The sound of the door clicking shut echoed through the small apartment. Evelyn's heart raced as Nickolas Alexander Jr. stood before her, his presence as overwhelming as ever. He hadn't changed much since their childhood—his dark hair and piercing green eyes were still the same, but there was something more intense about him now. Something dangerous.
He hadn't come here to talk. He had come to take her.
"You're not running this time, Evelyn," Nickolas said, his voice low and smooth, dripping with confidence. "You knew this day would come."
Evelyn took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her. She couldn't show fear, not now. From her years with Juan Yihe, she had learned that showing weakness only gave power to those who wanted to control her.
"Nickolas, you're not going to take me. You can't just come into my life and decide that I belong to you," Evelyn said, her voice steady despite the panic. "I've already escaped one prison and won't fall into another."
Nickolas smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "This isn't a prison, Evelyn. It's fate. You and I... we're meant to be together. I've loved you for years. You just never gave me a chance."
"Loved me?" Evelyn couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped her lips. "This isn't love, Nickolas. This is an obsession. You're delusional if you think I'll ever belong to you."
His expression darkened at her words, but he quickly masked it with a calm, composed smile. "You'll see it my way eventually. I'll give you everything you've ever wanted, Evelyn. A family, a home... love."
Evelyn's mind raced. She needed to find a way out of this, but how? Nickolas was far more dangerous than Juan had ever been. He wasn't just a cold, distant husband—he was a man who would stop at nothing to possess her, to make her his.
"You have no idea what I want," Evelyn said, her voice sharper now. "You're living in a fantasy. I'm not a prize to be won, and I'm not someone you can control."
Nickolas took a step closer, closing the distance between them. His presence was suffocating, like a dark cloud that hung over her, threatening to pull her under.
"I know you, Evelyn. I know you better than anyone else," he whispered, his voice laced with dangerous affection. "And I know that deep down, you crave the kind of love only I can give you."
Evelyn's breath hitched as she stepped back, trying to create space between them. "You don't know anything about me."
Nickolas's eyes gleamed with intensity. "I know everything about you. I've watched you from the moment I saw your picture on the walls of the Maxwell mansion. You were always meant to be mine."
The weight of his obsession pressed down on her, suffocating her. She couldn't stay here. She had to get out.
Meanwhile, in Russia...
Dmitry De Maxwell, Evelyn's older brother, stood in his office, his hands clenched into fists as he read the latest report from his security team. Nickolas had found her. He had gotten past every safeguard, every precaution they had put in place to protect her.
"How did he find her so fast?" Dmitry muttered, pacing the floor. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts. He knew Nickolas had been obsessed with Evelyn for years, but he had underestimated just how far Nickolas would go to claim her.
"He's always been one step ahead," Zhou Ning Wei, Evelyn's twin brother, said as he entered the room. His calm demeanor betrayed the anger simmering beneath the surface. "We should've known he wouldn't stop until he had her."
Dmitry's jaw clenched. "We need to act fast. It'll be too late if Nickolas takes her out of China."
"I've already mobilized our men," Ning Wei said, his eyes cold and calculating. "But we need to move carefully. Nickolas has resources we haven't even begun to track."
Dmitry nodded. They couldn't afford any mistakes. Evelyn was their family's heart, and they would do whatever it took to bring her back safely.
Back in Beijing...
Evelyn's mind raced as she stood trapped in her own apartment. She had always known Nickolas was dangerous, but seeing him now—his obsessive gaze and twisted affection in his voice—made her realize how deep his madness ran.
"I'm not going anywhere with you, Nickolas," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.
Nickolas smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You don't have a choice, Evelyn. I'm done waiting. I've been patient for too long."
He moved closer, reaching out to touch her, but Evelyn stepped back, her heart pounding in her chest. She had to find a way out—there had to be a way to escape him.
"I'm not your prisoner," Evelyn spat, her voice filled with defiance.
