Page 62 of Forbidden Harvest

The officers move forward, hands outstretched. I watch as Jared is led away, his gaze locked with mine until the door closes between us.

The air feels heavy, the silence oppressive. I stand there, frozen, my heart torn between the life I knew and the unknown path that lies ahead.

“Aria, come away from there,” Mom says softly.

I blink, shaking myself from my stupor, and step back, my eyes never leaving the door. Tears blur my vision as I turn and stumble up the stairs.

I burst into my bedroom, slamming the door behind me. My gaze falls upon the friendship bracelet Lisa made for me years ago, a relic of a bond now irrevocably shattered.

With a choked sob, I snatch it from the dresser and hurl it out the open window. The beads of the bracelet scatter like a broken promise.

My path is clear now. I will free Jared, no matter what it takes, no matter who tries to stand in my way.

We belong together, two souls intertwined by a love deeper than anyone could ever comprehend.

And nothing, not my parents, the law, or even the world itself, can keep us apart.

34

ARIA

Isit with my hands clasped in my lap as the police officers fill my living room. Their expressions are stern. The truth our relationship is about to come to light, and I feel a mix of fear and anticipation.

“Your parents’ call brought to light an unhealthy obsession Jared harbors.” One of the officers begins. “It appears he’s been fixated on you, Miss Wilkins. We’ve obtained evidence of stalking behavior. Hidden cameras, recordings—his entire apartment was a shrine to you.”

I bite my lip, fighting to glance at my mom and Jared’s dad. They have no idea about the intricate web of desire and darkness Jared and I share

“How long has this been going on?” Mom asks.

“We believe for quite some time, ma’am,” the officer responds. “Years, perhaps. It’s not uncommon for these obsessions to manifest early and remain hidden for extended periods.”

I cringe, feeling a pang of guilt. My loving mom and his dad, their faces etched with confusion and worry. They had no idea about Jared’s true nature, his all-consuming desire for me that began under their very roof.

“But I thought...” I trail off. “He always acted like he hated me.”

The officer nods, his gaze intense. “It’s not uncommon for these fixations to present as hatred or indifference. The object of their desire is often unaware of the full extent of their feelings until later.”

I bow my head, cheeks burning. “He never touched me,” I whisper, defending Jared. “Not until recently.”

The officer cocks his head, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean, Miss Wilkins?”

I take a shaky breath. “Jared and I... we’re involved. It started on my eighteenth birthday. It’s consensual, I promise.”

Their gazes sharpen, and I can sense their unspoken questions.

Is she telling the truth?

Is she being coerced?

Do we believe her?

“Can you tell us more about the nature of your relationship?” the second officer asks. “When did your relationship become romantic? How did he initiate it?”

There’s no way in hell I can tell them how it started. Jared kidnapped me from the carnival, tied me up, and took pleasure from me not entirely consensually, but God, it was hot. That’s our secret, one I’ll keep buried until I go to my grave.

“It started on Halloween,” I state, meeting the officer’s gaze. “We kept it hidden because we knew people might not understand. But it’s real. Please, you have to believe me.”

A long silence follows as they absorb my words. Finally, the first officer speaks. “We’ll need to ask you more questions, Miss Wilkins. And we’ll need to investigate further. In the meantime, we advise that you stay away from your stepbrother for now.”

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