I took a long, steadying breath, playing along with Rayan's game. I ignored Aaron's looming presence and fixed my gaze on Rayan. My brow furrowed in feigned confusion. "I'm confused, Rayan. Are you asking me this as my ex-fiancé or as my brother-in-law?"
Rayan exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his voice. "Stella, I know you blame me for everything that's happened, but you have to understand—I had no power back then. I admit, you're suffering because of me, but that's why I'm here. Come with me. I'll help you get out of this country."
Outside, the weather was uncharacteristically mild for the season, the air soft and still. But inside the house, it was cold, as though a storm was brewing. Aaron's assistant, Kev, stood frozen in the shadows, his legs trembling uncontrollably. His mind raced, and his heart pounded in his chest.
I have the worst fate in this universe, Kev thought bitterly. Here I am, hiding in the dark, watching my boss's wife try to run away with her boyfriend in the middle of the night. Ever since Stella stepped foot in this house, no one could sleep peacefully. Every time boss is angry—directly or indirectly—she's always at the center of it. And now… this time, his rage is going to burn this whole city down.
Kev squeezed his eyes shut, resigned to the mess unfolding before him. He didn't even need to look to know who was out in the garden with Stella. He could feel the tension crackling in the air.
Outside, Rayan's patience was thinning. He glared at Stella, who stood rooted to the spot, her arms crossed defiantly. Without thinking, he reached out to grab her hand, but she jerked back sharply.
"Stella," he spat, frustration evident in his voice.
"Did I say I wanted to go with you?" Stella retorted, her tone cold, irritation lacing every word.
Rayan's gaze darkened, and he let out a bitter laugh. "Seriously, he's just playing with you, Stella. I want you to come home with me. Stop embarrassing yourself."
Stella's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Embarrassing myself?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with contempt. "Aaron is smarter than you. He's hotter, richer, and better than you in every way. You really have the audacity to say that? Being with him is better than spending a lifetime with you."
The words stung, and Rayan's anger flared, but something inside him shifted when he saw the look in Stella's eyes. Inside, amidst the shadows, Aaron's usual simmering rage seemed to cool, even if just for a moment. Kev's jaw dropped in disbelief after what he just heard .
What the hell is she planning? I thought she loved Rayan more than anything. Shouldn't she have just run away with him and caused a mess for me to clean up? Kev thought, unable to make sense of the situation.
Rayan's fury reignited as he glared at Stella. "Stop acting like this," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You know how many people the 'perfect boy' you speak of has killed. Do you really want to gamble with your life like this?"
Stella met his gaze unflinchingly. "So what if he kills me? I'd still rather die in his hands than be with you," she shot back, her voice steady.
Kev, hidden in the shadows, was completely taken aback. What happened to her? he thought, confusion swirling. She knows what Aaron is capable of. Does she really think she can survive being with him?
As Rayan stood there, seething, Stella's words hung in the air like a silent challenge. Her eyes burned with resentment, her words bitter, but Rayan wasn't about to let it go.
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "You're clearly not in your right mind. But when something happens to you, remember—I tried to save you."
With those final words, Rayan turned and stormed back toward the wall, his anger and frustration still there. Stella felt a fleeting sense of relief wash over her. If this had been any other time, she would have feared the wrath of Aaron. But something had shifted inside her. She was changing her fate, one step at a time.
Kev watched as Stella stood motionless for a moment, her eyes narrowing in the dark. There was fear there, but it wasn't fear of Rayan. It was the fear of what might come next.
She walked toward Aaron, whose dark silhouette was barely visible in the moonlight. She could feel his eyes on her, even though he hadn't moved.
Aaron didn't say anything and Without warning, he reached for her, pulling her down into his lap. His lips trailed from her mouth to her neck, nipping lightly at her skin.
Stella didn't stop him, but her mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. Why is he so obsessed with me? she wondered. I've tried everything to push him away—different clothes, makeup, even acting like someone I'm not—but nothing works. He still wants me.
She closed her eyes, lost in the haze of his touch, but something shifted in her chest when she looked down and saw Aaron asleep, his head resting gently on her shoulder. His breath was steady, even. How is this possible? she thought, confused.
Aaron was an insomniac. He had never slept a full night in years. It was one of the things that made him terrifying—the fact that his mind never rested, always awake, always calculating. Yet here he was, slumped in her arms, deep in slumber.
Kev, standing a few feet away, saw the entire scene unfold. His heart skipped a beat, his mind spinning. Aaron doesn't sleep. How is he… asleep? He had never seen his boss in such a vulnerable state before.
Stella looked at Kev, knowing that he was just as bewildered as she was. She opened her mouth to speak, but Kev quickly shushed her with a silent motion, his eyes wide with shock.
It had been three days since Aaron last slept. Was it because he feared Stella was planning to run away? In her past life and this one, Stella had tried to escape countless times, but each time, Aaron's grip had tightened. This time, however, she had the greatest chance at freedom. Just one more step and she could be free. But the price… it was too high.
For two years, Aaron had forced her to live with him, never once touching her, but last night, thing had changed.
Kev's phone suddenly buzzed, jolting him out of his stupor. Fear gripped his chest as he fumbled to silence it. Too late. The sound of the ringtone cut through the silence, and Aaron stirred.
His eyes snapped open, glowing with a dangerous intensity. Kev froze, trembling under his gaze.
Stella, knowing the risk of disturbing Aaron's sleep, quickly placed a hand over his eyes, gently guiding his head back to her shoulder. "Shhh, it's okay. Go back to sleep," she whispered, brushing his hair soothingly.
Kev watched in awe as Aaron's eyes fluttered shut again, as if nothing had happened. He exhaled a shaky breath, his heart still racing.
Stella gave him a small, knowing glance. He didn't say anything, but his eyes were filled with questions. She looked down at Aaron's peaceful face, and a strange feeling bubbled up inside her—something she hadn't felt in years: freedom.
The next morning, Stella awoke to find herself alone in bed. She rubbed her eyes, confused. Her makeup was still intact, the thick layers she'd worn to hide her true self. She had always felt trapped in the facade she created, but something had changed.
As she stood and walked toward the bathroom, she realized that the ugly makeup, the wigs, the heavy layers—all of it—could never protect her from Aaron's obsession. It was time to be herself.
She removed the wig, the earrings, the fake eyelashes, and the makeup. As she stood in front of the mirror, she dropped a bath bomb into the water, letting it dissolve, her mind swirling with questions and possibilities. Would she finally be free?
She didn't know. But for the first time in a long time, she felt like she had a choice.