The next few weeks were a whirlwind of careful planning. I applied for positions in London, Paris, Singapore — anywhere that felt far enough from Adrian's long shadow. My parents didn't notice; they were always busy, always distracted by board meetings, charity events, the Vale empire. And Adrian… I made sure he didn't suspect.
Or at least, I told myself that.
Every day, I tried to act as normal as possible. I kept up appearances at work, attended the Vale family events, smiled at board members, and nodded politely when Adrian offered advice or checked in on me.
"Busy?" he asked one evening, leaning against the doorway of my office as I finalized my applications.
I froze. His dark eyes scanned my screen. "Just paperwork," I lied, moving the cursor over a quarterly report.
He stepped closer. "Hm. Looks… dull."
I smiled faintly. "Yes, terribly dull."
He leaned against the desk, his hands brushing mine ever so slightly. "I like that you work hard, Seraphina. But don't forget to rest. You're delicate, after all."
Delicate. That word felt different now, like a chain wrapped in velvet.
I nodded silently, my heart hammering.
A week later, everything was set. My plane ticket was booked under a pseudonym. My suitcase was packed, hidden in the trunk of my car. I had rehearsed my departure in my mind a hundred times — how I'd leave the mansion before dawn, slip through the quiet streets, and disappear into the airport without a trace.
The night before my departure, I barely slept. My mind raced with every scenario: getting caught at customs, Adrian somehow finding out, the "what ifs" that had haunted me since Daniel was fired.
I shook the thoughts away. I needed freedom. I needed air.
At 4:30 a.m., I slipped from my room, careful not to wake anyone. The halls were dark and silent. My heels clicked softly against the marble floors as I descended the staircase. My heart thumped so loudly I thought it might give me away.
The front door loomed ahead. I reached for the handle…
A shadow shifted behind me.
"Going somewhere?"
I froze.
Adrian.
He stood in the hallway, perfectly still, as though he had been waiting for me all night. His dark eyes held that same calm intensity that always made me feel seen—too seen.
"I… uh… just…" My voice faltered.
"Just?" He took a step closer. The faint scent of his cologne—sharp, commanding—filled the air. "Seraphina…" His tone was gentle, yet the weight behind it made my stomach churn. "You can't run from me."
I swallowed, my throat dry. "I… I need to… leave for work."
He shook his head slowly, a small smile curling on his lips. "Work? At this hour? You're not going anywhere."
I felt panic rise, a hot flush spreading through me. My carefully laid plans, my sense of control, crumbled with the ease of a child knocking over building blocks.
"Adrian… I… this is my life," I whispered.
"Your life?" His voice softened almost imperceptibly, yet each word carried a subtle ownership. "I raised you. I protected you. I watched you grow. Every step you've taken… I've been there."
My pulse raced. I wanted to argue. To tell him he had no right. But the truth hit me like a hammer: he had been everywhere, always watching, always guiding, always… controlling.
I backed toward the door. "I just… I need some distance."
He stepped in front of me, blocking the exit. The hallway felt impossibly narrow. "Distance?" His eyes darkened slightly. "Do you think you can escape me? That you can leave the Vale name… leave me… behind?"
I swallowed hard. My breath hitched. "I… I just want freedom."
"Freedom…" His voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Do you think I don't know what freedom really is? I've given you everything. Protection. Comfort. Safety. And still… you want to run?"
I could see the possessiveness in him now, simmering just beneath that controlled exterior. Every lesson, every smile, every touch from him—it had been a chain disguised as care.
I glanced around for an opening. A sliver of hope. My hand grazed the door handle, trembling.
Adrian tilted his head, watching me, his calm intensity making it impossible to think clearly. And then… he laughed. A low, quiet sound that made my chest tighten.
"You really think you can leave me, Seraphina? You're mine. You always have been."
Something cold and final settled over me. And yet… even as terror surged, a small spark of defiance flickered inside.
I yanked the door open and ran.
The streets were empty, the city still sleeping. My heels clicked against the pavement as I raced toward the taxi I had pre-booked. Each step felt like a victory and a betrayal all at once.
I reached the taxi, breathless, and whispered my destination. The driver didn't ask questions—he never did.
I exhaled for the first time in weeks. Freedom tasted sweet.
And then my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number:
"I know where you are."
My stomach dropped.
I looked out the window at the sleeping city, heart hammering. The realization struck me with icy clarity: Adrian had known. He had always known.
And I had nowhere to hide