Nickolas's smile faded, replaced by something darker, more menacing. "Prisoner? No, Evelyn, you're not a prisoner. You're my future. My everything. My wife-to-be. My Bella. My queen. My Mi Amor. Also, the mother of my children."
Evelyn's pulse quickened. She knew she had to act fast. She couldn't let him take her. She couldn't let him lock her away on some island, isolated from the world, her brothers, and the life she had fought so hard to reclaim.
"Nickolas, please," Evelyn said, her voice softening as she tried a different tactic. "You can't force this. You can't force me to love you."
Nickolas's eyes darkened as he stepped even closer. "I'm not forcing anything. You'll come to love me, Evelyn. I'll make sure of it. And if you try to run... I'll make sure you have no reason to."
Evelyn's heart raced. She knew exactly what he meant. Nickolas would ensure she couldn't run if she didn't escape now. He would bind her to him in the most permanent way possible—by making her carry his child.
"I'll never let that happen," Evelyn said through gritted teeth.
Nickolas smirked. "We'll see."
Without another word, he lunged forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward him. Evelyn struggled, panic surging through her veins, but Nickolas was stronger than anticipated.
"I told you, Evelyn," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "You're mine now."
But just as he tightened his grip on her, the sound of breaking glass shattered the tense moment. Nickolas's grip loosened for just a second, and Evelyn took the opportunity to yank her arm free and bolt toward the door.
She didn't look back as she sprinted down the hallway, her heart pounding. She had to get out. She had to escape.
Back in Rome...
Nickolas's father, the infamous mafia leader, paced his lavish estate, unaware of his son's latest obsession. He had always been proud of Nickolas, his only heir, but lately, he had noticed something different about him. Something dangerous.
"He's becoming reckless," one of his advisors said quietly. "His obsession with the Maxwell girl... it's clouding his judgment."
Nickolas's father sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. But I can't control him anymore. He's too far gone."
The advisor frowned. "What if he goes too far? What if he brings the wrath of the Maxwell family down on us?"
Nickolas's father's face darkened. "Then we'll have to deal with the consequences."
Back in Beijing...
Evelyn burst out of the apartment building, gasping for breath. She didn't know where she was going but knew she had to keep moving. Nickolas wouldn't stop until he had her; if he caught her, there would be no escape.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she quickly pulled it out, her fingers shaking as she answered the call.
"Evelyn!" Dmitry's voice was urgent on the other end. "Where are you?"
"I-I don't know," she stammered, glancing around wildly. "Nickolas... he's here. I barely got away."
"Stay where you are," Dmitry commanded. "I'm sending our men to get you. Don't move. We'll find you."
Evelyn nodded, even though she knew staying still wasn't an option. Nickolas was too close. She could feel it. He was always one step behind.
As she hung up the phone, she glanced over her shoulder, her heart pounding. She had to keep running.....
Evelyn's heart raced as she sprinted down the dimly lit streets of Beijing. The chill of the night air nipped at her skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was consumed with one thought: escape. She had to get away from Nickolas before it was too late.
How did it come to this? She thought, her chest tightening with both fear and exhaustion. A man she once thought of as an acquaintance, her older brother's childhood friend, was now hunting her like she was prey.
Her legs were burning, her body pleading for rest, but she couldn't stop. She knew Nickolas. He was relentless.
Nickolas Alexander Jr. watched from a distance, his eyes tracking her every move. Even as she tried to flee, he couldn't help but admire her determination, her strength. That had always drawn him to her—Evelyn was different from any other woman he'd ever met. She wasn't just beautiful. She was powerful, mysterious, and incredibly soft-hearted under her strength. The kind of woman who could melt any man's heart.
But she didn't see it. She didn't understand how much he loved her.
Nickolas had always been close to the Maxwells, practically growing up in their mansion. His father and Evelyn's grandfather were old friends; as a child, he visited with his family often. During those visits, he first saw her, a young girl with an air of mystery and quiet grace, her beauty evident even then. He had admired her from afar, but as he grew older, admiration turned into infatuation. And infatuation turned into obsession.
