Chapter 22

Lauren's POV

The hospital lights buzzed faintly overhead, their sterile glow reflecting off the glossy tiles and making the air feel colder than it was. My skin prickled as I stood near the window, the distant sounds of muffled voices and rolling gurneys filling the silence.

A day had passed since I was mysteriously locked in the hospital operating room. There was no culprit yet, but that wasn’t my main concern.

Alexander was somewhere in the building, and I could feel his presence like a weight pressing down on my chest. Something had shifted, and I could sense it. He had been acting odd since our last run-in, watching me with a sharpness that made my skin crawl. It was like he was following me, but not quite.

It wasn’t like him to linger, not when work always consumed him. So why was he so focused on me? Why not his real family? Like Owen, who had been found later that dreadful night, blissfully unaware of everything.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, the motion meant to steady myself as much as to keep the strands from slipping loose. My fingers lingered on the ends, the sharp edges pricking my skin.

Lately, Alexander had a knack for being where I didn’t expect him—near the coat check when I retrieved my jacket, in my office when I returned from errands, always armed with some weak excuse.

Every encounter felt calculated, like he was searching for something. But what?

The door creaked open in the hall, and I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. Liam stepped in, his tall frame filling the doorway. Relief washed over me as he closed the door behind him, his expression softening when he saw my face.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he said, his voice low and warm.

I let out a shaky laugh, the tension in my chest easing just slightly. “Not a ghost,” I replied, crossing my arms over my chest. “Just Alexander. A lot.”

Liam’s jaw tightened, his easy demeanor shifting into something sharper. He stepped closer, his presence like an archor. “What did he do?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly, though the word felt hollow. “Not yet. But he’s up to something, Liam. I can feel it.”

He studied me for a moment, his piercing blue eyes scanning my face. “What are you thinking?”

I hesitated, glancing toward the window. I had a hunch but no clue if it held any weight.

“I think he’s trying to test a theory. Abigail’s DNA. Through me.” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper, “and if he can’t get mine, he’ll come after her’s.”

Liam’s brows furrowed, and he stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on my arm. “You’re sure?”

“He’s been… watching me,” I said, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “Every time I’m near him, I catch him looking at my hair, my clothes, anything he could use. He’s barely hiding it anymore.”

Liam’s hand tightened slightly, his grip reassuring. “We’ll handle it,” he said firmly. “He’s not getting anywhere near you or Abigail’s secret.”

I nodded, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. “He’s desperate, Liam. And desperate people do dangerous things.”

He sighed, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. “Then we’ll have to be smarter than him. If he’s playing games, we’ll play them better.”

I looked at him, the determination in his eyes sparking something inside me. For so long, I had been running, hiding, trying to protect Abigail on my own. But I wasn’t alone anymore. Liam had been there for me every step of the way, and I trusted him more than I trusted myself.

“What do you suggest?” I asked, my voice steadier now.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “We give him what he’s looking for—or at least, what he thinks he’s looking for.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. “You mean a decoy?”

He nodded. “Exactly. We’ll make sure whatever he gets leads him in the wrong direction. He’ll waste his time chasing a dead end while you work with Owen, on this project.”

“It’s risky,” I said, chewing on my bottom lip. “If he figures out it’s fake…”

“He won’t,” Liam said confidently. “Not if we do it right. And in the meantime, we’ll keep a close eye on him. He’s not getting away with anything under my watch.”

I hesitated, mulling it over. It could work. I looked at Liam, his long jacket and tall, square frame.

“Okay,” I said finally. “Let’s do it.”

The plan came together quickly, each piece falling into place with a precision that both reassured and unnerved me.

Liam was meticulous, and his strategic mind worked overtime as he mapped out every detail. I watched him from across the room, his focus unshakable as he outlined the steps we’d take to outmaneuver Alexander.

“We’ll need a hair sample,” Liam said, glancing up at me. “Something that looks convincing but won’t trace back to you or Abigail.”

I nodded, my mind racing. “I can… I’ll cut a strand from one of the wigs I used when I first went into hiding. It’s close enough to my real hair that he won’t notice the difference.”

Liam’s lips curved into a small, approving smile. “Perfect. And we’ll plant it somewhere he’s likely to find it. Somewhere that doesn’t look suspicious.”

“Like my scarf,” I suggested, pulling the soft fabric from around my neck. “I’ll leave it behind in the waiting room. He’s been hovering there every chance he gets.”

Liam’s eyes lit up with approval. “That could work. But we’ll need to make sure he sees you leave it. He’ll be more likely to take the bait if he thinks he’s being clever.”

A small laugh escaped me, despite the tension. “You really think he’ll fall for this?”

Liam’s smile widened a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Oh, he’ll fall for it. People like Alexander think they’re always one step ahead. It’s their biggest weakness.”

I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could pull this off.

The waiting room was quiet, the hum of fluorescent lights filling the space as I sat in the corner, my scarf draped loosely around my shoulders. My heart pounded in my chest as I glanced around, my eyes scanning for any sign of Alexander.

Liam sat a few seats away, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He gave me a subtle nod, a silent reassurance that he was there, watching, ready to step in if anything went wrong.

I shifted in my seat, letting the scarf slip from my shoulders and onto the chair beside me. The motion was casual, deliberate, and I resisted the urge to glance around as I stood, smoothing my hands over my coat.

“I’ll be back in a bit,” I said to the nurse, but loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.

I walked toward the exit, my steps measured, my breath hitching slightly as I caught a glimpse of Alexander entering the room. His eyes locked onto the scarf almost instantly, his expression shifting as he realized what he’d found.

Liam’s words echoed in my mind: People like Alexander think they’re always one step ahead.

I didn’t look back as I stepped into the hallway, my pulse racing. The plan was in motion, and now all we could do was wait.

“He took it,” Liam said, his voice low as he joined me near the vending machines. “Hook, line, and sinker.”

Relief flooded through me, though it was tempered by the lingering unease in my chest. “Do you think he’ll test it right away?”

“Probably,” Liam said with a shrug. “But when it doesn’t lead anywhere, he’ll be back to square one. And by then, we’ll be ready for whatever he tries next.”

I nodded, my shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thank you, Liam. For everything.”

He smiled, his hand brushing against mine for just a moment. “You don’t have to thank me. We’re in this together.”

Alexander's POV

I twirled the scarf between my fingers, a slow smirk spreading across my face.

A wig hair. Really? How quaint. Almost clever, Lauren. Almost.

Fine. If she’s onto me, I’ll let her think she’s won this round. Let her bask in the false comfort of believing I’ve been fooled.

Owen and Sophia—surely their hair test will unravel some of the answers I’m looking for.