POV – Alex Besson
The three of us are in my office.
I close the door behind us, then sit down slowly. Mina and Asael take their seats across from me. Without a word, I hand them the red envelope.
Asael turns pale instantly.
Asael:
"Again…?"
I nod. Mina takes the envelope, opens it, and begins to read, while I see Asael's hands tremble slightly.
Asael, her voice breaking:
"This can't go on, Alex… please, do something. I'm really starting to be afraid. And what if… if this time they actually manage to reach her?"
I crouch beside her and place my hand over hers.
Me:
"There's no way my daughter's life will be ruined. Not as long as I'm alive."
I stand up and begin pacing the room, thinking, searching for a flaw, a solution.
That's when Mina looks up, as if she's just understood something.
Mina:
"I've read and reread these letters for days… and I've come to a conclusion. This isn't random, and it's not just some lunatic. It's someone who knows Esther. Or someone who's having her followed."
Asael turns toward her, surprised.
Asael:
"But how? The only person Esther really spends time with is Leila, her best friend since forever. She doesn't have anyone else close. So… if it's not someone from her circle, then it's the second option: someone is watching her."
I shake my head immediately.
Me:
"Impossible. Since the letters started, Esther has never gone out alone. Never. She's always with you, or Mina, or me. And even when she goes out, our guards follow her discreetly. If someone were tailing her, they would have noticed."
A heavy silence settles in. It feels as if the room itself has closed in on us.
Mina crosses her arms and murmurs:
Mina:
"Maybe the purpose of these letters… isn't just to warn you. Maybe it's to make you understand that you can't protect her."
I frown.
Me:
"What do you mean?"
Mina exhales, as if what she's about to say won't please us.
Mina:
"What I mean, Alex… is that the sender wants to show you that even if Esther is with you, surrounded, loved, protected… you won't be able to shield her from what's coming."
Her words hit me like a violent blow.
I had never thought of it that way.
But she's right… tragically right.
I run a hand over my face. I feel completely lost.
Me:
"If it's not me… then who is supposed to protect her? Who?"
Mina takes a deep breath and looks me straight in the eyes.
Mina:
"Alex… you've been my friend for years. I love Esther like my own daughter. And I think that… the only person who can protect her now… is her—"
Asael cuts her off abruptly, as if she already knows exactly where Mina is going.
Asael:
"…her husband."
I blink, stunned.
What?
Me:
"What?! What are you talking about? That's insane!"
Asael stands up, her voice trembling but firm.
Asael:
"Listen to me, Alex. Maybe Mina is right. If these letters keep coming, if someone wants to hurt Esther, it's because they know we can't protect her forever.
But if she were married… under the protection of a powerful, influential, respected man… it would be different."
Anger surges through me in an instant. How can she say something like that?
Me (shouting):
"AND WHAT NEXT?! YOU WANT US TO MARRY HER OFF WHEN SHE'S NOT EVEN TWENTY YET?! YOU WANT TO HAND OUR DAUGHTER TO SOMEONE SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW, JUST BECAUSE A SICK MAN WANTS TO DESTROY MY LIFE BY GOING AFTER HER?!
AND WHAT ELSE?! IT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION! MY DAUGHTER IS NOT GETTING MARRIED! OUT. OF. THE. QUESTION. AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE, ESTHER WILL NOT SUFFER!"
My voice roars louder than I intended.
I don't wait for their response.
I storm out of the office, slam the door behind me, go up to our bedroom, and lock it.
…
I stay in the darkness for a long time, lost in my thoughts.
Do I really have to… marry her off to protect her? Just thinking about it feels like something is tearing my chest apart. It's absurd… and yet terrifyingly real.
I flinch when someone knocks softly on the door.
— Dad? Can I come in? Please open the door.
— It's me.
Her voice alone is enough to calm some of the chaos in my head. I open the door, and she's there, standing with that angelic smile that has always had the power to soothe me. She doesn't say anything at first—she simply throws herself into my arms.
Esther:
"Daddy… why do you look so sad?"
I stroke her hair, like when she was little.
Me:
"It's nothing, sweetheart. Just work."
She pulls back slightly, narrowing her eyes.
Esther:
"Are you sure? Because I heard you yelling in your office… and then you slammed the door so hard that even I jumped."
I sigh. She notices everything… absolutely everything.
Me:
"I scared you, didn't I?"
She nods, a little pouty.
Esther:
"Yes, a little. But I don't like seeing you like that. Tell me… did Mom and Mina tease you again? If they did, I'll talk to them and tell them to stop bothering you."
I can't help but smile. This girl… even when she's scared, she tries to protect me.
A voice speaks up behind us:
— "And who exactly do you want to talk to?"
We turn around. Asael is leaning against the doorframe, a smile that barely hides her curiosity.
Esther crosses her arms.
Esther:
"Mom, you're not allowed to listen at the door when two adults are talking!"
I laugh despite myself. Esther knows exactly how to ease the tension.
Asael raises an eyebrow, mock-offended.
Asael:
"Excuse me, young lady, but you are in my house. And since you were talking to my husband, I have every right to listen at doors—any door in my house."
Esther:
"Mom!" Esther protests. "Even if that's true, you shouldn't do that. Dad, say something!"
She looks at me with puppy-dog eyes. Impossible to resist.
Me:
"Asael, stop teasing my daughter and stop being jealous. We all know it's your house—you remind us often enough."
