So, it turned out I was being shadowed the entire time., But why? Was this some sort of revenge plot?, My grip on my phone tightened, my eyes glued to the screen, though no new messages came through., After much deliberation, I decided to screenshot the message and send it to Ernest., If Brown was targeting me, and with Susie still hanging around me, anything happening to me could potentially put her in danger too., I needed Ernest to know I was in jeopardy. Even if he wasn't keen on protecting me, he couldn't possibly ignore his sister's safety., In such dire times, it was to Ernest I sought help, driven by habit and, perhaps deep down, a trust in him that lingered, even after he'd pushed me away., No sooner had I sent the message than my phone rang - it was Ernest., I picked up without hesitating but didn't speak; Ernest was the first to break the silence,

"Don't worry, I'll have someone keep an eye on you from the shadows.

", His words warmed my heart in a way I couldn't quite explain, though they left a bitter aftertaste., Yet, I played it tough.

"It's not about me needing protection. I'm worried about Susie being with me. Don't blame me if anything happens to her.

", Ernest stayed silent on the other end, not hanging up either., The standoff lasted a few seconds before I asked,

"Is Brown after me because of Jefferson?

", Brown had called me 'the snooker girl' at our first encounter, and I'd only played at Jefferson's place. Besides, with Jefferson's recent troubles, and my visit to see him, it made sense that Brown was tailing me. Ernest hummed in acknowledgment,

"Jefferson is just the trigger. They're targeting you to get to me.

", That left me stunned, but then I remembered something Conrad had told me,

"Is it true that you're the one who took down Club Q's boss?

", Club Q was infamous; their boss being humiliated was a stain on their reputation, and they'd surely seek revenge. Ernest didn't respond directly, merely stating,

"You might have to miss Jefferson's game and head back home soon.

" What was he on about?!, He was the one who'd urged me to come, and now that I'd barely arrived, he was insisting I leave.,

"Ernest, what are you playing at?

" I asked, confused and angered.,

"It's dangerous for you now that they've got their eyes on you,

" Ernest's voice was deep and serious., I felt my breath catch.

"Because they think... no, because they've mistaken me for your girlfriend, right?

", Ernest still didn't answer, only saying,

"Don't be scared. They won't really harm you. At most, they'll use you to get to me.

", His words only made me more, uneasy and baffled,

"Ernest, stop2 evading my questions. I'm asking you again, did they target me because of what happened with Jefferson last time?

" , He didn't beat around the bush this time,

"Not entirely.

"

"What do you mean, 'not entirely

"?

" I was genuinely puzzled.,

"It's complicated. I'll explain when we have the chance,

" Ernest paused before continuing,

"Don't tell Susie about this, and...you might want to let her spend time with whoever she wants to see.

" , en FindNovel, Ernest's last words made it clear he knew all about Susie's secret crush, a fact she thought was well-hidden., I understood Ernest's intentions; he didn't want Susie caught up in this mess either., But what about me?, Though he mentioned arranging protection for me, I knew the danger I was in was significant., This whole situation was tied to Jefferson, who was my friend. I couldn't blame Ernest for it., Perhaps if I hadn't reached out to, Ernest when Jefferson got into trouble, he wouldn't have gotten involved with Club Q, and none of this would've happened. , But I had no regrets, nothing was more important than clearing Jefferson's name., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.