Chapter 50

Marina slowly opened her eyes, groggily taking in her surroundings. She was lying on the floor, her head throbbing. As she sat up, she realized she was in her store, surrounded by familiar sights and sounds.

But something felt off. The memory of the past few days came flooding back - the creepy customer, Jayden's stalking, Aiden's mysterious protection... it all felt so real.

As she struggled to her feet, Marina saw a figure approaching her - her best friend, Rachel.

"Marina, oh my god, are you okay? You fainted last night and I've been so worried!"

Marina's mind raced as she tried to process what was happening. "What... what happened?"

Rachel helped Marina to a chair. "You had a panic attack after the store got robbed. You've been out for hours. But it's okay, you're safe now."

Marina's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "It was all a dream... a nightmare..."

Rachel nodded. "You've been through a lot, Marina. But you're strong and capable. We'll get through this together."

As Mari