Dawn couldn't stop thinking about the photos.
They replayed in her mind over and over—
Cielo and Julie.
Holding hands.
What the hell happened?
Her hand slowly curled into a fist until her nails dug into her palm. The sting grounded her spiraling thoughts.
Is Cielo doing this on purpose? I don't understand!
She exhaled sharply.
Damn it. I already have my own problems. I don't need to get dragged into that jerk's twisted game.
In frustration, she hurled her pillow across the room. Her blood was boiling. She needed something—anything—to release the pressure building inside her.
Vincent's voice echoed in her head.
He's cunning… but he's sharp.
M–Maybe if I cooperate just a little… I'll get the answers I need.
She hesitated.
Is there really no other way?
With a heavy sigh, she collapsed onto her bed and grabbed her phone. She opened Messenger.
Nothing.
She tossed it aside.
A few minutes later, it vibrated.
She snatched it up.
Claire.
Claire had sent the outline of Vincent's plan—how they would corner the girl named Julia, the one who looked exactly like Julie, and pressure her into confessing.
Dawn wasn't interested.
But then—
Wait.
If Julie really is the Pop Princess… does Cielo even know? What about her friends? Is she hiding that from all of them?
What if I expose her?
What would happen then?
A slow, secretive smile formed on her lips.
Ugh. I still hate her.
For now, I want to shatter her little fantasy. I want to see that miserable look on her face again. But this time… she won't have anyone left to lean on. Not her friends. Not even Cielo.
She reread Vincent's reminders.
She was still irritated by how commanding he sounded.
Fine.
I'll cooperate.
But I'll destroy Julie first.
The thought eased her frustration.
But before Julie—
Kelly.
Claire wasn't even sure if Kelly knew about the passbook—or whether she had arrived when Crisha was drowning. But something about it unsettled Dawn.
Something inside her whispered—
Kelly knows something.
She remembered the way Kelly had threatened her.
Damn that annoying Kelly. Everything keeps getting more complicated.
And Dad…
I won't let them drag Dad into this.
She let out a long, exhausted breath.
"I'm so tired of this stupid game," she muttered.
Her thoughts looped endlessly, suspicion connecting to suspicion. She just wanted her mind to stop.
Whatever.
She closed her eyes.
I'm not running away. I just need a break.
And eventually—
she fell asleep.
*****
"Hey, Chris. You okay?" Kevin asked.
Chris blinked, startled. "Ah—yeah. Just tired. Don't worry."
"You've been spacing out ever since Julie was hospitalized," Dave pointed out while organizing the scattered documents on the table.
"Don't push him," Jonathan said calmly.
"But you want to know too," Kevin replied.
Jonathan chuckled softly. "There's no point forcing someone who isn't ready."
"We're not forcing," Dave said, though uncertainty laced his voice. "Maybe."
Kevin sighed and lightly tapped Chris on the shoulder.
"We're not trying to pressure you. But something's clearly bothering you."
Dave added, "Gabriel's been distracted too. Cielo's confused but doesn't want to push. And Julie… she still doesn't remember why the suspect looks familiar."
Chris exhaled slowly and rubbed his temples.
"You guys really don't know when to stop, do you?"
They exchanged looks.
"Chris, if you don't want to say anything, it's fine," Kevin assured him.
"But you won't stop anyway," Chris said with a faint, tired smile. He raised his hands slightly. "Fine. I'll tell you."
"Shouldn't we tell the others too?" Dave asked.
"No," Chris said firmly. "We don't want to trigger Julie's memories. She'll remember eventually. That's why Gabriel and I have been careful not to mention what really happened last year."
They went still.
"Last year? When Uncle was still alive?" Dave asked.
Chris nodded.
"It was the day after Crisha died."
Silence thickened.
"Wait—she disappeared?" Dave asked, stunned. Kevin looked equally shocked.
"We didn't escalate it," Chris explained. "She didn't come home that day. Normally, she's home by five unless she has practice. And if she's late, she texts."
He paused.
"But that night, after I attended Crisha's first wake, I got home around ten. Mom said Julie wasn't back yet."
He swallowed.
"Dad had gone out after I left for the funeral. But when I got home, he still wasn't back."
"I was about to go look for her when Dad called. He said they were already at the hospital—with Julie."
They listened without interrupting.
"When we arrived, she was unconscious," Chris continued. "Dad found her near her school. She had passed out, so he rushed her to the hospital."
"What? Like a sudden attack?" Dave asked.
"We don't know. The doctor examined her. There were no visible injuries… but they found signs of aspiration. The doctor said it looked like she had been forced to ingest something before losing consciousness."
The room fell silent.
"Her lips were slightly swollen. When she woke up, she complained that her throat hurt."
"So someone forced her to drink something," Dave murmured. "That sounds intentional."
Kevin frowned. "Wait… weren't Julie and Vincent already together back then?"
Chris shook his head. "No. They weren't. And she didn't even know Vincent at that time."
"Did she remember who did it?" Kevin asked quietly.
Chris sighed.
"No. She was confused about why she was in the hospital. The only thing she remembered was walking home."
"And you didn't investigate further?" Dave asked carefully.
"Dave," Chris said tiredly, "she was safe. That was what mattered. There were no wounds. No signs of assault. So… we let it go."
They understood.
But Kevin's thoughts wouldn't settle.
"So something might have happened before she was hospitalized—and she forgot?" Kevin said slowly. "Maybe someone mistook her for Crisha."
Chris ran a hand through his hair.
"I don't know. It confuses me too. Maybe something did happen. Only Julie knows what really happened that night."
Silence settled over them.
Eventually, they parted ways and went home.
But Kevin kept thinking.
Memories resurfacing…
It happened to me once.
Maybe something triggered Julie's memory.
And maybe—
it matters now.
Kevin exhaled slowly.
Something buried in the past—
was beginning to surface.