Daniel’s POV:As the plane's engines hum steadily beneath us, the world outside the window seems detached, a distant blur of clouds and sky. Beside me, Lily's small form is hunched, her sobs muffled by the plush seat. She clutches a stuffed bear, a barrier between her and the terrifying reality we're flying into. "Daddy, is Mommy like Sammy's parents now? Did she go to heaven?" Her voice trembles, laden with a fear no child should know.I tighten my grip on her hand, mustering a calm I'm far from feeling. "No, pumpkin, Mommy is very strong. She’s somewhere far away, and there are some very bad people keeping her from us. But remember, she’s a fighter. And I promise you, we’re going to bring her back home." The words are a vow, a lifeline I'm desperate to cling to myself.Lily looks up, her eyes glistening with a mix of hope and uncertainty. "Can we go get her now? Please, Daddy, I miss Mommy so much." Her plea knifes through me, and I pull her into a hug, her small body trembling agai
Emma’s POV Seated across from me in our new, less opulent prison, Michael slides a tray of food toward me, his gaze critical. "You don't look as hauntingly beautiful as when you were just bones," he quips, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Eat." I resist the urge to throw the tray at him. "It's none of your business," I snap back, struggling to keep my voice steady. He laughs, a sound that chills my spine. "Everything about you is my business, Emma. Your body, your mind, they belong to me." The words are a knife twisting in my gut, but I hold back my tears. Numbness has been my shield, my armor in surviving these days that bleed into each other with excruciating sameness. Reminded of my aborted escape through drowning—the memory a sharp sting of shame—I reaffirm silently: Lily needs me. No matter how dark my world turns, she needs her mother. To avoid provoking Michael further, I begin eating the food reluctantly and decide to steer the conversation somewhere else, anywhere
Michael‘s POVAs I stand towering over Emma, her gaze locked on mine with a mix of fear and curiosity, she breaks the heavy silence. "I don’t understand," she whispers, her voice trembling. "Were there other reasons you approached me? I was new in the country... we didn’t even know each other."I smirk, remembering the first day I saw her clumsy attempt at navigating the admissions office, dropping her documents like breadcrumbs in a fairytale. "True, I didn’t know you then," I begin, watching her face for reactions. "You walked into that bar that night, and you might as well have been a lamb walking into a lion’s den. Jessica was coming back, and I needed a distraction. You were perfect."Her face contorts in confusion and pain. "You used me... as a shield for Scarlet?" she asks, her voice cracking."Exactly," I affirm, my tone laced with mockery. "You played your part well, unwittingly."Emma’s tears start to spill, her emotional armor cracking. "Was it worth it? Did Jessica take th
Michael’s POV I stand in the kitchen, hurling the tray into the sink with more force than necessary, then storm out to the living room. My mind is in turmoil, swirling with memories and regrets. The confusion isn't just about today; it's about a past that keeps clawing back, a past marked by both care and cruelty. **Flashback to 8 months ago** The door to Scarlet’s apartment swings open. The moment I step inside, the irony of her situation hangs heavy in the air. "So, Michael, am I really safe, or do I need protection from you too?" she asks, her voice dripping with sarcasm. I try to reassure her, "You’ve always been safe with me. I’m here to protect you, not harm you." But my words sound hollow even to my own ears. Scarlet doesn't buy it. She pushes further, probing about my complicated feelings for Jessica. I admit reluctantly, "It’s... complicated," feeling the weight of my duplicity. Trying to shift the focus, I pull her close and kiss her. "I have to handle something u
Michael‘s POV After reflecting on how Scarlet ended up dead, and fearing that Emma could share the same fate, guilt gnaws at me. I know I owe Emma an apology. It wasn’t just a strategic move—over the months, genuine feelings had developed inside me towards Emma. I really wanted her to be my woman. However, any strong, independent woman like Emma would refuse to share her man; Emma’s decision to leave was understandable. I knew it wasn’t her fault that everything had come to this. It was my indecisive nature that brought us here. If only I could choose between the 3 women that mattered in my life. Scarlet offered her unconditional love to me, while Jessica promised power and Emma brought peace into my life. I couldn’t choose one of them, I wanted all of them. Perhaps if I had been honest with Emma, she might have stood by me as a friend, if not a lover. Haunted by this realization, I wander to her room. The sound of water dripping from the bathroom suggests she's showering—a small
Emma‘s POVAfter Michael stops speaking, I stand still, my gaze fixed on the wall, wrestling with a storm of despair and revulsion. His touch, his words—they sear through me, reviving every bitter memory, every moment of degradation he’s inflicted upon me. Yet, I understand the game now more clearly than ever. Michael’s behavior is the epitome of sadistic pleasure. The more I resist, the more he thrives, fueling his twisted desires.Understanding this, I resolve to adopt a new strategy: I will become the submissive prisoner, the one with Stockholm syndrome. This isn’t about genuine submission but survival, a play to keep Lily safe by any means necessary.“Of course you’ve made mistakes, Michael,” I begin, my voice steady, measured. “But acknowledging them means there’s good in you. That’s what drew me to you initially, and why I fell for you.”His eyes search mine, skeptical of my sudden shift. “Do you really mean that? Would you give me another chance?”Navigating this treacherous co
Michael’s POVThe penthouse feels too pristine today, too quiet, as I lay out the final details of our escape to Norway. Emma's sitting across from me, her body language screaming reluctance but her voice barely above a whisper. "We're leaving next week," I announce, trying to mask my own unease with a tone of finality. "New identities, a whole new life.""How did you manage all that?" Her question is faint, but the fear in her eyes is loud and clear."I had some help... from Laura," I admit, watching her closely for her reaction."Laura? But she's my friend..." Emma's voice cracks, the betrayal etching deeper lines into her already strained face.I chuckle darkly, enjoying the control. "Everyone has their price, Emma. Laura's no different. She's looking out for her own interests."The conversation is cut short by a buzz from my phone. A message from Jessica, or so it claims, saying she knows about the poisoning and has proof. It's absurd. Jessica's supposed to be in a coma, yet here
Emma‘s POVThe heavy door swings open abruptly, crashing against the wall with the force of a storm. "Emma!" Daniel's voice, a lifeline in the tempest of my captivity, cuts through the dense air. My heart leaps and hammers against my ribs, each beat a chaotic symphony of hope and fear.He rushes towards me, the distance between us collapsing under the weight of our shared longing and desperation. As his arms wrap around me, the world, once a prison of despair, cracks open, letting in a sliver of light. His embrace is both a shield and a sanctuary, the warmth of his body a stark contrast to the cold dread that had seeped into my bones."I've got you," he whispers against my hair, his voice thick with emotion. Tears escape my eyes, not of sorrow, but relief—relief that sings through my veins, loud and resonant."We're safe now, Emma. I promise," Daniel assures me, his presence grounding me in the reality of my rescue.—-Outside, the aftermath of my rescue paints a vivid picture of swif