Sebastian always arranged for someone to protect me whenever I went out, for my safety. But I didn't want to attract too much attention, so I'd ask them to wait in the next room or downstairs whenever I entered the studio.
That day, I stayed late to fix a detail on my design that hadn't turned out well. I was so focused that I didn't notice when everyone else had left. It was only after I had finished my work that I pulled myself out of my intense concentration.
Before I could even stretch and relax, a powerful force hit me from behind, knocking me onto the desk. I tried to scream, but my mouth was covered tightly.
Julian's voice rang in my ear, his hands moving like a snake over my body.
"I've been waiting for this chance, Adelaide."
"Do you know, I've been hiding behind the partition, watching you every day?"
As he spoke, he buried his face into my neck and took a deep breath.
"This is your scent, Adelaide. You're really heartless, do you know how much I've missed you?"
"You're alive, but you didn't come back to find me. You've even been with someone else. Do you know how much I hate that?"
He roughly tore my collar.
His warm breath sprayed on my shoulder, causing me to shudder involuntarily.
"Look, Adelaide," he whispered, "there's still the scar you left when you saved me."
"Did you ever save him? Did you love him as much as you loved me?"
In our first year of marriage, when Julian and I were out together, an electric scooter hit us from behind. I pushed him out of the way and was knocked over by the scooter instead. My shoulder was scraped by sharp rocks, leaving a scar.
Hearing him bring up that old memory made me hate him even more.
How dare he reminisce about my kindness? Every word from him felt like a mockery.
I struggled even harder, but it was futile.
He was much stronger than me, and since he was pinning me from behind, I couldn't even fight back.
I could only silently hope.
The designated time for the person protecting me downstairs was nearly up, and I knew they would come upstairs to check on me. But Julian's next words sent a chill down my spine.
"Don't think anyone will come to save you. I've already arranged for people to stop them." He flipped me over, gripping my chin tightly, forcing me to look into his eyes.
"Adelaide, this time you can't escape."
