BELLA
Sleep didn't come.
⸻
Not after everything.
⸻
Ethan's words.
Rico's confession.
Marco's warning.
⸻
It all sat heavy in her chest.
⸻
So she stood at the balcony instead.
⸻
The night air was cool, brushing softly against her skin—but it did nothing to quiet her thoughts.
⸻
The mansion below was quiet.
Too quiet.
⸻
Security lights dimmed the grounds in soft gold, guards stationed at their usual positions.
Everything looked normal.
⸻
But nothing felt normal.
⸻
Her fingers rested lightly against the railing as her gaze drifted—
⸻
Then stopped.
⸻
Movement.
⸻
At the far end of the estate.
Near the back gate.
⸻
Bella frowned slightly, leaning forward.
⸻
A figure.
⸻
Dressed in black.
Cloaked.
Face hidden beneath a mask.
⸻
Her breath caught.
⸻
No guard stopped him.
⸻
No alarm sounded.
⸻
The gate—
⸻
Opened.
⸻
Just like that.
⸻
Like he belonged there.
⸻
Bella's heart started to race.
⸻
That wasn't normal.
⸻
That wasn't safe.
⸻
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him step inside.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Certain.
⸻
Like this wasn't his first time.
⸻
A chill ran down her spine.
⸻
Because something clicked.
⸻
Marco's words.
⸻
Someone inside helped him.
⸻
Her grip on the railing tightened.
⸻
Was this him?
⸻
Or something worse?
⸻
The man paused.
⸻
Right there.
⸻
As if sensing something.
⸻
Bella froze.
Her breath shallow.
⸻
Then—
⸻
Slowly—
⸻
He looked up.
⸻
Directly at her.
⸻
Even from the distance…
⸻
She felt it.
⸻
That awareness.
⸻
That presence.
⸻
Like he knew she was watching.
⸻
Like he wanted her to.
⸻
Bella's heart slammed against her chest.
⸻
And then—
⸻
He lifted his hand.
⸻
Not a wave.
⸻
Not a greeting.
⸻
A signal.
⸻
Deliberate.
⸻
Intentional.
⸻
Her breath hitched.
⸻
Because that wasn't random.
⸻
That was meant for her.
⸻
Before she could react—
⸻
He turned.
⸻
And disappeared into the shadows of the mansion.
⸻
Just like that.
⸻
Gone.
⸻
Bella stepped back from the balcony slowly.
⸻
Her mind racing.
⸻
He got in without resistance.
⸻
He knew the place.
⸻
And worst of all—
⸻
He knew she was there.
⸻
Her pulse pounded.
⸻
This wasn't just danger anymore.
⸻
This was infiltration.
⸻
And suddenly—
⸻
The mansion didn't feel safe at all.
⸻
FINAL SCENE
Bella turned toward the door—
Ready to go find Rico.
⸻
But she stopped.
⸻
Just for a second.
⸻
Because a thought hit her.
⸻
Sharp.
Dangerous.
⸻
If she told Rico…
⸻
He would lock everything down again.
⸻
Control everything.
⸻
Including her.
⸻
Her jaw tightened slightly.
⸻
No.
⸻
Not this time.
⸻
If there was someone moving freely inside this house—
⸻
She needed to know who it was.
⸻
On her own.
⸻
Because now—
⸻
She wasn't just being protected.
⸻
She was being kept in the dark.
⸻
And Bella Collins was done being blind.
BELLA
Sleep didn't come.
⸻
Not after everything.
⸻
Ethan's words.
Rico's confession.
Marco's warning.
⸻
It all sat heavy in her chest.
⸻
So she stood at the balcony instead.
⸻
The night air was cool, brushing softly against her skin—but it did nothing to quiet her thoughts.
⸻
The mansion below was quiet.
Too quiet.
⸻
Security lights dimmed the grounds in soft gold, guards stationed at their usual positions.
Everything looked normal.
⸻
But nothing felt normal.
⸻
Her fingers rested lightly against the railing as her gaze drifted—
⸻
Then stopped.
⸻
Movement.
⸻
At the far end of the estate.
Near the back gate.
⸻
Bella frowned slightly, leaning forward.
⸻
A figure.
⸻
Dressed in black.
Cloaked.
Face hidden beneath a mask.
⸻
Her breath caught.
⸻
No guard stopped him.
⸻
No alarm sounded.
⸻
The gate—
⸻
Opened.
⸻
Just like that.
⸻
Like he belonged there.
⸻
Bella's heart started to race.
⸻
That wasn't normal.
⸻
That wasn't safe.
⸻
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched him step inside.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Certain.
⸻
Like this wasn't his first time.
⸻
A chill ran down her spine.
⸻
Because something clicked.
⸻
Marco's words.
⸻
Someone inside helped him.
⸻
Her grip on the railing tightened.
⸻
Was this him?
⸻
Or something worse?
⸻
The man paused.
⸻
Right there.
⸻
As if sensing something.
⸻
Bella froze.
Her breath shallow.
⸻
Then—
⸻
Slowly—
⸻
He looked up.
⸻
Directly at her.
⸻
Even from the distance…
⸻
She felt it.
⸻
That awareness.
⸻
That presence.
⸻
Like he knew she was watching.
⸻
Like he wanted her to.
⸻
Bella's heart slammed against her chest.
⸻
And then—
⸻
He lifted his hand.
⸻
Not a wave.
⸻
Not a greeting.
⸻
A signal.
⸻
Deliberate.
⸻
Intentional.
⸻
Her breath hitched.
⸻
Because that wasn't random.
⸻
That was meant for her.
⸻
Before she could react—
⸻
He turned.
⸻
And disappeared into the shadows of the mansion.
⸻
Just like that.
⸻
Gone.
⸻
Bella stepped back from the balcony slowly.
⸻
Her mind racing.
⸻
He got in without resistance.
⸻
He knew the place.
⸻
And worst of all—
⸻
He knew she was there.
⸻
Her pulse pounded.
⸻
This wasn't just danger anymore.
⸻
This was infiltration.
⸻
And suddenly—
⸻
The mansion didn't feel safe at all.
⸻
FINAL SCENE
Bella turned toward the door—
Ready to go find Rico.
⸻
But she stopped.
⸻
Just for a second.
⸻
Because a thought hit her.
⸻
Sharp.
Dangerous.
⸻
If she told Rico…
⸻
He would lock everything down again.
⸻
Control everything.
⸻
Including her.
⸻
Her jaw tightened slightly.
⸻
No.
⸻
Not this time.
⸻
If there was someone moving freely inside this house—
⸻
She needed to know who it was.
⸻
On her own.
⸻
Because now—
⸻
She wasn't just being protected.
⸻
She was being kept in the dark.
⸻
And Bella Collins was done being blind.