Sophia's meeting with Rachel had left her feeling hopeful, like she might finally have a chance to break free from Ethan's grasp. But as she walked back to her apartment, Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.
She quickened her pace, her heart racing with anticipation. Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed her arm, spinning her around.
Sophia's eyes widened as she stared into the face of her past. It was Alex, Ethan's business partner and her former friend.
"Sophia, we need to talk," Alex said, his voice low and urgent.
Sophia tried to pull away, but Alex's grip was too tight. "What do you want, Alex?" she spat, trying to keep her cool.
Alex's eyes narrowed. "I want to know why you left Ethan. What did he do to you?"
Sophia's laughter was bitter. "You know exactly what Ethan's capable of, Alex. You've seen it firsthand."
Alex's expression was unreadable. "I'm not here to hurt you, Sophia. I'm here to help."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want to help me? You're Ethan's partner, his friend."
Alex's eyes seemed to cloud over. "I'm not as loyal to Ethan as you think, Sophia. I have my own reasons for wanting to see him fall."
Sophia's mind was racing. What did Alex mean? What secrets was he hiding?
As she stared into Alex's eyes, Sophia felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she had an ally in her fight against Ethan.
But as she looked deeper, Sophia saw something that made her blood run cold. Alex's eyes were filled with a calculating intensity, a determination that made Sophia wonder if she was just trading one enemy for another.