The room was suffocating. Sophia stood frozen, her pulse hammering in her throat. Gabriel's gaze, dark and predatory, bore into her as he slowly stepped closer. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating—every inch of him screamed control, and she could feel her body tremble with fear.
"Did you really think you could run from me, Sophia?" Gabriel's voice was low, almost a growl, sending chills down her spine. "You belong to me."
She recoiled instinctively, taking a step back. Her heart raced, her hands shaking. The last time she had seen him, she thought she had escaped his grasp, but now, standing in front of her, he seemed like an unstoppable force.
"No... I'm not yours," Sophia managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper, filled with defiance that she didn't even know she still had.
Gabriel smirked, a cruel, twisted smile. "You still don't understand, do you?" He advanced again, cornering her, cutting off any means of escape. "You're mine, whether you like it or not."
Panic surged through her veins. She couldn't breathe. His proximity, his touch that once seemed comforting, now felt like a prison. She wanted to fight, to scream, but the fear of what he might do next paralyzed her.
"You've always belonged to me," he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear. "I've waited for this moment."
Tears pricked her eyes, but she couldn't allow them to fall. She wasn't that weak girl anymore—the one who let him control her. Not anymore.
Just as Gabriel reached for her, the door burst open with a deafening crash.
"Sophia!" A voice—familiar, strong—cut through the chaos. Ethan's figure filled the doorway, his eyes wild with urgency.
Gabriel's head snapped toward him, surprise flashing across his face. But before he could react, Ethan was already in motion, lunging toward Gabriel with a force that knocked him backward. The two men collided with a thud, crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Sophia stumbled backward, her heart racing in her chest, as she tried to process what was happening. But then, another figure appeared in the doorway, and her heart skipped a beat.
Her mother.
Sophia's breath caught in her throat as she locked eyes with the woman who had disappeared so many years ago. The woman who had once abandoned her, who she had believed was lost forever.
"You!" Gabriel growled, still struggling to regain his footing as Ethan held him down. "You shouldn't have come back."
Her mother's expression was unreadable, cold, as she stepped into the room. She was not the broken woman Sophia remembered—she was fierce, determined, and there was a new strength in her eyes.
"I'm not here for you, Gabriel," her mother said, her voice sharp and unwavering. "I'm here for my daughter."
With that, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small, gleaming object—a gun. Gabriel's eyes widened, and for the first time, he seemed uncertain. The power dynamic in the room had shifted, and he could feel it.
"Get out," her mother ordered. "Now."
Gabriel hesitated, his pride and rage boiling beneath the surface. But even he could see the resolve in her eyes. Slowly, he pushed himself off the ground, retreating toward the door.
"This isn't over," he snarled, his words laced with venom.
Sophia couldn't speak. She was too stunned, too overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions flooding her. Her mother had just saved her. After all these years, after believing she was abandoned, her mother had returned—not as the helpless woman who had left, but as someone powerful, someone who had been fighting for her the whole time.
As Gabriel disappeared out the door, Ethan stood up, wiping blood from his lip, his eyes never leaving Sophia. He stepped toward her cautiously, his gaze softening. "Sophia…" He reached for her, but she stepped back, her mind racing, heart pounding.
Her mother stood a few feet away, still holding the gun in a steady grip, her face impassive. "Sophia," she said softly, her voice softer now, filled with an emotion Sophia hadn't expected. "I'm sorry. I should have never left you."
Sophia looked between her mother and Ethan. She didn't know what to feel. Relief? Confusion? Anger?
"I don't know what to say," Sophia whispered, tears finally breaking free. She looked at her mother, her words trembling. "Why didn't you come back for me? Why?"
Her mother stepped forward, putting the gun away and reaching for her. "I had no choice. I thought you were safe, but I was wrong. I'll explain everything, but for now, we need to leave."
Sophia nodded, her chest tight with conflicting emotions. She glanced at Ethan, who had been her rock through it all. "Ethan... you came for me."
"I'll always come for you, Sophia." His voice was steady, unwavering. "You're not alone anymore."
But just as she felt a glimmer of hope, her mother spoke again, her voice low and serious. "This is only the beginning. Gabriel will come after you, but we have a plan. We need to be ready."
Sophia's heart dropped. The man who had once controlled her life was not done with her. And now, with her mother's return and Ethan at her side, the fight had only just begun.
As they turned to leave, Sophia felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Gabriel wasn't going to let her go. Not ever.