Chapter 79: Unmasking Shadows

Adrian hesitated, pacing Jake’s apartment like a man cornered. His breaths came shallow, and his usually composed demeanor was unraveling. Jake, arms crossed and eyes sharp, leaned against the wall, waiting. The silence between them buzzed with tension, the kind that spoke of betrayal and truths too long buried.
“I made a deal with Peter,” Adrian finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, as though saying it aloud might shatter the fragile air between them.
Jake narrowed his eyes. “What kind of deal?”
Adrian stopped pacing and faced him, his shoulders slumping under an invisible weight. “He needed my help to secure a gallery partnership—a merger with a rival owner who wanted a prominent artist involved. Peter thought I was perfect for the role because of my reputation and...my connection to you.”
Jake’s stomach churned. “What does that mean? My connection to you?”
Adrian’s gaze dropped to the floor. “He thought using me would distract you. Keep you emotionally off-balance so you wouldn’t notice his moves behind the scenes. I didn’t know his real agenda at first, I swear. But when I found out…”
“When you found out, you still stayed silent,” Jake snapped, his voice cracking like a whip. “You let him manipulate me. And worse, you became part of it.”
Adrian stepped closer, his tone urgent. “Jake, you don’t understand. He’s not just some ex with unresolved feelings—he’s dangerous. He wanted to control you, to have you under his thumb. I tried to get out of the deal, but by then, it was too late.”
Jake laughed bitterly, shaking his head as he turned away. “And now you’re what? Trying to be the hero? After months of lies?”
Adrian’s face fell, guilt etched deep in his features. “I made a mistake, Jake. I didn’t think it would spiral this far.”
The sound of Jake’s phone buzzing cut through the conversation like a knife. He glanced at the screen: another message from the unknown number.
Adrian isn’t the only one keeping secrets. You’re in deeper than you know.
Jake threw the phone onto the couch, his frustration bubbling over. “What the hell is going on? Between you, Peter, and these cryptic messages, I don’t even know who to believe anymore!”
Adrian stepped back, his face clouded with concern. “Messages? From who?”
Jake hesitated, torn between letting Adrian in and keeping another wall up. Finally, he grabbed the phone and thrust it toward Adrian. “Here. Read for yourself.”
Adrian’s expression darkened as he scanned the texts. “This…this isn’t Peter. He wouldn’t play games like this. Whoever this is, they’re trying to stir the pot.”
Jake snatched the phone back. “So now you’re saying there’s a third party involved? Do you even hear how insane this sounds?”
Adrian looked away, the gears in his mind clearly turning. “It’s possible. Peter’s made enemies in the art world. People who would love to see him burn. If they know about us, they might see you as leverage.”
Jake sank into the armchair, his head in his hands. “This just keeps getting better. So now I’m caught in the crossfire of your professional games and Peter’s vendettas? Why didn’t anyone warn me?”
Adrian sat on the edge of the couch, his voice soft. “I tried. I wanted to tell you so many times, but I was afraid you’d hate me. And now…now I’m afraid I’ve lost you.”
Jake didn’t respond immediately. The weight of the revelations pressed down on him like a lead blanket. He wanted to scream, to cry, to lash out, but instead, he sat in silence, the air between them thick with unspoken emotions.
A knock on the door shattered the moment. Jake and Adrian exchanged wary glances.
“Were you expecting someone?” Adrian asked, his voice low.
Jake shook his head. Rising cautiously, he approached the door. “Who is it?”
No response.
The knock came again, firmer this time. Jake swallowed hard and opened the door, his heart pounding.
Peter stood there, his face a mask of calm, though his eyes betrayed a storm brewing beneath the surface.
“We need to talk,” Peter said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Adrian shot to his feet. “Peter, this isn’t the time—”
Peter held up a hand, silencing him. “It’s exactly the time. Things have gone too far.”
Jake closed the door, his nerves fraying at the edges. “What’s this about now?”
Peter turned to him, his gaze piercing. “It’s about the truth. All of it. Because if we don’t handle this now, none of us are walking away unscathed.”
Jake’s chest tightened. “What truth?”
Peter exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. “The truth about why Adrian and I made our deal. And the truth about the person who’s been sending those messages.”
Jake froze. “You know who it is?”
Peter’s silence was answer enough.
“Then start talking,” Jake demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
Peter’s eyes flickered to Adrian, then back to Jake. “I will. But first, you need to promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“That when I’m done, you’ll still believe in us. In the connection we had. Because no matter what, that was real.”
The words hit Jake like a punch to the gut. His resolve faltered, but he nodded. “Fine. Start from the beginning.”
Peter stepped further into the room, his presence heavy, like a gathering storm.
“This isn’t just about us,” Peter began. “It’s about someone who’s been pulling the strings all along, someone who wants to destroy everything we’ve built. And they’re closer than you think.”
Adrian stiffened. “What do you mean, closer?”
Peter hesitated, his gaze flitting between them. “The messages aren’t random. They’re coming from someone who knows all three of us. Someone who’s been watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.”
Jake’s pulse quickened. “Who is it, Peter?”
Peter’s lips pressed into a thin line before he answered. “A name won’t matter. What matters is what they want—and how far they’re willing to go to get it.”
As Peter’s words unraveled a new layer of mystery, Jake felt the ground beneath him shift yet again. This wasn’t just a story of love and betrayal anymore—it was a game of survival.
And Jake wasn’t sure who to trust.