CHAPTER 41: APPROACHING DANGER

"What are you doing?" Joanne asked, trying to peek at his phone.

JD smirked, lifting it out of her reach before taking off up the stairs. "I’m not telling you now. Wait till tomorrow," he called over his shoulder.

She huffed, glaring at his retreating figure, but he was already gone, leaving her flustered, annoyed... And something else she couldn’t quite name.

With a sigh, Joanne checked the time. It was getting late. She needed to get ready to pick up Charlotte.

She walked into her room, heading straight to her closet, but as she flipped through her clothes, a strange realization dawned on her.

She had nothing to wear.

Or rather, for the first time in years, she felt like she had nothing to wear.

Had she always dressed this blandly?

Most of her wardrobe was filled with jeans and semi-formals—practical, no-nonsense pieces that suited her work. Even her evening gowns had an air of business about them, as if they were meant for corporate events rather than enjoyment.

Maybe I should get myself some cute dresses.

For years, her sole focus had been on making money. She had never cared about appearances or fashion trends. But shoes...

Shoes were another story.

Her shoe racks were overflowing. She bought them on impulse—no second thoughts, no hesitation. It didn’t matter if they were ridiculously expensive or if she had nowhere to wear them. If they were cute, she had to have them. Matching purses, too.

That was her guilty pleasure.

With a sigh, she reached for the only sundress she owned—a daisy-print one that had been buried at the back of her closet. It was simple, light, and perfect for a girls’ day out. Charlotte would probably be in her usual T-shirt and shorts, but maybe—just maybe—if Joanne wore something fun, she could inspire the little firecracker to give dresses a chance.

After a light touch of makeup, she slipped on a pair of espadrilles—ones she had never worn before. She grabbed the matching purse and stepped out.

When she entered the living room, JD was there, tinkering with something in the corner nook.

"You got a Nintendo in here?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Yeah, it’s old and stopped working," she said absently. She hesitated for a second, then took a step closer.

"How do I look?"

JD looked up—and froze.

Joanne twirled playfully, the skirt of her dress swaying around her legs. The soft fabric, the bright pattern, the effortless way she carried it—she looked like the embodiment of summer.

His jaw nearly dropped.

He had always known she was beautiful, but this—this was something else.

Femininity, softness, warmth—it was like seeing an entirely new side of her. His heart raced as if it would jump out of his chest cavity.

His lips curved slightly. "Not bad."

He looked away, pretending to be unaffected, but damn... She was too cute.

JD never expected her to pull off this look so effortlessly, especially with her short hair, but she was full of surprises.

And... he was glad he hadn’t taken her picture earlier.

After all, he had just signed her up for a dating website. He had done it mostly to prove a point—to show her how desirable she was, to boost her confidence. His phone had already been vibrating nonstop with notifications. Men were swiping right on her profile like crazy.

But seeing her now—like this—

She’d break the damn internet.

Then reality crashed in. She dressed up for Jonathan. His smile vanished.

Joanne tilted her head. "Why is your phone vibrating so much?"

JD turned away. "Aren’t you late?"

"Oh, crap—yes!"

Joanne rushed to the garage, nearly tripping over herself.

She rarely went in here since she usually parked her truck outside. But as she stepped in, her gaze landed on the car beneath the sheet.

Her heartbeat slowed.

It was still there.

The car her grandfather had treasured. The one Liam had spent years fixing for her, back when he was just a teenager.

Her favorite car.

A muscle car from the ’70s, a limited edition that had only gained value over time. It was in pristine condition, just as it had always been. A small section of blue peeked out from under the cover, and without thinking, she reached out, tracing her fingers gently over its curves.

For a moment, she was lost in nostalgia, in memories of times long gone.

Then she sighed, pulling her hand away and covering the car properly.

She got into her Audi instead.

She didn’t use this car often—only for business meetings and events where appearances mattered. People did judge others by their possessions.

It was also the reason she carried the latest phone. Not because she needed it, but because society expected it.

She could act like she was unbothered, but she wasn’t that confident. And as much as she hated to admit it, she did care about what people said about her.

JD watched as the Audi sped out of the driveway, the smooth purr of the engine fading into the distance.

She had even taken her best

car.

His jaw tightened.

She must really like being with Jonathan.

He let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair.

With a sigh, he looked down at the Nintendo in his hands.

His fingers traced the worn edges of the old model, his mind drifting.

This thing was a relic from another time—a piece of his childhood, back when his biggest worries were leveling up in games and sneaking in extra playtime before bed.

Back when life was simple.

He had been a nerd. A careless, irresponsible kid who buried himself in screens and pixels.

And now—

Now, he didn’t know if he could fix whatever the hell was going on with his heart.

But maybe, just maybe—

He could fix the Nintendo.

-----

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit gas station restroom across the country, the man stood over the sink, watching as the water turned red.

Blood swirled down the drain, staining the porcelain before disappearing into the abyss.

His hands, steady and practiced, worked methodically—rinsing, scrubbing, erasing any trace of what he had just done.

The body on the floor lay still, eyes glassy and unseeing.

The man barely spared it a glance as he reached into the dead man’s pocket, pulling out a wallet and phone.

He flipped open the ID, and a slow smirk stretched across his face.

Well, well...

Wasn’t this his lucky day?

A little hair dye, maybe some new clothes, and he’d slip right into this trucker’s life. His fingers tightened around the ID, his eyes darkening as he whispered a name.

Joanne Smith.

"Finally!" His menacing chuckle reverberated in the small room. "It’s time to find you, Sweety... I waited fifteen years for this!"