novelraw The Trap is Set
The Trap is Set
The weight of the plan settled heavily on Hanna’s shoulders. Every step, every word, felt like a gamble. But the reality was clear—Mark wasn’t going to stop, and neither was she. With Elordi’s help, they had crafted the perfect bait, a message thread that would make it seem like Hanna was ready to give in, ready to meet him alone. The thread was convincing, designed to play on Mark’s pride, his belief that he could manipulate her.
But as Hanna stared at the fake conversation on her phone, the unease in her stomach grew.
“This is dangerous,” Finn said when she showed him the plan. His eyes were filled with concern as he paced in front of her. “We don’t even know how far he’ll go. What if something goes wrong?”
“I know,” Hanna admitted, her voice steady despite the knot in her chest. “But it’s the only way to end this. We can’t let him keep hurting us, Finn.”
Finn stepped closer, his expression softening, but the worry in his eyes didn’t fade. “I don’t like it,” he said, his jaw tight. “But if you’re doing this, I’m going to be there. Even if he doesn’t see me. I’m not letting you walk into this alone.”
Hanna’s heart swelled with both fear and gratitude. She knew that Finn had already been through so much because of her—because of Ciara, because of everything she had dragged him into. And now, he was willing to risk even more. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, but in her heart, she knew he was right. She couldn’t fight this alone.
“I’ll be careful,” she promised, her voice barely above a whisper.
Finn placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding her. “I’m with you. Always.”
The plan was set in motion. Elordi had arranged the details—where to meet, what to say, and how to make sure Mark felt like he had the upper hand. Hanna’s role was to appear vulnerable, desperate to end the conflict, to make Mark think he was winning. It wasn’t a position she ever imagined herself in, but she couldn’t deny that it was the only way to bring this fight to an end.
Later that night, Hanna sat in her car, waiting for the signal from Elordi. Her heart raced as she checked her phone one last time. The message thread was ready. The meeting place was set. Everything was in place, except for the fact that she wasn’t sure she was ready for what would come next.
The silence in the car was deafening. Every noise outside felt amplified—the wind rustling through the trees, the occasional sound of distant cars driving by. Hanna’s thoughts raced as she waited. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, that this wasn’t going to go according to plan.
Just as she was about to send the final message, her phone buzzed. A message from Elordi.
Elordi: He’s coming. Stay calm. We’ve got this.
Hanna took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she typed back.
Hanna: I hope you’re right.
She tucked her phone into her pocket, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. In the distance, she saw a figure moving toward her car, a shadow in the dark. The trap was set, and Mark was walking straight into it.
Hanna’s heart pounded in her chest. There was no turning back now.
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