Chapter 26: The Hidden Threat

Eve and Violet had spent countless hours poring over the Lena related corruption files that had landed on Eve's desk. As partners in both business and life, they were accustomed to working through difficult situations together. However, this time felt different. Eve could sense a tension in the air that had nothing to do with the corporate intrigue and everything to do with the sudden appearance of someone from Violet's past.

"Look at this," Eve murmured, pointing to a line of text buried in a long, convoluted email chain. "This phrase here—it's something you'd only know if you were close to the family. Doesn't it sound familiar?"

Violet leaned over, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the screen. Her breath caught in her throat. "That… it looks like something he would say," she whispered, her voice tinged with fear and disbelief.

"Who?" Eve asked, already dreading the answer.

"Chad," Violet replied, her heart pounding. "My ex-fiancé."

Eve's jaw tightened. She knew about Chad only in vague terms—how Violet had been engaged to him before she met Eve, back when she still lived a life shaped by her family's expectations and the confines of a traditional, heterosexual relationship. She also knew Violet's family still held onto the hope that she might return to that life, to a man like Chad who fit their narrow ideals of normalcy.

"Do you think he's involved in this?" Eve asked cautiously.

"I don't know," Violet said, rubbing her temples as if trying to erase the memories of her past. "But it would explain a lot. Chad always had a way of getting what he wanted, and he was furious when I left him… especially for a woman."

Eve nodded, her mind racing. "We need to find out what he knows and what he's planning."

The next morning, Violet couldn't shake the unease that clung to her. She decided to confront Chad directly. She knew he worked in an office nearby and decided to drop in unexpectedly. As she walked into the lobby, she spotted him almost immediately. He looked the same as he had years ago—tall, confident, with that same smirk that used to make her feel safe but now made her stomach churn.

"Chad," she called out, her voice more firm than she felt.

He turned, surprise flickering across his face before it melted into a smile. "Violet," he greeted, striding over. "This is unexpected."

"I need to talk to you," Violet said bluntly. "In private."

He nodded and led her to a quiet corner of the lobby. "What's this about?" he asked, though the amusement in his eyes suggested he already knew.

"Are you the one behind the files?" she demanded, cutting straight to the point. "Are you trying to sabotage Eve?"

Chad's smile widened. "Straight to the point, as always. I missed that about you."

"Answer the question, Chad," Violet snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Chad sighed dramatically, leaning against the wall. "I might have something to do with it," he admitted, his tone casual. "But only because I want what's best for you, Violet. You know that."

"What's best for me?" Violet repeated, incredulous. "Or what's best for you?"

Chad's expression hardened. "We had a good thing, Violet. A life everyone accepted. A future that made sense. And then you threw it all away for… her."

"Her name is Eve," Violet said through gritted teeth. "And she makes me happy, Chad. Happier than I ever was with you."

"But does she really?" Chad challenged, stepping closer. "Does she make you happy, or does she just make you feel like you're rebelling against everything you were supposed to be? What about your family, Violet? What do they think of all this?"

Violet flinched. "They… they don't know. Not everything."

"Exactly," Chad said, his voice softening as he sensed an opening. "Because they'd never understand. They'd never accept it. They want you to have a normal life, Violet. With a husband. Kids. The whole package. And I can give you that. We can go back to the way things were, to what everyone expects."

Violet felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I don't want to go back, Chad," she whispered. "I've changed. I'm happy with Eve."

Chad's face darkened. "Maybe. But happiness is fleeting, Violet. Family, reputation—those things last. You think you're happy now, but what happens when the novelty wears off? When you're left with nothing but the shame and disappointment of everyone who once cared about you?"

"Stop it," Violet said, her voice trembling.

Chad leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "You know I could tell them, Violet. One phone call, and your family knows everything. Do you really want them to find out like that? Do you want to break their hearts? All because of some phase?"

Violet's heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She hated how easily Chad could get under her skin, how he could still make her question everything. "It's not a phase," she insisted, though her voice wavered. "I love her."

Chad shook his head, his expression almost pitying. "You think you do. But love isn't enough, Violet. Not in the real world. In the real world, you have to think about the future, about stability, about how people see you."

"People like you," Violet spat.

"People like your family," Chad corrected gently. "Think about them, Violet. Think about what you're doing to them."

Violet turned away, tears streaming down her face. She felt torn in two, caught between the life she had left behind and the one she was trying to build with Eve. The pull of her old life, with its comfort and familiarity, felt like a weight dragging her back, while her love for Eve pulled her in the opposite direction, toward a future filled with uncertainty and fear—but also with a chance for true happiness.