PART 2: A Stranger Let Me Sleep on His Shoulder—Then My Ex-Husband Found Me Before the Plane Even Landed -035
us later.”
The words landed softly.
That made them worse.
I looked at Lily.
“You don’t get to decide when another person can survive being broken.”
“I know that now.”
I wiped my face.
A knock sounded at the door.
Three gentle taps.
I froze.
“Elena?” Ethan said.
Another knock.
I crossed the room without answering.
Through the peephole, I saw Daniel.
Relief came first.
Then confusion.
I opened the door with the security latch still fastened.
“Yes?”
Daniel held an envelope.
“Sorry to bother you.”
“What is it?”
“This was delivered downstairs for you.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who delivered it?”
“That’s what we’re trying to determine.”
I glanced at the phone in my hand.
Ethan was still on the line.
Daniel noticed.
“Is that Mr. Walker?”
I nodded.
His expression remained calm.
“Ask him whether he sent an envelope.”
I lifted the phone.
“Ethan, did you send something to
my hotel?”
“What hotel?”
The fear in his voice returned instantly.
I looked at Daniel.
“No.”
Daniel’s posture changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“Don’t open it yet,” he said.
Ethan heard him.
“Who is there?”
“Adrian’s security.”
“Elena, listen to me. Do not tell anyone what you found tonight.”
I almost laughed at the impossible timing.
“Someone just delivered something to me, Ethan.”
“What?”
“An envelope.”
“Don’t touch it.”
Daniel was already examining the outside.
“No return address,” he said.
My name was handwritten across the front.
ELENA WALKER
Nothing else.
Daniel took a photograph and stepped down the hall to make a call.
I remained behind the partially opened door.
“Ethan,” I whispered, “who knows I’m here?”
“I didn’t even know you were at a hotel.”
“Sam?”
“I don’t know.”
“Rebecca?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“I don’t know.”
Those three words again.
But this time they frightened both of us.
