Page 27 of The Alpha's Forbidden Secret Baby

Her eyes were bloodshot red from sleep deprivation. Eye bags hung stylishly under her eyes and her head throbbed. She tried to fake smiles. She didn’t want them to notice how unnerved she was, but she was doing a poor job.

Finally, they arrived at Xander’s house. It was built in a Mediterranean style. It was beautiful and matched his taste. However, Rayla couldn’t appreciate it at the moment because as soon as Xander was unpacking the car, Rayla’s phone rang. It was a strange number. Her heart sank. She suspected that it was the blackmailer. Dread and anger consumed her. However, she contained her emotions.

Rayla didn’t want Xander or Abel to suspect a thing. She made an excuse. Lied and said it was a work call. She stepped out of the car and walked around the house to the back to pick up the call.

“Hello?” she breathed.

She was answered with heavy breathing. The caller didn’t say a word for some time. Anxious, Rayla could swear it lasted forever.

“Rayla,” came a distorted voice.

They knew her name. How do they know her name?

Then it hit her. If they knew where she lived, they’d know her name. Again, fear stirred. Her hands shook. She willed herself to calm down.

The distorted voice had given them away as the blackmailer. Still, Rayla asked, “Who is this?” She made sure she didn’t sound weak.

“I am your friend and lover, Rayla,” they gleefully replied.

“No, you are not,” she protested.

“You always said no to me. When will you say yes to me, Rayla?” they whined.

A light bulb went off in Rayla’s head. Some puzzle pieces connected in her mind.

She remembered the man who had been trying to date her for years. He was new in town seven years ago. Since then, he had been on her case. Every year, she said ‘no’. He often whined and replied with the last statement the blackmailer said.

Also, he was the only man who would know where her room was. He had once barged his way into it. It was an unpleasant experience. She had sent him out of the house with threats to call the police.

“Ralph?” she whispered into her phone.

She confirmed it when they stopped breathing heavily. Then, the line went dead.

The bastard! He got caught and fled. Fear created space for anger. His intention at first was not to capture the video of Abel. He had come for her.

Motherfucker! He had been stalking her. How long had he been doing this?

Ralph had been persistent in his pursuit of her. She knew he had applied that persistence to his stalking. That explained how he had caught that moment.

Her head throbbed with her insistent thoughts and worry. She was overwhelmed by the rollercoaster of emotions. She wished she could tell someone about this. But she was on her own.

“Are you alright?” Xander’s voice shocked her.

She had not noticed when he came.

“No… Yes,” she replied, unnerved. She protectively pushed her phone into her pocket. Her hand shook.

Xander noticed this. “You seem shaken, Rayla,” he pointed out.

“I’m fine,” she brushed it off.

She was guilt-ridden. She couldn’t even look into his eyes.

A flash of concern graced Xander’s face. He didn’t believe she was fine. But he didn’t push. Instead, he asked, “What did your boss say?”

“Nothing,” she whispered.

He didn’t buy that. “Rayla, you shouldn’t lie to me.”

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