The hotel room had grown quieter again.
Percy was sitting at the small table reviewing the hallway footage on his laptop. Aries leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, thinking. Jane, Keigan, and Keiren were debating possible suspects near the window.
Jay sat on the edge of the bed, absently playing with the sleeve of her shirt.
Her mind kept going back to the same question.
Who would hate me enough to do this?
Across from her, Keifer was watching Percy's laptop screen carefully, his jaw tight.
Jay sighed softly.
"There were a lot of cases," she said. "People lose trials all the time. They get angry, sure, but—this?"
Aries nodded slowly.
"That's what we're trying to figure out."
Jay leaned back slightly, thinking.
Then suddenly something clicked in her mind.
Her expression changed.
Keifer noticed immediately.
"What?" he asked.
Jay hesitated.
"There was… one case," she said slowly.
Everyone looked at her.
"What case?" Percy asked.
Jay swallowed.
"About two years ago. A fraud case that turned into something bigger."
"Name?" Aries asked.
Jay rubbed her temples, trying to remember clearly.
"He lost everything," she said quietly. "Money. Reputation. His company collapsed after the verdict."
Keigan frowned. "People lose cases like that all the time."
Jay nodded.
"Yes… but this guy didn't just get angry."
She looked up.
"He stood up in the courtroom and said something before the guards took him away."
The room had gone completely silent now.
Keifer's eyes stayed on her.
"What did he say?"
Jay's voice dropped slightly.
"He said… this isn't over."
A small chill passed through the room.
Percy leaned forward.
"What was his name?"
Jay opened her mouth to answer—
But her phone suddenly buzzed loudly on the bed beside her.
Everyone froze.
Jay slowly picked it up.
Unknown number.
Her stomach tightened.
"Don't open it yet," Keifer said immediately.
But Jay had already tapped the message.
A photo appeared on the screen.
Jay's breath caught.
Keifer stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Jay silently turned the phone toward him.
The photo showed the entrance of the hotel.
And in the picture…
Jay and Keifer were walking back inside the night before.
Right after the hallway incident.
The angle made it clear the photo had been taken from across the street.
Someone had been watching them.
Watching closely enough to capture the moment.
Below the photo was a single message.
"You can't hide from me."
Jay's hand trembled slightly.
Keifer immediately took the phone from her and showed Percy.
Percy's face hardened.
"That was taken last night," he said.
Aries nodded grimly.
"That means he's still here."
Keifer instinctively stepped closer to Jay again, placing a steady hand on her shoulder.
Jay looked up at him.
"Keifer…"
His voice was calm—but deadly serious.
"He's not getting near you."
Jay nodded slowly.
But the message had already done its job.
The threat was no longer distant.
It was right outside their door.