"Ethan," Veronica's voice was soft but strained, filled with a sadness Mia had never expected. "I didn't think you'd come."
Ethan didn't move at first, standing frozen in the doorway, staring at Veronica. His grip on Mia's hand tightened as he stepped forward. "Veronica... I... I never thought I'd see you again. I thought you were gone for good."
Mia could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her instincts telling her that whatever happened next would define everything. Ethan's past was unfolding before her eyes, and it felt like they were standing on the edge of a precipice.
Veronica's eyes flicked briefly to Mia before she spoke again. "You shouldn't be here," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "You don't understand what's at stake. If they know you're with me, they'll come after both of you."
Mia took a step forward, her voice calm but resolute. "Who are 'they,' Veronica? Who are these people that are after you? And why does everyone keep saying that what you have—whatever it is—is so dangerous?"
Veronica's eyes darkened, and for the first time, Mia saw a flash of fear cross her face. She swallowed hard before speaking again, this time with an urgency that sent a shiver through Mia's spine.
"I don't have much time," Veronica said. "They'll be here soon. I—" She paused, glancing around nervously. "I never meant for you to get caught up in this, Ethan. But when you left... when you walked away from everything, you didn't just leave me. You left the Syndicate behind too. And now... now they want everything back."
Mia's confusion deepened. "The Syndicate?" she asked, voice trembling with a mix of fear and curiosity.
"What is it? What does it want?"
Veronica moved closer, lowering her voice. "The Syndicate isn't just a group of criminals—it's a global network, with power that reaches into politics, business, technology... everything. They don't care about people—they only care about control. About power. And I was involved with them because they promised me something. Something I thought would change everything. But it was a lie. I... I couldn't escape. And when I tried, they made sure I knew there was no way out."
Ethan's jaw clenched. "So that's why you disappeared. You were running from them. But why didn't you tell me, Veronica? Why didn't you come to me for help?"
"I couldn't," Veronica said quietly, her voice filled with pain. "I couldn't drag you back into that world. I knew what would happen if you knew. But now, they're hunting me down again. And if they find me—if they find what I've kept hidden—they'll do everything to destroy you both. You don't understand the lengths they'll go to."
Mia stepped forward, trying to make sense of the tangled web they were all caught in. "What's hidden, Veronica? What's so important that they would destroy everything for it?"