After years of silently watching, Nickolas knew he couldn't stand by. He wanted her. No— one needed her.
Now, she was finally free from her cold, indifferent ex-husband, Juan Yihe. Nickolas had waited for that moment for so long, and he wasn't about to let anyone, not even Evelyn herself, stand in the way of what was meant to be.
Evelyn's lungs burned as she rounded the corner of an alleyway, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her brother Dmitry's voice was still in her mind. Stay put. Help is coming. But she couldn't stay still. Not when Nickolas was so close. Every shadow, every sound, made her heart race faster.
She had known Nickolas for years, known his reputation as the son of one of Italy's most powerful mafia families. He had always been charming and polite when he visited the Maxwell mansion in Russia. But there had been a darkness in his eyes, even then—a hunger. At the time, Evelyn had dismissed it. She was too young and too naive to understand what it meant.
Now, after years of living under Juan Yihe's cold indifference, she recognized that same emptiness in Nickolas's eyes. Except with Nickolas, it was far more dangerous. Juan Yihe had never wanted to possess her. Nickolas did.
Back in Rome...
Nickolas's father, Antonio Alexander Sr., paced in his grand study, frustration etched into his stern face. He had built Italy's largest and most feared mafia, but his son's actions were reckless, even by their standards. He knew of Nickolas's obsession with Evelyn. Everyone in the family did.
"We should have stopped this five years ago," Antonio said to his advisor, Marco, who stood by the window, watching the dark sea in the distance.
Marco nodded. "But your son is persistent. He believes she is his destiny."
"Destiny?" Antonio scoffed. "He's going to start a war with the Maxwells. Dmitry will never allow this."
"The girl is not just anyone. She's a Maxwell— and more importantly, she's their heart," Marco said carefully. "If Nickolas forces her, the Maxwells won't just stand by."
Antonio sighed deeply. He loved his son, but Nickolas had always been driven by emotion, by his relentless desires. "Nickolas will have to learn the hard way."
"Should we intervene?" Marco asked cautiously.
"No," Antonio said after a moment of silence. "Not yet. Let him play this out. I will allow him this chance if Evelyn is truly the key to his happiness. But if he goes too far... I'll step in."
Back in Beijing...
Evelyn stumbled to a stop, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She pressed herself against a brick wall, her mind racing. She had grown up around powerful people—her brothers, cousins, even her grandfather—but Nickolas... Nickolas was different. He didn't play by the same rules.
The limits of decency or family honor didn't bind him. His obsession with her bound him.
She glanced at her phone again, willing it to ring. Where were her brothers? Where was Dmitry? Ning Wei? They had promised to protect her, to keep her hidden until they could figure out how to deal with Nickolas.
As she leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"Evelyn."
Her heart stopped. She looked up, and there he was—Nickolas, standing at the end of the alley, his silhouette dark against the dim streetlight. His presence was suffocating, as if the surrounding walls were closing in.
"You can't run from me," Nickolas said softly, stepping closer. "You should know that by now."
Evelyn's throat tightened. "Nickolas, please... you don't have to do this. You don't have to—"
"I do," he interrupted, his voice laced with longing and madness. "I've waited too long, Evelyn. I've watched you suffer in a loveless marriage. I've watched you waste away, waiting for Juan Yihe to love you. But he never did, did he?"
Evelyn's chest tightened at the mention of her ex-husband. She had spent years hoping Juan would love her, that he would see her. But he never had. And now, standing in front of Nickolas, she realized she had traded one form of captivity for another.
"Nickolas, you don't understand," she pleaded. "This isn't love. This is—"
"This is the only way," Nickolas said, his eyes gleaming. "You'll be happy, Evelyn. I'll give you everything you've ever wanted. I'll make you feel alive again. And if you try to leave... I'll give you a reason to stay."
Evelyn's heart dropped. She knew what he meant. He would make sure she carried his child—he would bind her to him in the most permanent way possible.
