"Shall we go?" Andreis asked, rising to his feet as he reached for my hand.
I smiled and laced my fingers with his. We walked side by side, the warmth of the morning sun brushing our skin as we exited the café. The little bell above the door jingled behind us, and the gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh bread and flowers from nearby stalls.
But just as we were approaching the car, something shifted.
A screech.
The loud blare of a horn.
A flash of metal—
I froze, paralyzed, as a black sedan swerved onto the curb, headed straight for me. My heart slammed against my chest, my legs locked. For a second, I thought this is it. But in the blink of an eye, Andreis yanked me back with a force that sent me crashing into his chest.
The car skidded, barely missing me by inches. Tires screeched as it swerved, then sped off without stopping.
I gasped, gripping Andreis' coat, heart pounding like thunder in my ears. My knees buckled.
Andreis wrapped his arms around me tightly. "You okay?" he whispered, his voice low but trembling with restrained fury.
I nodded numbly, though my entire body shook. My mind raced, trying to process what had just happened. "That car—it didn't stop. It… it was aiming for me."
His jaw clenched. "Get in the car. Now."
***
Within minutes, Andreis was on the phone, giving commands, checking security footage, calling contacts.
He placed the phone down with a dark look in his eyes. "The driver's been identified."
"Who was it?" I asked, voice barely audible.
He hesitated.
"Max."
The name hit me like a slap.
I felt my throat tighten, my eyes stinging. "No… Max wouldn't—"
"She did. The car was registered under a fake name, but the cameras got her face. She's in the hospital now. Lost control after speeding off."
I turned away, covering my mouth as tears spilled over. Why would she do this? We were friends. At least, I thought we were.
Andreis gently pulled me into his arms again. "We're going back to the farm. You're not safe in the city right now."
***
Back at the farm, tension buzzed in the air like static.
Marco paced the living room, fists clenched. Dad sat with a grave expression, while Mom dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Andreis stood beside me, his arm protectively around my shoulders.
"We can't ignore this," Marco snapped. "She could've died."
"We're already taking steps," Dad said calmly. "Max is in the hospital under observation. We've pulled her family from their positions here at the farm."
"What?" I blurted. "Why would you fire her parents? They didn't do anything wrong!"
Mom looked at me with soft, apologetic eyes. "Mia, we know how close you were. But her parents knew more than they let on. They hid things. Helped cover for her when she started acting strange."
"That's not fair…" I whispered.
"They betrayed the trust of this family," Dad added firmly.
I turned to Andreis. "Please… I need to see her. I need to talk to her. Alone."
His eyes darkened. "Absolutely not."
"Please," I begged, voice trembling. "I need answers. Closure. I need to understand why she did this."
Andreis exchanged a glance with my parents.
"You can go," he said slowly, "but only if I'm with you."
***
Later that afternoon, Marco exploded.
"She never should've come to the city," he yelled from across the hallway. "Look at what's happening! We should've kept her here, on the farm, where it's safe!"
"I'm not a prisoner!" I shouted back, voice cracking.
"No, but you're being hunted like one!"
The words landed like a punch to my gut. I turned away, biting back tears.
Andreis stepped between us. "That's enough, Marco."
Marco glared at him, but left the room.
Silence followed.
I sank onto the couch, burying my face in my hands.
"I don't know what to do," I whispered. "Everything's spinning. I don't even know who to trust anymore."
Andreis knelt beside me, taking my hands. "Then trust me. We'll face this. Together."
***
That night, the air was heavy as we drove to the hospital. The headlights carved through the darkness, and every shadow felt like it carried a secret.
I sat in silence, watching the road blur past. My heart was thudding again—fear, uncertainty, grief.
What would I say when I saw Max? What could I say?
As we reached the hospital entrance, I took a deep breath.
I don't know if I can forgive her. But I have to try.