Chapter 4

Lila's POV

After that day, my life finally calmed down a lot. No more awkward social invitations, and I started working out to fill up my time.

Today, the sweat from the gym hadn't even dried yet when I knew something was off.

My apartment door was cracked open, fresh scratches gouged into the frame. My fingers froze on the doorknob, heart slamming against my ribs. The second I pushed it open, I walked straight into hell.

The living room looked like a tornado had ripped through it. Couch cushions scattered across the floor, coffee table overturned, but the worst part? That pile of "trash" dead center, every single gift Jake had ever given me, from the Tiffany bracelet for my birthday to the La Mer cream for our anniversary, all crammed into black garbage bags. Some boxes were crushed, expensive stuff tossed around like actual garbage.

My legs went weak. I picked my way through the mess toward that pile, hands shaking as I grabbed a note. Pink stationery with that sickeningly loopy handwriting:

"Jake says these were all his money anyway, so technically they're his. I helped him take care of it. P.S. He also said the only thing worth anything in your relationship didn't need props 😉 XOXO"

That kissy-face emoji felt like a slap.

My vision went blurry. I sank to my knees.

My phone buzzed. Text from Jake: "Sorry, Cecilia overreacted a bit. I'll reimburse you."

That's it? Three years, thousands of dollars, my HOME, and all I get is "I'll reimburse you"?

I pushed myself up, swiped at my tears. Texted my lawyer friend Sophia: "Need to see you. Now."

In Sophia's office. She listened to everything, face getting grimmer by the second.

"Lila, listen." Sophia set down her pen, locked eyes with me. "What Cecilia did? That's criminal trespassing and destruction of property. This isn't some petty girlfriend drama. This is an actual crime."

"But..." I chewed my lip. "Isn't that kind of extreme—"

"Extreme?" Sophia cut me off. "What's extreme is someone breaking into your home. What's next, Lila? She gonna show up while you're sleeping?"

Ice flooded my veins.

"You file a police report. Today. Then we get a restraining order." Sophia was already pulling up documents on her computer. "Not a suggestion—a requirement."

I stared at the screen, fingers curling into fists.

"Okay." My voice came out quiet but steady. "Let's do it."

Dusk had settled by the time I left Sophia's office. I wandered down the sidewalk in a fog, her words on repeat: "What's next?"

I wasn't paying attention and slammed right into someone.

"Shit, sorry—"

"Lila?"

That voice made me snap my head up. The guy standing there wore an suit, surprise lighting up his face.

"Douglas?" I blinked. "Holy shit, how long has it been?"

"Eight years." He grinned. "Not since graduation. You look..." The grin died. "Wait, are you crying?"

Only then did I realize my face was still damp. I scrubbed at it frantically. "No, I'm fine, just—"

"Coffee shop's right there." Douglas was already steering me by the elbow. "Come on. My treat."

Sitting across from him in that tiny cafe, I don't know what came over me. The whole story just poured out, Jake's cheating, Cecilia's harassment, the public humiliation at parties, today's break-in. Halfway through, the tears started again and wouldn't stop.

Douglas sat there, jaw getting tighter and tighter. When I got to the note, his knuckles went white around his cup.

"That's enough." He cut in, eyes hard as stone. "You're changing your locks. Right now. I'm handling it. Then I'm going to the station with you."

"But..." I stared at him. "Don't you have work—"

"Nope." He was already on his phone. "I know a locksmith who owes me a favor. He'll be at your place in twenty minutes." He looked at me, expression softening just slightly. "You had my back in high school when those assholes were making my life hell. Now I've got yours."

My throat closed up. I'd almost forgotten, freshman year, I'd stood up to some seniors who were giving Douglas shit. Didn't think he'd remember.

"Come on." He stood, offered his hand. "You're not doing this alone."

The police station's fluorescents were brutal. I sat in that hard plastic chair giving my statement, Douglas planted right beside me, hand wrapped around mine.

"So Ms. Carter entered your residence using a key provided by your ex-boyfriend, without your knowledge or consent?" The officer scribbled notes.

"Correct." I kept my voice level. "She destroyed over three grand worth of my property and left what I'd consider a threatening message."

Right then, the doors banged open.

Jake burst in with Cecilia on his heels, his face blazing red. "Lila, what the hell? You actually called the cops?"

The officer stood. "Sir, you need to calm down."

"Calm down?" Jake jabbed a finger at me. "She's trying to—"

"Trying to WHAT?" I shot to my feet, three weeks of swallowed rage finally erupting. "You gave your side piece a key to MY apartment!"

The whole station went dead silent.

Jake's face drained of color.

"Officer." Douglas's voice cut through the chaos. He slid a paper across the desk. "Lease agreement. Only Ms. Lila's name. Mr. Morrison had zero legal right to that apartment, much less authority to hand out keys."

The officer scanned it, then fixed Jake. "Mr. Morrison. Explain. Now."

Jake's mouth worked but nothing came out. Cecilia was screaming, shoving him. "You LIED! You said all that stuff was yours! You said—"

"ENOUGH." The officer's voice cracked. "Ms. Carter, you're looking at criminal trespass and property destruction. Mr. Morrison, you aided and abetted. Both of you, sit down and shut up."

"Officer." Douglas squeezed my hand. "We're filing for a restraining order. Both of them."

The officer nodded. "I'll start the paperwork."

Outside, the night air hit my face. I sucked in a breath, felt something heavy lift off my chest.

Douglas glanced over. "How you feeling?"

"Like..." I considered. "Like I'm finally fighting back."

My phone lit up. Hannah: "OMG heard what happened at the station. Lila we're ALL on your side. Jake and Cecilia are fucking psychos."

Then more messages flooded in, friends piling on support. Turned out they weren't all Team Jake, I'd just been too scared to find out.

"Let's get you home." Douglas said. "New locks are in. You can actually sleep tonight."

I followed him to his car. The station's lights faded behind us, but I knew this wasn't over.

At least now I wasn't facing it alone.