Her mind raced as he took another step closer. She couldn't let that happen. She couldn't let him trap her.
"Nickolas," she said, her voice firm. "You can't force me to love you."
Nickolas's expression softened for just a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "I don't need to force you, Evelyn. You'll love me eventually. You just haven't seen it yet."
Evelyn's pulse quickened. There was no reasoning with him. She had to find a way out.
Just as Nickolas reached for her, a loud noise echoed from the end of the alley. Evelyn's head snapped toward the sound, her heart racing with fear and hope.
Dmitry and Ning Wei arrived at the scene.
"Get away from her, Nickolas," Dmitry's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, as he and Ning Wei stepped into the alley.
Nickolas turned slowly, his face calm but his eyes burning with anger. "Ah, Dmitry. Always the protective brother."
"You're out of line," Ning Wei added coldly, his hand hovering near his concealed weapon. "Let her go, now."
Evelyn's heart raced with relief as her brothers stood between her and Nickolas. But she knew this wasn't over. Nickolas wasn't the type to back down easily.
Nickolas took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Evelyn's. "This isn't over, Evelyn," he said softly, his voice filled with dark promise. "I'll always find you."
With that, he turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows.
Back at the Evelyn Apartment...
Evelyn sat in her room, her body still trembling from the confrontation. She had escaped tonight but knew it wouldn't be the last time Nickolas came for her. He was obsessed—determined to make her his, no matter the cost.
Dmitry and Ning Wei entered the room, their expressions grim.
"Are you okay?" Dmitry asked gently, sitting beside her.
Evelyn nodded, though the truth was far more complicated. "For now."
Ning Wei crossed his arms, his expression hard. "We need to do more than hide you. We need to stop him."
Evelyn looked up at her brothers, her heart heavy with the weight of what would come. She didn't know how to escape Nickolas's obsession, but she knew one thing for certain.
This was only the beginning...
The city lights flickered outside Evelyn's apartment as she stared blankly through the window, her reflection merging with the night skyline of Beijing. The events from earlier still echoed in her mind—the desperation in Nickolas's eyes, the obsessive way he spoke to her, and the fear that wrapped around her heart like a suffocating grip. It wasn't just a man chasing her; it was his twisted idea of love, a love that could destroy everything.
Her brothers had done their best to reassure her, but deep down, Evelyn knew that Nickolas wouldn't stop. He never gave up on something he wanted—and this time, that "something" was her. Her thoughts trailed back to their childhood when she would catch him staring at her during his visits to the Maxwell mansion. Even then, there had been something in his gaze that unnerved her, something possessive.
But back then, she was too young to understand. Now, she was older and wiser—and she knew that his obsession could be fatal, not just for her, but for the people she loved.
Meanwhile, in Italy...
Nickolas Alexander Jr. stood in the center of his family's lavish estate, his hands gripping the back of a chair as his father's voice droned on about family responsibilities. Antonio Alexander Sr. was a man of tradition, one who believed in power, control, and legacy. But none of that mattered to Nickolas right now.
All he could think about was Evelyn.
"Are you even listening to me, Nickolas?" Antonio asked, his sharp voice cutting through his son's thoughts.
Nickolas blinked and turned to face his father, his expression unreadable. "Of course."
Antonio studied his son for a moment, his dark eyes narrowing. "You're distracted. It's the girl, isn't it? Evelyn."
Nickolas's jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
"I don't understand why you're so obsessed with her," Antonio continued, leaning back in his chair. "She's not the only woman in the world, you know. Plenty of powerful families would gladly offer their daughters in marriage."
"She's not just another woman," Nickolas replied, his voice low and tense. "She's different."
Antonio raised an eyebrow. "Different? How? Because she doesn't want you?"
Nickolas's fists tightened. He didn't like the way his father was talking about Evelyn, as if she were just some game to be won. He didn't understand. No one did.
