Sins Of Her Venom
Chapter 61: She’s Everywhere

Chapter 61: She’s Everywhere

-Glyndon Walton: ( Song of the Chapter: Haunted by Isabel LaRosa)

Something was wrong.

I felt it before I even opened my eyes.

A sick, crawling sensation crept up my spine, wrapping itself around my throat like a cold hand. The kind of feeling that told you someone was watching. Something was there.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe evenly, to move slowly as I blinked into the dim glow of my bedside lamp. My room was silent, save for the rhythmic rise and fall of Alex’s breathing beside me. His arm was draped over my waist, heavy and warm, grounding me.

But it wasn’t enough.

Because something was there.

I turned my head slightly, gaze drifting toward my window—

And then I froze.

A shadow.

A figure.

Standing beyond the glass, so still, it could have been part of the night itself.

I felt my stomach drop.

My heartbeat pounded against my ribs, a rapid, uneven drum. My breath hitched. My fingers curled into the sheets.

I couldn’t see a face. Just the outline of someone dressed in black, blending into the darkness, their head tilted slightly—watching.

Watching me.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

Seconds stretched like an eternity.

And then—just like that—it was gone.

Vanished.

Like it had never been there at all.

I sucked in a sharp breath, my entire body trembling as I turned toward Alex. My fingers gripped his shoulder, shaking him hard.

"Alex," I whispered. My voice felt too small, too fragile.

He groaned in protest, barely stirring.

"Alex," I tried again, louder this time.

His brow furrowed as he blinked, sleep-heavy eyes meeting mine. "What?"

"There’s someone outside," I said, my voice barely above a breath.

That got his attention.

His entire body tensed as he sat up, his gaze snapping toward the window.

For a moment, we both just listened.

Silence.

Then, cautiously, Alex swung his legs over the bed and pushed himself up. He moved toward the window, shoulders squared, muscles coiled tight.

I held my breath, my fingers gripping the blanket.

He reached the glass, peering out into the night.

Seconds ticked by.

Then—

"There’s no one here, Glyndon."

I swallowed, my throat dry. "I saw someone."

He turned to look at me, lips pressing into a thin line. "Maybe you were dreaming. You’ve been stressed lately—"

"I wasn’t dreaming."

Alex exhaled through his nose, rubbing a hand over his jaw before shaking his head. "Look, even if someone was there, they’re gone now. Just... try to sleep, okay?"

I wanted to argue.

Wanted to tell him that it wasn’t just stress. That I knew what I saw.

But I didn’t.

Because what if I was wrong?

So I just nodded, forcing myself to lie back down as Alex climbed in beside me again. His arms wrapped around me, his warmth pressing against my back.

But I didn’t feel safe.

Not even a little.

And when my phone vibrated on the nightstand, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

I hesitated, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached for it. The screen lit up—

A message.

From an unknown number.

My stomach twisted into a knot as I clicked on it.

A photo.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I stared at it.

It was me.

Taken through my window.

From outside.

The same position I had just been lying in.

I couldn’t breathe.

Then, another message popped up.

Didyoumissme?

A cold wave of nausea crashed over me.

I sat there, frozen, my entire body locking up.

The air felt thick, suffocating.

My fingers hovered over my screen, my mind racing.

Was this a joke? Is someone messing with me?

Or was the person outside still watching?

I turned my head slightly, gaze darting back toward the window.

But there was nothing.

Nothing but the dark, empty night staring back at me.

And yet—

I knew.

I knew I wasn’t alone.

——-

The hot water cascaded over my shoulders, washing away the lingering tension in my muscles, but it did nothing to soothe the knot tightening in my stomach.

Alex stood behind me, his hands lazily trailing over my sides, his lips pressing against my wet shoulder as he spoke.

"I have the perfect idea for tomorrow," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement.

I shut my eyes, already knowing what he was going to say.

Kathrine.

It was always Kathrine.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay still, to act like his words didn’t make my skin crawl.

