And then the woman was gone.
The door clicked softly behind her.
Jean stood frozen in the corridor, the words hanging in her mind like a warning she couldn't yet fully decode.
And behind her… far too close… the sound of footsteps began to echo from the restaurant entrance.
Jean stayed still for one more second after the door closed.
The corridor felt colder now.
He is not what he pretends to be.
The words echoed in her mind like a warning she didn't fully understand yet—but couldn't afford to ignore either.
Then she heard it.
Footsteps.
Approaching from the restaurant side.
Slow. Controlled. Familiar.
Tyler.
Jean immediately straightened her posture.
Her expression changed—not abruptly, not noticeably—but carefully, like a mask sliding into place. Her breathing steadied. Her shoulders relaxed just enough to look natural.
She turned.
And walked back toward him.
By the time Tyler appeared at the end of the corridor, Jean was already smiling softly.
