Chapter 3

As Adelaide ran, she could feel Lucas's eyes on her, boring into her skin. She knew that she had to get as far away from him as possible, but she also knew that she couldn't outrun him forever.

Just as she was starting to tire, Adelaide saw a taxi cab driving down the street. She flagged it down, and the driver pulled over to let her in.

"Where to?" the driver asked, eyeing her in the rearview mirror.

Adelaide hesitated, unsure of where to go. She couldn't go back to her apartment, not with Lucas knowing where she lived. And she couldn't go to a hotel, not without any money.

Just as she was starting to panic, Adelaide remembered a friend from work who lived on the other side of town. She gave the driver her friend's address, and the taxi sped away from the curb.

As they drove, Adelaide couldn't shake the feeling that Lucas was still watching her. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see him standing on the sidewalk, his eyes fixed on her.

But every time she looked, there was no one there.

When they finally arrived at her friend's apartment, Adelaide breathed a sigh of relief. She was safe, at least for the moment.

Her friend, Sarah, answered the door, a look of concern on her face. "Adelaide, what's wrong?" she asked, ushering Adelaide inside.

Adelaide collapsed onto the couch, feeling exhausted and scared. "It's Lucas," she said, her voice shaking. "He's...he's not who I thought he was."

Sarah's expression turned serious, and she sat down beside Adelaide. "Tell me what happened," she said.

And Adelaide told her everything, from the moment she met Lucas to the moment she ran away from him. Sarah listened, her eyes wide with shock and concern.

When Adelaide finished, Sarah took her hand. "You're safe now," she said. "You're safe with me."

But as Adelaide looked into Sarah's eyes, she knew that she wasn't safe yet. Lucas was still out there, and he would stop at nothing to get her back.

And Adelaide knew that she had to be ready.

As the days passed, Adelaide tried to settle into a new routine with Sarah. They spent their days exploring the city, trying new restaurants, and laughing together. But no matter how hard Adelaide tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lucas was still watching her.

One night, as they were walking home from dinner, Adelaide saw a black SUV following them. She grabbed Sarah's arm, her heart racing.

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked, looking around nervously.

"That car," Adelaide whispered, her eyes fixed on the SUV. "It's following us."

Sarah's eyes widened, and she pulled Adelaide into a nearby alleyway. They hid behind a dumpster, watching as the SUV drove by.

As soon as it was out of sight, Sarah turned to Adelaide. "We need to get out of here," she said. "Now."

They ran back to Sarah's apartment, locking the door behind them. Adelaide was shaking, her heart racing with fear.

But as they caught their breath, Adelaide realized that she had left her phone at the restaurant. She had to go back for it.

Sarah refused to let her go alone, so they came up with a plan. They would sneak back to the restaurant, trying to avoid the SUV.

But as they approached the restaurant, Adelaide saw Lucas standing outside. He was smiling, his eyes fixed on her.

"Adelaide," he said, his voice low and husky. "I've been looking for you."

Adelaide tried to run, but Lucas was too quick. He grabbed her, pulling her into his arms.

"You're mine," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "You'll always be mine."

As Adelaide struggled to break free, Lucas's security team appeared out of nowhere. They surrounded her, holding her in place.

Sarah tried to fight them off, but she was no match for Lucas's team. They overpowered her, holding her back as Lucas dragged Adelaide away.

As they drove through the city, Adelaide realized that she was trapped. Lucas had her right where he wanted her.

When they arrived at Lucas's estate, Adelaide was dragged inside, kicking and screaming. Lucas locked her in a room, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

"You'll never leave me again," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

As the door closed behind him, Adelaide collapsed onto the bed, her heart heavy with despair. She was trapped, and she didn't know how to escape.

Days passed, and Adelaide was kept prisoner in the room. Lucas would visit her occasionally, bringing her food and water. But he never stayed for long, and Adelaide was left alone with her thoughts.

As the days turned into weeks, Adelaide began to lose hope. She would never escape, never be free from Lucas's grasp.

But one day, something changed. Adelaide heard a noise outside her room, a faint rustling sound. She looked around, wondering what it was.

And then, she saw a piece of paper slipped under the door. It was a note, written in familiar handwriting.

"Adelaide, I'm here to help you. Be ready to escape tonight. -S"

Adelaide's heart leapt with hope. Sarah had found her, and she was coming to rescue her.

As the hours ticked by, Adelaide waited anxiously for nightfall. She knew that she had to be ready, had to be prepared to make a run for it.

And when the lights went out, and the room was plunged into darkness, Adelaide knew that it was time. She took a deep breath, and waited for Sarah's signal.

As Adelaide waited in the darkness, she suddenly heard the sound of footsteps outside her room. The door creaked open, and Lucas stood in the doorway, a faint light from the hallway illuminating his face.

But something was different about him. His eyes, which had once seemed so cold and calculating, now seemed warm and contrite. His face was etched with concern, and his voice was low and gentle.

"Adelaide, I'm so sorry," he said, his eyes welling up with fake tears. "I was wrong to keep you prisoner. I was wrong to hurt you."

Adelaide's instincts told her to be wary, but Lucas's words and actions were so convincing that she found herself softening towards him.

He walked towards her, his arms open, and Adelaide felt a pang of guilt for doubting him. Maybe, just maybe, he really was sorry.

As he reached her, Lucas dropped to his knees, his head in his hands. "Forgive me, Adelaide," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I promise to make it up to you. I promise to be a better man."

Adelaide's resolve was crumbling. She looked at Lucas, really looked at him, and saw the sincerity in his eyes. Or at least, she thought she did.

Just then, Sarah's voice whispered in her ear. "Adelaide, come on! We have to go!"

But Adelaide hesitated. Lucas's words had struck a chord within her. She wanted to believe that he was sorry, that he would change.

"Wait," she whispered back to Sarah. "I need to talk to him."

Sarah's voice was urgent. "Adelaide, no! Don't trust him!"

But Adelaide ignored her friend's warning. She turned to Lucas, who was still kneeling at her feet.

"I want you to let my friend go," she said, her voice firm. "If you do, I'll stay with you."

Lucas's face lit up with a smile, and he nodded eagerly. "Of course," he said, standing up and pulling Adelaide into his arms.

As Adelaide hugged him back, she felt a pang of guilt towards Sarah. She had betrayed her friend's trust, and she knew that she would never be able to forgive herself.

But as she looked into Lucas's eyes, she saw something there that made her heart skip a beat. It was a glimmer of hope, a chance that maybe, just maybe, she could change him after all.

And so, Adelaide stayed with Lucas, convinced that she could make him a better man. But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, Adelaide began to realize that she had made a terrible mistake.

Lucas's behavior had changed, but only on the surface. Beneath the charming smile and the contrite eyes, he was still the same controlling, manipulative person he had always been.

And Adelaide was trapped, caught in a web of her own making.