Chapter Twelve

Jake looked around uncomfortably. "This is about my mother. Emily, I believe she is losing it. She's not done with you, and I'm concerned about what she'll do next."

Emily felt a shiver go down her spine. "What do you mean?"

Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've been seeing signs that she's becoming more unhinged. She's been talking about you non-stop, making plans, hiring people to follow you. I'm genuinely worried about what she might do."

Emily's eyes widened, and she glanced around the parking lot, feeling suddenly exposed. "Jake, why are you telling me this now?"

Jake shifted uncomfortably. "Because I care about you, Emily. I don't want to see you get hurt. I thought if you knew what was going on, you could protect yourself better."

Emily felt a mix of gratitude and suspicion. "What do you propose I do, Jake? Run away and hide?"

Jake shook his head quickly. "No, of course not. But maybe it would be safer if you kept your distance from my father for a while. At least