The days following Ethan's visit were a confusing blur for Amelia. She tried to focus on her recovery, on regaining some semblance of control over her life, but the unresolved tension between Liam and Ethan weighed heavily on her mind. She felt pulled in two directions, each with its own set of promises and complications, and she wasn't sure how to navigate the path ahead.
Liam had been nothing but supportive, giving her the space she needed while still being there when she needed comfort. He never pressed her about Ethan, but Amelia could sense the unspoken questions lingering in the air between them. It was as if they were both waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the moment when the past would finally catch up with them.
One evening, after a particularly quiet dinner, Liam broke the silence that had settled over them. "Amelia, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his tone serious.
Amelia looked up from her plate, her heart skipping a beat. "What is it?" she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and dread.
Liam hesitated, his eyes searching hers as if trying to gauge her reaction before he spoke. "It's about Michael," he said finally, his voice low. "I didn't want to worry you, but… he's been looking for you."
Amelia's blood ran cold at the mention of Michael's name. She had tried to push thoughts of him to the back of her mind, to focus on healing and moving forward, but the fear of him finding her had never truly left. Now, hearing that he was actively searching for her, that fear came rushing back with a vengeance.
"What do you mean?" Amelia whispered, her voice trembling. "How do you know?"
Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I have some contacts… people who keep an eye on things. They told me that Michael has been asking around, trying to track you down. He's obsessed, Amelia. He's not going to give up easily."
Amelia felt a wave of panic rise in her chest. The thought of Michael finding her, of what he might do, was almost too much to bear. "Liam, what am I going to do?" she asked, her voice breaking. "I can't let him find me. I can't go back to that."
"You won't," Liam said firmly, his hand reaching out to take hers. "I won't let that happen. We'll figure something out."
But before they could discuss it further, there was a sudden, sharp knock on the door. Amelia's heart skipped a beat, fear gripping her as she instinctively moved closer to Liam.
"Stay here," Liam said quietly, his eyes narrowing as he got up to answer the door.
Amelia watched with bated breath as Liam approached the door, every nerve in her body on edge. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that Michael was somehow already here, ready to take her away.
Liam opened the door cautiously, and for a moment, everything was still. Then, without warning, the door burst open, slamming Liam against the wall with a force that made the whole room shudder.
Amelia screamed as Michael stormed into the apartment, his eyes wild and filled with a dangerous, manic energy. "Amelia!" he shouted, his voice a terrifying mix of anger and desperation. "Where do you think you're going?"
Before Amelia could react, Michael grabbed her by the arm, his grip like a vise as he dragged her towards the door. Liam, dazed from the blow, struggled to his feet, but Michael kicked him back down, his face contorted with rage.
"You thought you could hide from me?" Michael spat, his voice trembling with fury as he pulled Amelia toward the door. "You thought you could leave me? You're mine, Amelia. You've always been mine!"
"Let go of me!" Amelia cried, trying to fight against his grip, but Michael was too strong. Panic surged through her as she realized the severity of the situation—Michael had found her, and he was not going to let her go.
"Stop struggling!" Michael growled, his hand tightening around her arm. "You're coming with me, whether you like it or not."
Liam, his vision still blurry from the impact, managed to stagger to his feet. "Let her go, Michael!" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "You don't have to do this!"
But Michael didn't listen. With a final, forceful yank, he pulled Amelia out the door, dragging her down the hallway as she struggled to break free. Liam tried to follow, but Michael kicked the door shut behind him, locking it with a resounding thud.
"Michael, please!" Amelia begged, her voice trembling with fear. "You don't have to do this!"
But Michael's grip only tightened, his face twisted with a mixture of anger and pain. "You don't get it, do you?" he hissed, dragging her toward a waiting car parked outside. "You think you can just walk away from me? You think you can just leave and start a new life?"
He shoved her into the back seat of the car, slamming the door shut before getting in himself. The engine roared to life, and before Amelia could make another move, they were speeding away, leaving Liam and the safety of the apartment far behind.
Amelia's mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized the gravity of her situation. She was trapped, locked in the car with a man who had already proven he was willing to do whatever it took to keep her under his control.
Michael didn't speak as he drove, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. The silence in the car was deafening, broken only by the sound of the engine and Amelia's ragged breathing. She knew she had to do something, had to find a way out, but fear paralyzed her, keeping her frozen in place.
After what felt like an eternity, Michael finally spoke, his voice low and dangerous. "I gave you everything, Amelia," he said, his eyes never leaving the road. "I loved you, protected you, and this is how you repay me? By running off with another man?"
Amelia's throat tightened with fear. "Michael, please," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just… I needed space."
"Space?" Michael repeated, his voice dripping with venom. "You needed space? From me? I'm the only one who's ever truly loved you, Amelia. The only one who's ever cared."
Tears filled Amelia's eyes as she realized just how far gone Michael was, how twisted his sense of love and control had become. "This isn't love, Michael," she said softly, her voice trembling. "This is control. You're hurting me."
Michael's expression hardened, and for a moment, Amelia thought he might strike her again. But instead, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his voice a harsh whisper. "You don't know what love is," he spat. "You don't know what it means to truly belong to someone."
The car sped down a dark, deserted road, the city lights fading into the distance as Michael took them farther and farther away. Amelia's heart pounded in her chest as she realized that they were heading somewhere remote, somewhere where no one would find them.
She had to think fast, had to find a way out before it was too late. But the fear, the terror of what Michael might do, kept her paralyzed, her mind racing with thoughts of escape but her body unable to move.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the car came to a screeching halt outside an old, abandoned building. Michael got out first, yanking Amelia out of the back seat with a force that made her stumble. The cold night air bit at her skin as she tried to regain her balance, but Michael's grip on her arm was unrelenting.
"Come on," he growled, dragging her towards the building. "You and I are going to have a little talk."
Amelia's heart raced as she tried to resist, but Michael's strength was too much. He shoved her inside, the door slamming shut behind them with a resounding echo that sent chills down her spine.
The inside of the building was dark and cold, the air thick with dust and decay. Amelia's breath came in short, panicked gasps as Michael pushed her toward a chair in the center of the room, forcing her to sit down. He loomed over her, his eyes wild with a mix of rage and desperation.
"You're going to stay here," Michael said, his voice trembling with anger. "And you're going to listen to me. No more running. No more hiding. You're mine, Amelia. Do you understand?"
Amelia's eyes filled with tears as she realized just how trapped she was. She couldn't escape, couldn't fight back—Michael had her completely under his control, and there was no one here to save her.
But even as the fear threatened to overwhelm her, a small, determined voice in