Chapter 54

I went back to the group, my mind racing. Max noticed my pale face and asked, "Where were you?"

I forced a smile. "Just in the restroom," I lied, hoping he wouldn't see through me.

Max seemed satisfied with my answer and soon we headed back to his apartment. The night air was cool, and the city lights twinkled like stars as we drove. I watched the streets pass by in a blur, my thoughts tangled in a web of fear and confusion.

When we arrived at his apartment, Max tried to distract me with his usual charm. We ended up in his bedroom, where the intimacy should have been comforting, but my mind was elsewhere. Even after, as Max drifted into a peaceful sleep, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of the city outside the window.

I couldn't shake the dread gnawing at me. How was I supposed to get the 50 million Louis was demanding? I couldn't ask my dad; he'd want to know why. And besides, I didn't kill Diana. She fell. It was an accident.

I turned onto my side, watching Max's peaceful face in the dim light. He looked so serene, so unaware of the storm brewing inside me. I envied his ability to sleep so soundly, to be untouched by the chaos that was my life.

My thoughts drifted back to the day Diana died. We were on a mountaintop, and I had gone to confront her. Our argument quickly escalated, and Diana, in a fit of desperation, grabbed a vine from a nearby tree. She tried to swing herself in a circular motion to push me away, but the vine couldn't hold her weight. She lost her grip and fell off the cliff. It was a horrifying accident, and I had never meant for it to happen.

I got up and walked to the window, looking out at the city. The streets below were quiet, the occasional car passing by. The city seemed so peaceful at night, so unlike the turmoil inside me. I leaned my forehead against the cool glass, feeling the weight of the situation press down on me.

The next morning, I woke up feeling exhausted. Max was already up, making breakfast. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the apartment. I forced myself to get out of bed and joined him in the kitchen.

"Morning," he said, smiling. "I made your favorite."

I managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Max."

As we ate, I tried to keep up the pretense of normalcy, but my mind kept drifting back to Louis' threats. After breakfast, Max suggested we go for a walk in the park. I agreed, hoping the fresh air would clear my head.

The park was beautiful, with tall trees providing shade and flowers blooming in vibrant colors. We walked along the path, the sound of birds singing in the trees. Max held my hand, and for a moment, I felt a sense of calm. But it didn't last.

"Kenzy, is something bothering you?" Max asked, his voice gentle.

I shook my head. "No, I'm just tired."

He looked at me with concern but didn't press further. We continued our walk, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words.

That evening, back at Max's apartment, the tension inside me reached a breaking point. I had to find a way to get the money Louis demanded, but I had no idea where to start. Asking my dad was out of the question. He would want to know why I needed such a large amount, and I couldn't tell him the truth.

As I lay in bed that night, unable to sleep, I realized I needed to confront Louis again. I needed to make him understand that I couldn't get the money and that I didn't kill Diana. It was the only way to put an end to this nightmare.

The next day, I told Max I needed to run some errands. He offered to come with me, but I insisted on going alone. I needed to face Louis on my own.

I drove to the address Louis had given me. It was a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The area was deserted, with broken windows and graffiti-covered walls. My heart pounded as I parked the car and walked towards the entrance.

Inside, the warehouse was dark and musty. I could hear the distant sound of dripping water. Louis was waiting for me, a smug smile on his face.

"Kenzy," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Have you brought the money?"

"I can't get that kind of money," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "And I didn't kill Diana. It was an accident."

Louis' smile faded. "Do you expect me to believe that?"

"It's the truth," I insisted. "She fell. I didn't push her."

Louis stepped closer, his face inches from mine. "You're lying," he hissed. "And you will pay for what you've done."

I stood my ground, refusing to back down. "I'm not lying, Louis. And I'm not giving you any money."

Louis glared at me, his eyes filled with anger. "You'll regret this, Kenzy," he spat. "I promise you that."

I turned and walked out of the warehouse, my heart racing. I had stood up to Louis, but I knew this was far from over. As I drove back to Max's apartment, I realized I needed to find another way to protect myself and those I cared about.

Back at the apartment, Max was waiting for me. He looked relieved when I walked in.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just ran a few errands."

He didn't seem convinced but didn't push further. As we sat down for dinner, I felt a glimmer of hope. I had faced Louis and survived. Now, I just needed to find a way to end this nightmare once and for all.

Sure, I'll help you continue the story from where we left off. Here is an extended version with the details you've requested:

The next morning, I decided to visit Ashley, Kathy's sister. I needed her support and perhaps a fresh perspective on how to handle this mess. When I arrived at the prison, the grey walls and cold atmosphere mirrored my mood perfectly. Ashley met me in the visitors' room, her face lighting up slightly at seeing me.

"Kenzy, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Ashley said, concern lacing her voice.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Louis is asking for $50 million. He claims Kathy stole from him and now wants me to pay up, or he'll expose something terrible about me."

Ashley's eyes widened in shock. "Where are we going to get that kind of money from? That's impossible."

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice breaking. "I don't have that kind of money, and I can't ask my dad."

Ashley leaned closer, her expression hardening. "We can't let him ruin your life. Maybe we should consider something drastic... like kidnapping Louis. Or worse."

The suggestion shocked me. "Kidnap Louis? Are you out of your mind? That's crazy and dangerous."

"Well, what other choice do we have?" Ashley countered. "We need to make him back off. Maybe if we scare him enough, he'll leave you alone."

I sat back, feeling the weight of her words. "We can't just kidnap him. There has to be another way. Maybe we can gather evidence against him, something that proves he's lying or that he set Cathy up."

Ashley shook her head. "Louis is too careful for that. But... if we could find something to blackmail him with, it could work. We just need to be smart about it."

I sighed, the enormity of the situation pressing down on me. "Alright, let's think this through. Maybe we can find a way to gather dirt on him without getting ourselves into more trouble."

We spent the next few hours brainstorming, but nothing concrete came to mind. As I left the prison, the sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the dreary surroundings. My phone buzzed with a message from Max, asking where I was. I lied and said I had just stepped out for some fresh air.

Back at Max's apartment, I tried to focus on anything other than Louis's threat. Max sensed my unease but didn't press me for details. Instead, he took me out for a romantic dinner, hoping to lift my spirits. The restaurant was cozy, with soft music playing in the background and candlelight flickering on our table. For a moment, I managed to forget about the impending doom.