Asael widens her eyes, playing the wounded woman.
Asael:
"Oh, is that so? So now you're both ganging up on me? I'm the only one here nobody loves. If that's how it is, I'm leaving."
She turns on her heel dramatically. Esther and I exchange a conspiratorial glance, then rush after her.
Esther:
"Sweet Mommy, don't be mad! Daddy's just joking!" she says, clinging to her waist.
I wrap my arms around her too.
Me:
"Yes, Mom, forgive us… please."
Asael keeps her sulky expression.
Asael:
"Let me go. You don't need me anyway."
Esther:
"Come on, Mom, where would you go? What would we do without you? Please, Mommy, stay," she says, resting her head on her shoulder.
I add, in an exaggerated childish voice:
Me:
"Yes, Mommy, please stay."
Asael keeps a straight face for one second… then bursts out laughing. And so do we.
For a moment, I think that despite the threats, despite the fear, despite everything… my family remains my greatest strength.
…
I'm sitting in my office, unable to focus on anything.
Today, I don't want to see anyone.
I just want to… think.
And as always, when I'm lost, my thoughts drift back to him: Jon Arrison, my childhood best friend.
Jon…
We've known each other since kindergarten. We even had a nickname at school: the trouble twins, because we couldn't go five minutes without getting into something. A smile crosses my lips as a memory suddenly resurfaces.
---
Flashback
That day, Jon was leaving Morocco to settle in France.
We had decided to take one last walk around the neighborhood—just the two of us, like when we were kids.
He walked beside me, hands in his pockets, more serious than usual.
Jon:
"Alex… you've been my best friend forever. Even if today we have to separate, you'll always be my brother."
His words still move me, even after all these years. I smiled at him, a little embarrassed.
Me:
"You too. You're my friend. I'll never forget you."
He stopped and turned toward me with that determined look he only wore in important moments.
Jon:
"Let's make a promise."
Me:
"What kind?"
Jon:
"That later on, in the near future… we'll unite our companies."
I looked at him, surprised.
Me:
"You mean… a merger?"
Jon:
"Yes. And not just our companies… but our families too."
I stared at him, completely confused.
Me:
"Wait… what exactly do you mean?"
Jon took a deep breath.
Jon:
"I mean that… if one day one of us has a daughter, she could marry the other's son. And if one of us has a son, he could marry the other's daughter.
That way… we'll always stay connected. Our families will remain united, even if distance separates us."
I remember bursting out laughing.
Me:
"You watch too many movies, Jon!"
He smiled, but his eyes were serious.
Jon:
"Maybe. But I believe in it. You know our families, our traditions… it's not that crazy. One day, you'll understand."
He held out his hand.
Jon:
"Promise me, Alex. No matter what happens… we'll remain a family."
I hesitated for a second, then shook his hand.
Me:
"I promise you, brother."
We stood there, facing each other, each trying to hide the emotion tightening our throats.
A few minutes later, his car carried him off toward another life.
And I stayed there, alone in our neighborhood… with a promise carved into my heart.
---
Back to the present
I snap out of the memory when my office door opens softly.
Asael enters, holding a small steaming cup.
She approaches and smiles gently.
Asael:
"Your coffee, my love. You looked far away… lost in your thoughts again."
I take the cup, a little embarrassed that she noticed.
Me:
"Thank you. I was just… thinking."
She doesn't reply, but I can see in her eyes that she knows something is bothering me. She's about to speak when a ding sounds from my computer.
An email notification.
I frown.
The address… I recognize it instantly.
Jon Arrison.
My heart skips a beat.
It's been a long time since we last spoke—and even longer since I've received anything from him.
I open the email.
Asael places a hand on my shoulder.
Asael:
"Is everything okay?"
I read quickly… then reread, just to be sure.
It's an invitation.
An official, personal, unmistakable invitation.
I turn toward her, still stunned.
Me:
"It's… Jon. He's inviting the three of us."
She raises an eyebrow.
Asael:
"Us? Where to?"
I exhale softly.
Me:
"To Palestine… to spend a few days there. He wants us to stay at his place. He says it's important—he has something to tell me."
Asael crosses her arms, intrigued.
Asael:
'Important'… That doesn't sound like Jon, sending something like that for no reason."
I nod.
Me:
"Exactly. Jon never speaks without purpose. If he's inviting us there, it's because there's a reason."
She sits on the edge of the desk, her eyes locked on mine.
Asael:
"You think… it could be connected to the letters?"
I don't answer right away.
The idea is crazy. And yet… I feel that everything is connected.
My instincts have never failed me.
Me:
"I don't know. But I have to accept."
Asael takes my hand, worried.
Asael:
"And Esther? Do you really think it's safe to take her there with the threats she's receiving?"
I clench my jaw. She's right.
The letters.
The promise from the past.
Jon suddenly reappearing…
Everything is beginning to intertwine, as if past and present are colliding.
Me:
"Exactly… maybe that's where we'll find answers."
Asael remains silent for a moment, then sighs.
Asael:
"Alright. We'll go. But if I sense even the slightest danger for Esther… we leave immediately."
I nod.
Me:
"I promise."
She kisses me on the cheek and leaves the office.
As soon as the door closes, I remain there alone, staring at Jon's email.
It ends with a sentence that sends a shiver down my spine:
"It's time to keep our promise, my brother."