Alex chuckled, oblivious. "You should’ve seen her today, Glyn. The way she just stood there like an idiot while everyone laughed at her? It was priceless." He shook his head, running a hand through his wet hair. "But it’s not enough. She still walks around like she’s above us like she doesn’t care. I need to make sure she does."

I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Why do you care so much?"

He stilled.

Then, slowly, he turned me around, pinning me under his sharp gaze. "Why do I care?" he repeated, his voice losing its amusement.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I watched as his jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. "Are you seriously asking me that?"

I said nothing.

He took a step closer, and suddenly, the warm water wasn’t enough to chase away the chill sinking into my bones.

"She humiliated me," he said, voice tight with anger. "In Paris, when that noise happened in the museum—who did you run to, Glyndon?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Alex scoffed. "Exactly. You ran to her."

My throat went dry.

"She didn’t even have to do anything, and somehow she’s still winning. Do you think I don’t notice the way people look at her? How do they talk about her?" His grip on my waist tightened, his fingers pressing into my skin. "They should be laughing at her, not admiring her."

I forced a breath, trying to ignore the way my heart was hammering against my ribs. "So you’re going to keep doing this? Keep pushing until she breaks?"

Alex smirked. "That’s the plan, sweetheart."

Something in my chest twisted.

I turned away, letting the water run over my face, hoping it would mask the turmoil churning inside me.

Alex was obsessed.

This wasn’t just about Paris anymore.

This was about control.

Kathrine was the only one who didn’t react the way he wanted. The only one who didn’t crumble under his words, who didn’t beg for it to stop.

And that infuriated him.

But it wasn’t just his words that made my stomach tighten.

It was the way he was looking at me.

Like he knew.

Like he was waiting for me to slip up.

And then—

"Actually..."

I stiffened as Alex’s arms wrapped around my waist from behind, his breath hot against my ear. "You’ve been acting kinda weird lately, Glyn."

I forced a small laugh. "What are you talking about?"

His grip tightened.

"I mean..." He dragged his lips along my shoulder, his voice deceptively light. "You wouldn’t be feeling bad for her, would you?"

My stomach dropped.

I schooled my expression, willing my heartbeat to slow. "Of course not."

Silence.

Then—

Alex exhaled a small chuckle, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. "Good."

But the way he said it sent a spike of fear down my spine.

Like he didn’t believe me.

Like he was testing me.

I swallowed, letting him kiss my shoulder, pretending I wasn’t suffocating under the weight of my secrets.

Because if Alex knew...

If he found out about Kathrine—

About me and Kathrine—

I didn’t even want to imagine what he would do.

I walked Alex to his car, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as the cool night air brushed against my skin. It should’ve been refreshing, but it did nothing to ease the growing discomfort in my stomach.

Alex was talking, but I wasn’t listening. My mind was too tangled in everything that had happened tonight—his words, his suspicions, the way he had looked at me.

"You were quiet tonight," he said suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts.

I glanced up at him, forcing a small shrug. "Long day."

His smirk was slow, amused, but there was something sharper beneath it. Something calculating. "Hope you’re not getting soft on her."

"I’m not," I said, too quickly.

He tilted his head, studying me like he could see straight through me. "Good. Because we’re not done yet."

The weight of his words settled heavily on my chest. I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to stay steady. "What else do you have planned?"

"You’ll see." He smirked, leaning in to kiss me. It was brief, but it felt like a warning. "Just be ready."

I nodded, watching him slide into the driver’s seat. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as the engine roared to life.

"Night, babe," he called through the window.

"Night," I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.

I stood there as his car disappeared down the street, my heart pounding. The entire conversation replayed in my head, over and over again. The way he had looked at me, the way he had spoken—like he knew something like he was watching me closely, waiting for me to slip up.

Did he know?

No. He couldn’t.

But the suspicion was there, lurking beneath his smirks, his jokes, his plans for revenge.

And I was terrified.

I turned toward the house, exhaling shakily as I stepped inside.

Something felt wrong.

The air was different, heavier.

I climbed the stairs slowly, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. My bedroom door was slightly ajar, just as I’d left it—but the moment I pushed it open, my stomach dropped.

She was there.

Sitting on my bed.

Watching me.