As I drove back to my villa, the darkness of the night seemed to wrap around me like a suffocating blanket. Each mile that brought me closer to home only intensified the sense of dread building within me.
I knew Sydney would be there, waiting with her insidious charm and relentless advances, and the thought made my skin crawl. I couldn't stand her presence, yet I was trapped by the threats her family held over my head.
I pulled into the driveway and shut off the engine, sitting in silence for a moment, trying to gather the strength to face what awaited me inside. The villa, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car and made my way to the door, each step heavy with the weight of my troubled thoughts.
