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Chapter thirty one

Author: Presh Starr
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

Over the next few days, the mysterious gifts kept arriving. Each one was more elaborate than the last, another bouquet of white lilies, a box of chocolates, and a sleek designer scarf in her favorite shade of burgundy. The notes continued as well, each more intimate than the previous:

“I know you love chocolate-covered almonds, just like you love quiet evenings alone.”

Emily’s discomfort grew with each passing day. The sense of being watched, of someone knowing the smallest details about her life, began to weigh heavily on her. At work, she found herself glancing over her shoulder more often, and at home, she double-checked the locks before going to bed.

The final straw came on a Friday evening, when another delivery arrived at her apartment. This time, it was a small painting, an oil portrait of a woman, strikingly similar to Emily, standing in a field of lilies. The detail was remarkable, from the curve of the woman’s neck to the subtle shadowing around her eyes. And in the corner,
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