I tossed and turned on my bed, the pale silver moonlight spilling through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room. Midnight had come and gone, but sleep eluded me. My thoughts were a whirlwind—Alan, Jared, the letter, that damn watch—it was all spinning around in my head like a storm I couldn't quiet.
Then my phone buzzed.
Shawn: "'ALAN HERNANDEZ' — Here you go. His number. Hope this helps! 🤣😅 Still can't wrap my head around the fact that the letter was from Alan."
I stared at the message, uncertain whether to laugh or scream. A gnawing suspicion curled in my stomach. What if Alan and Jared were in this together? What if everything was just another mind game designed to mess with me?
Earlier that night, I'd spilled everything to Aphrodite and Shawn over the phone—every confusing detail. I'd even messaged Maria a part of it, though I wasn't sure what response I expected from her.
My finger hovered over Alan's number, debating whether to send a message. Instead, my curiosity got the better of me, and I tapped on his profile picture.
He stood there casually—white shirt, blue jeans, hands in his pockets. He looked… effortlessly charming. But something about the image made my stomach flip.
The watch.
A flash of gold on his wrist caught my eye. I narrowed my gaze and zoomed in.
I gasped.
"No way…"
My pulse quickened. I scrambled out of bed, ran to my cupboard, and started rifling through an old photo album until I found what I was looking for—a family portrait from years ago.
I focused on Uncle Benjamin's wrist. There it was—his watch. A handcrafted golden timepiece with ornate carvings and a single letter engraved on it: B.
I darted to my drawer and pulled out my own. Every member of our family had been gifted one by Uncle Ben—he'd designed them himself with Tom, an artist's personal touch etched into every curve. Mine had an S, Tom's had a T, and Uncle Benjamin's had a B.
I flipped back to Alan's WhatsApp photo and zoomed in once again.
Same design. Same pattern. Same B.
My throat tightened. My hands began to tremble.
"That's Uncle Ben's watch."
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.
"Where did he get it? Why is Alan wearing it? Could Uncle Ben… still be alive?"
Tears welled up in my eyes. Panic began to claw at my chest. My brain screamed that this wasn't just a coincidence. That watch was one of a kind. There was no logical explanation for Alan having it—unless he had a connection to my missing uncle.
I needed answers.
Now.
I raced down the hallway and pounded on Tom's door like my life depended on it.
He swung it open, half-asleep, his expression shifting to alarm as he saw my tear-streaked face.
"Seri? What happened?! Are you okay?" he asked, voice thick with worry.
I didn't speak. I threw myself into his arms, breaking into uncontrollable sobs.
He held me tightly. "Seri, you're scaring me. Say something. What's going on?"
I choked out the words, "Tom… it's Uncle Ben…"
That name alone made his eyes go wide.
Bit by bit, through gasps and sobs, I told him everything. I showed him the photo, the watch, the letter. He fell silent. Eyes darting between the images, thoughts racing behind his furrowed brow.
Without another word, he snatched my phone, opened Alan's contact, and began typing furiously.
"Tom, what are you doing?" I asked, my voice shaking.
He didn't respond. Instead, he marched to the foyer, grabbed the car keys, and strode toward the door.
"Tom?! Where are you going?"
He turned, his face hard with determination.
"I'm going to find out what the hell Alan is hiding—and if Uncle Ben is still alive."
And before I could blink, he slammed the door behind him—and locked it from the outside.
Panic surged through me.
I ran to the window, threw it open, and yelled, "TOM! What are you doing?! Open the door!"
He didn't even look back.
"I'm dealing with it, Serena!" he shouted, jumping into the car. "I'm going to get answers!"
The engine roared to life, and he sped off into the night.
I stood frozen, staring at the fading taillights, heart hammering against my ribs.
A tidal wave of dread hit me as the house sank back into silence.
"Oh God. Oh no. What the hell am I supposed to do now?!"