Just when I needed you. I'm still attempting to determine whether or not I can rely on you to stay in touch.
Her words struck Michael more deeply than any danger Edward could convey. "Lorna, I'm not perfect. I became frightened. I allowed my suffering to overpower my emotions. But this is where it ends.
With a whisper, she said, "I want to believe you." However, trust is created via action rather than through promises.
Something changed when their eyes locked in the low light of the kitchen. A quiet comprehension.
No rekindling.
Not yet.
But the beginning of something stronger.