Isabella was surprised when Ethan asked her out on a date. She hadn't expected it, especially after everything that had happened with Alex.
But she agreed, and they planned to meet at a trendy new restaurant in town. Ava, her friend and colleague, offered to come along, and Isabella accepted, thinking it would be a fun night out.
However, things took a turn when they arrived at the restaurant and Ethan and Ava started arguing again. They had a history of clashing, and it seemed like tonight was no exception.
Isabella tried to intervene, but they were too caught up in their own disagreement to listen. She started to feel uncomfortable, wondering if she had made a mistake by coming out.
Just then, Alex walked in, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Isabella. He looked surprised, then angry, and Isabella could tell he was seething with jealousy.
Ethan, oblivious to the tension, continued to argue with Ava, while Isabella tried to make small talk with Alex. But it was clear that the night was not going to go as planned.
As the argument between Ethan and Ava escalated, Isabella realized she needed to get out of there. She excused herself, saying she needed some fresh air, and stepped outside.
Alex followed her, his eyes blazing with anger. "What are you doing, Isabella?" he demanded. "You're humiliating me."
Isabella stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm not doing anything, Alex. I'm just trying to have a good time."
But Alex was beyond reason. He grabbed her arm, his grip tightening. "You're coming with me," he growled.
And with that, he pulled her away from the restaurant, leaving Ethan and Ava to their argument.
Isabella tried to shake off Alex's grip, but he held tight. "Let me go, Alex!" she demanded, her voice firm.
But Alex just pulled her closer, his eyes blazing with anger. "You're mine, Isabella," he hissed. "You'll always be mine."
Isabella felt a chill run down her spine as Alex dragged her away from the restaurant. She didn't know where they were going, but she knew she had to escape.
She tried to reason with him, to calm him down, but Alex was beyond reason. He was consumed by his own jealousy and possessiveness.
Finally, they arrived at Alex's car, and he pushed Isabella inside. She tried to open the door, but he had locked it, trapping her.
As he drove away from the restaurant, Isabella realized she was in grave danger. She had to think fast, or she might not escape alive.
She tried to call for help, but Alex had taken her phone. She was completely at his mercy.
But Isabella was not one to give up easily. She looked around, trying to find something, anything, she could use to defend herself.
And then, she saw it - a small pocket knife in the glove compartment. She grabbed it, her heart pounding in her chest.
As Alex turned to her, his eyes blazing with anger, Isabella held up the knife. "Let me go, Alex," she warned. "Or I'll use this."
Alex sneered at her, but Isabella could see the doubt in his eyes. He knew she was capable of fighting back.
And in that moment, Isabella knew she had the upper hand. She was not going to let Alex control her anymore.
Alex's eyes narrowed as he saw the knife in Isabella's hand. He snatched it from her, his grip rough, and tossed it aside.
"You think you can threaten me?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
Isabella shrank back, fear rising up inside her. She knew she had made a mistake.
Alex's expression twisted in anger as he pulled the car over to the side of the road. He dragged Isabella out of the car and into his house, slamming the door shut behind them.
He pushed her against the wall, his lips crashing down on hers in a harsh, punishing kiss. Isabella tried to struggle, but Alex held her firm, his grip bruising.
When he finally released her, Isabella's lips were swollen and sore. She gasped for breath, tears streaming down her face.
"That's your punishment for disobeying me," Alex hissed, his eyes glinting with cruelty.
Isabella shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. She knew she had to get away from Alex, once and for all.
But as she looked up at him, she saw something that made her blood run cold. A look of obsession, of possession, that chilled her to the bone.
"You'll never leave me, Isabella," Alex whispered, his voice dripping with malice. "I'll never let you go."
Isabella knew she had to escape, but Alex's grip was too strong. He held her captive, his eyes burning with an unnerving intensity.
She tried to reason with him, to appeal to whatever humanity was left in him. "Alex, please," she whispered. "Let me go. I won't bother you again."
But Alex just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You'll never leave me, Isabella," he repeated. "I'll always find you."
Isabella's heart raced as she realized the true extent of Alex's obsession. She was trapped, with no escape.
Just then, a loud noise echoed from outside. Alex's head jerked up, his eyes narrowing.
Isabella saw her chance. With a surge of adrenaline, she broke free from Alex's grip and made a run for the door.
She flung it open and sprinted out into the night, not stopping until she was blocks away from Alex's house.
Breathless and shaken, Isabella finally felt safe. She had escaped Alex's clutches, but she knew he would never give up.
She needed a plan, a way to protect herself from his obsession. And she knew just the person to turn to.
Isabella thought she had finally escaped Alex's grasp, but she was wrong. He caught up with her, his face twisted in anger.
"You think you can just run away from me?" he snarled, grabbing her arm.
Isabella tried to shake him off, but Alex held tight. He dragged her back to his car and drove her to his private mansion, the same place where she had been held captive before.
As they arrived, Alex's anger boiled over. "If you keep seeing Ethan, you'll be locked up here again," he threatened. "And this time, you won't be working at my company. You'll be a prisoner, Isabella."
Isabella's heart sank. She knew Alex was capable of carrying out his threats.
"Why are you doing this, Alex?" she pleaded. "Can't you just let me go?"
Alex's expression twisted in obsession. "I'll never let you go, Isabella. You're mine, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep you."
Isabella knew she had to think fast. She couldn't let Alex lock her up again. She needed a plan, a way to escape and stay hidden.