Chapter 288

Author's pov Cecilia closed the bathroom door behind her, eager to rinse off the chaos of the day with a hot shower. As steam filled the room and water flowed over her shoulders, she tried to clear her mind. Stalkers. Cryptic photos. Maggie Locke. The Van Horns. It was all starting to blur together, like a movie she couldn't hit pause on. Meanwhile, Sebastian sat on the edge of her couch, elbows on his knees, waiting in silence. A soft chime pulled his attention to the nightstand. Cecilia's phone lit up with a new message. His eyes narrowed. There was no name, just a number. Given the recent threats she'd received, he didn't hesitate. His concern trumped any sense of privacy. He picked up the phone and tapped into the message: [Cecilia, this pregnancy is already affecting your body. The longer you delay, the more complicated it becomes. I've already spoken to the doctor. We can take care of it this weekend.You'll need at least a month to recover after the procedure. If you're worried a