Chapter 190: The Echoes

Harper’s POV

The very second I stepped through my front door, everything I had been holding inside finally broke into pieces.

Emma was sitting on the couch in the living room, her phone in her hand. The second she looked up and saw my wet, blotchy face, I burst into hard, uncontrollable tears.

"Harper?"

I dropped my heavy overnight bag onto the floor with a loud thud.

Emma was already on her feet. She crossed the small room in three fast strides and wrapped her arms around me before I could even open my mouth to speak.

I buried my face against her shoulder and sobbed, my entire body shaking against her.

"I’m sorry," she whispered softly, her hand rubbing small, comforting circles on my back. "It’s okay, Harper. It’s okay."

I couldn’t stop crying. The sob caught in my throat, choking me.

Everything from the argument with Justin came rushing back all at once. His dark, desperate eyes. His booming voice echoing in the hall. The paid ads. The blinding fear.

The terrifying, unbearable possibility that my father’s family would see my mom’s documentary. That they would find us. That everything I had spent long months trying to shield my family from was suddenly right in front of our faces again.

Emma gently pulled me by the shoulders, walking me toward the couch. "Sit down, please."

I collapsed onto the cushions.

She crouched down right in front of me, taking both of my trembling hands in hers. "Harper, breathe. Just breathe."

I wiped my wet cheeks with my sleeve, but fresh tears immediately spilled out, burning my skin.

"What if Dad finds us, Emma?" my voice cracked, small and terrified. "What if he actually finds us this time?"

Emma’s face softened, a shadow of heavy worry crossing her eyes. "What if he finds us?"

"What are we going to do?!" I whispered, my chest heaving. "What are we going to do if he comes here?!"

"We will handle it when the time comes," she said, her tone steady, trying to anchor me.

"But what if we can’t? What if he hurts us? What if "

"We will, Harper."

"What if "

"Harper!" Emma squeezed my hands firmly, forcing me to look at her. "One single thing at a time. Please."

I swallowed hard, trying to catch my breath. "What if... what if he already saw the video?"

Emma glanced toward my phone resting beside my bag on the floor. "Can Justin stop those ads?"

"I think so," I choked out. "He can call the team to take them down."

"Then call him right now."

I shook my head immediately, taking a quick step back mentally. "No. I don’t want to call him."

"Okay," Emma paused, watching me closely. "Give me your phone. I’ll call him myself."

"No, Emma."

"Harper, we need those ads off the internet!"

"Just let him be for now," I whispered, staring down at my knees. "Please."

Emma studied my face for a long, heavy moment. Then she gave a slow nod. "Okay."

She stood up and walked into the kitchen. "Drink some water."

"I’m not thirsty."

"You are drinking water," she insisted softly.

She came back a few seconds later, holding a tall glass, and pressed it into my shaking hands. "Drink."

I lifted the glass to my mouth and took three slow sips. The cold water burned down my dry throat.

"Good," Emma murmured. She crouched in front of me again, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Do you want to lie down in your room?"

I nodded, feeling completely drained, like every drop of energy had been sucked out of my bones.

She helped me stand up and guided me down the short hallway to my bedroom. "Change out of these clothes first. You’re still wearing the same dress from earlier."

I looked down at my clothes. I hadn’t even realized I was still in the same outfit.

"Come on."

She helped me pull off the heavy fabric, helped me slip into a loose, comfortable shirt, and led me to the edge of the mattress. I pulled the heavy blanket over my body, and Emma smoothed my messy hair away from my face.

"Try to rest a little bit," she said softly.

I gave a weak nod.

"I’ll be right outside in the living room if you need me."

"Okay."

Emma walked out and quietly pulled the bedroom door shut behind her.

The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.

I lay there in the dim light for a long time before reaching my hand out to grab my phone off the nightstand. The dark screen lit up instantly.

37 missed calls.

My stomach dropped straight into my feet.

Most of them were from Justin.

There were long strings of text messages underneath his name.

Justin: Baby, I’m so sorry.Justin: Please just talk to me.Justin: I’m going to call off the ads right now.Justin: I’ve already called the agency guy. He’s pulling them down.Justin: I’m sorry.Justin: I didn’t mean to scare you like this.Justin: Please, Harper.Justin: Can we just talk for two minutes?Justin: I’m so sorry, Harper.

I stared at the glowing white words on the screen. My chest ached with a deep, dull pain.

I wasn’t ready to talk to him. I just wasn’t. My mind was still reeling from the panic, from the sheer terror of what he had done without asking me.

My phone buzzed softly in my palm. I had put it on Do Not Disturb, but the notifications kept stacking up on the screen every time I unlocked it.

My fingers trembled as I finally typed back.

Me: Just let me be for now. I want to be alone.

His reply came back almost instantly, the typing bubbles flashing before I could even lock the screen.

Justin: Okay.

Then another message popped up.

Justin: I respect that.

Then another.

Justin: But please call me as soon as you’re ready.

And another.

Justin: Are you home safe?

I stared down at the screen, my eyes burning with fresh tears.

Me: Yes.

His text arrived seconds later.

Justin: Okay. Fine.

Then:

Justin: Please, I’m really, really sorry.

And finally:

Justin: I’m calling off all the ads right now. They’re coming down.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t bring myself to type another word.

I placed the phone face-down on the mattress beside me and turned onto my side, curling my knees tight against my chest.

The tears came again. Quietly at first, slipping hot down my nose and soaking into the pillowcase. Then harder, racking my entire body with silent, painful sobs.

I buried my face deep into the pillow and cried until my eyes burned, until my chest felt completely hollow, until sheer physical exhaustion finally pulled me under.