THE INVESTIGATION 

After Uncle Harold made his unexpected surprise, I sat at my kitchen table with my laptop open. Despite the brilliant sunlight coming in through the window, I didn't feel too bright. My mind was full with ideas regarding James. I had the unshakeable impression that he was more complex than he had revealed. 

"Are you okay, Emma?" Sophia inquired as she entered the kitchen holding a mug of coffee. "You appear to have seen a ghost." 

I forced a smile and said, "I'm fine." "Just pondering." 

"What about it?" she inquired, arching her brow. Is it related to last night's dinner? Because, in light of Uncle Harold's shenanigans, I felt it went pretty well. 

Biting my lip, I murmured, "It's not just that." It has to do with James. I have the unavoidable feeling that he is withholding something from me. 

Leaning against the counter, Sophia had a solemn expression. "Explain what you mean." 

"I'm not sure. I said, 'I feel like I don't really know him, but he's charming and self-assured. "He works in finance, but what else is there?" 

"Perhaps you ought to ask him," she said. "I think communication is essential?" 

"I could," I replied, but a persistent doubt persisted in my thoughts. However, what if he is concealing something significant? I have to be aware of who I'm interacting with. 

"All right, so what's the plan?" Curiosity sparked in Sophia, so she asked. 

"I believe I will conduct some research," I uttered, with a surge of resolve. "I'll investigate his past to see what I can uncover." 

"That seems like a plan. Just use caution," she said. "You shouldn't draw conclusions too quickly." 

I waved her away and said, "I know, I know." "But I need to be aware of what I'm handling." 

I was excited and nervous at the same time as I started typing James's name into the search engine. What if I found something that completely altered my life? 

I searched for a few minutes before coming across a few articles that mentioned James. The majority of them discussed his remarkable track record and career in finance. But then I came onto a news piece from a few years ago that gave me a heart palpitation. 

The headline said, "Local Billionaire's Son Arrested in Financial Scandal." As soon as I clicked the link, my stomach fell. 

The story went into detail about James's father's involvement in a significant financial scandal that shocked the neighborhood. It stated that James had been employed by his father's company at the time, but he had maintained that he was unaware of the illicit activity. 

"How in the world?" I mumbled to myself as my stomach knot tightened. "Why did he not bring this up?" 

With my pulse pounding, I read on. The report continued by stating that James had founded his own investment business since leaving the company soon after the controversy surfaced. However, there were no specifics regarding his activities in the years that followed. 

"Is he as innocent as he says he is?" I said in a hushed tone, feeling both confused and worried. "What if he has something to hide?" 

My phone buzzed on the table at that very moment, startling me out of my reverie. When I opened it, I saw a message from an unidentified number. As soon as I opened it, my heart raced. 

"Avoid being near James. He's not who you believe him to be. 

A shiver went down my spine. Who was that? Furthermore, how were they aware of my relationship with James? 

"What's wrong, Emma?" Sophia inquired, observing my pallid visage. 

I shook my head and remarked, "I just got a weird message." "It says I ought to avoid James." 

Sophia's gaze expanded. How come? That is eerie! Are you aware of its sender? 

I answered, "No, it's from an unknown number," as a sense of unease passed over me. What happens if it is accurate? What if there's something he's hiding? 

In an attempt to comfort me, Sophia said, "Maybe it's just someone trying to scare you." "You cannot allow it to affect you." 

"I understand, but I just can't get rid of this feeling," I said, my heart pounding. "I have to talk to him about this." 

"Are you certain that's a wise decision?" With a look of anxiety, Sophia enquired. "What if he becomes hostile?" 

With a forceful voice, I stated, "I have to know the truth." "I have to know who he really is before I can move forward." 

"All right, just watch out," Sophia said. "You shouldn't shoo him away." 

"I won't," I said, gaining a strong sense of resolve. "I simply must ask him directly." 

I was excited and nervous at the same time as I got ready to see James later that night. I could not allow fear to stop me from discovering what he was hiding. 

My heart was racing when I saw James at our regular café that evening. Even though he smiled warmly to greet me, there was tension in the air. 

"Hi Emma! He said, "You look great," and got me a chair. 

"I appreciate it, James," I forced a smile. "We must have a conversation." 

"Speak? With a little frown, he inquired, "Are you talking about what?" 

I inhaled deeply, attempting to calm my anxiety. "I need to know the truth about what I found about your past." 

James's demeanor changed, and I noticed a brief moment of worry. "Explain what you mean." 

My phone buzzed once more before I could respond. "You're making a mistake, Emma," read another message from the unknown number as I looked down. Never put your trust in him. 

James caught my attention as my heart raced. "What do you have hidden from me?" 

I knew that this chat was going to be life-changing as I looked into his eyes for answers.