"You wouldn't understand," Nickolas said coldly. "This isn't about power or alliances. This is about her. I've waited long enough and won't wait any longer."
Antonio sighed, his frustration evident. "You're going to start a war, Nickolas. The Maxwells aren't just anyone. Dmitry won't let you take her without a fight."
"Let them fight," Nickolas said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I'll kill anyone who stands in my way. Even them."
Antonio's eyes darkened, but he didn't respond. His son's obsession was more dangerous than he had anticipated. He knew Nickolas was capable of anything—and if Evelyn were truly that important to him, then no one, not even the powerful Maxwell family, would be safe. Only Evelyn can stop him.
Back in Beijing...
Evelyn sat on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling as she held a photo of her parents. They had died 20 years ago in a car accident—an accident she knew deep down wasn't really an accident at all. It had been orchestrated, a brutal reminder of the world she was born into. Power came with a price, and sometimes that price was blood.
She had vowed never to let anyone she loved be hurt because of her. And now, with Nickolas lurking in the shadows, that fear was returning.
"Evelyn?" Dmitry's voice came from the doorway as he entered her room. "Are you okay?"
She looked up at her older brother, her heart heavy with the weight of her fears. "No," she admitted softly. "I don't know how to be okay right now."
Dmitry sat beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We won't let him take you. Nickolas may be powerful, but so are we."
"I know," she whispered, her eyes filling with unshed tears. "But how long can we keep running? He won't stop. He'll never stop."
Dmitry's jaw clenched. He knew she was right. Nickolas was relentless. His obsession wasn't something they could reason with or bargain away. The only way to stop him would be to face him head-on, but even that carried risks.
"We'll figure it out," Dmitry said, his voice firm. "You're not alone in this, Evelyn. You have me, Ning Wei, and the Maxwell family behind you."
Evelyn nodded, but the fear in her heart didn't ease. She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was coming—that Nickolas was closer than they thought.
The following day...
Evelyn walked through the bustling streets of Beijing, her mind clouded with thoughts. She had tried to distract herself with work, throwing herself into the company of the Maxwell family's Chinese branch, but no amount of meetings or business deals could erase the looming threat of Nickolas.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw an unfamiliar number. A cold chill ran down her spine as she answered.
"Evelyn," Nickolas's voice came through the line, smooth and dangerous. "You didn't think I'd let you get away, did you?"
Her heart stopped. "Nickolas..."
"I gave you a chance to come willingly," he continued his voice like silk, wrapping around her in a way that made her stomach churn. "But you've made it clear that you will keep running. So now, I'll have to come and get you."
Evelyn's blood ran cold. "You can't—"
"I can, and I will," Nickolas interrupted. "I've waited long enough. You're mine, Evelyn. And if you try to run again, I'll make sure you have no choice but to stay."
The meaning behind his words was clear. He wasn't just threatening her freedom—he was threatening to bind her to him in the most permanent way possible.
"You won't touch me," Evelyn said, her voice trembling but defiant. "I won't let you."
Nickolas chuckled darkly. "We'll see."
The line went dead.
Evelyn's hand shook as she lowered the phone. She knew what he was planning. He was going to find her, and if he did, there would be no escape. Not unless she made a choice she had sworn never to make.
That night...
Evelyn sat in the living room of her Beijing safe house, her mind racing. She had spent 15 years fighting to escape the shadows of her past, the power struggles that had torn her family apart. She had fought to build a life away from the cold, calculated world of mafia politics.
But now, all of that seemed to be slipping away. Nickolas was coming for her, and no amount of running or hiding would stop him.
Her brothers had been her shield, but they couldn't even protect her forever. Not from someone as dangerous as Nickolas Alexander Jr.
Suddenly, a knock on the door broke through her thoughts. She stood up, her heart pounding as she approached the door cautiously. When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat.
Nickolas stood in the doorway, his eyes dark with determination, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips.
"I told you," he said softly. "You're mine, Evelyn. And this time, I'm not letting you go."