Damien's POV

She really thought she could run from me. That she could just disappear and hide, as if I wouldn't find her. As if I wouldn't own every step she took.

I had been patient. I gave her a head start, let her believe she was safe. But Isabel was predictable, and her world was small. I didn't even need her phone to know where she'd go—just a little observation, a few well-placed calls, and there it was. A friend's house.

Getting in was laughably easy. She had locked the doors, but locks had never stopped me before. I moved like a shadow, silent, unseen, making my way inside.

And now, standing here, watching her frozen in place with nothing but a towel wrapped around her, I saw it—the moment she realized.

She had never escaped.

She never would.

Isabel's POV

My mind went blank the moment I saw him. Damien stood there, his smirk sharp, his gaze devouring every inch of my exposed skin.

Panic surged through me. My fingers clenched the towel tighter as I lunged for the bathroom door, desperate to lock it. But he was faster—too strong. He stepped forward, and I instinctively retreated, my voice shaking as I shouted, "Don't you dare come near me! Stay away!"

His smirk deepened.

I kept moving back until my spine hit the cold bathroom wall. My breath hitched. He loomed over me, his arms caging me in, his presence suffocating.

Heart pounding, I screamed for help, but before another sound could escape, his hand clamped over my mouth. His touch was firm yet effortless, his dominance chilling.

"Oh, baby," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement. "I didn't think you'd surprise me by wearing only a towel."

A shiver ran through me as his fingers trailed through my damp hair before gliding down to my bare shoulder. His chuckle sent a wave of dread through my body.

"Relax," he whispered, his lips brushing dangerously close to my ear. "I'm not going to do anything—yet. After all..." His fingers ghosted over the towel's edge, making my skin prickle. "We're getting married in two days. Shouldn't we save the best for our wedding night?"

I was so shocked by his words that my breath hitched, my body frozen in place. But then his expression shifted—his smirk fading into something darker, more serious. His next words sent a chill down my spine.

"So, will you come with me nicely, or shall I take you forcefully... just like this?" His eyes flickered over my towel-clad body, his voice slow and deliberate. "Change quickly. And don't even think about doing anything stupid."

I swallowed hard and nodded frantically, my hands trembling as I rushed to the closet. Grabbing a pair of jeans and a tee, I turned on my heel to flee back to the bathroom.

But just as I reached the door, his fingers curled around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "One minute."

I stiffened.

"You have exactly one minute to come out," he murmured, his voice dangerously low. "Or I'll come in."

My breath hitched as his words sank in. One minute. Just one minute.

I yanked my wrist free and darted into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me. My hands fumbled with the lock, but before I could turn it, his voice came through the door—calm, amused, yet laced with warning.

"Tick-tock, Isa."

Panic surged through me as I hurried to dress, my damp skin making it difficult to pull the fabric over my body. My fingers trembled as I tugged on the jeans, struggling with the zipper in my haste. Every second felt like an eternity, and yet time was slipping through my fingers too fast.

Stay calm. Just get dressed.

But how could I stay calm? Damien had found me. He had broken into my safe space, shattered the illusion of my escape. And now, I was trapped again.

Thirty seconds...

I forced myself to take deep breaths, shoving the last of my wet hair into a messy bun as I pulled my shirt down. My heart was pounding against my ribs when I turned to the door.

Ten seconds...

As I stood in the bathroom, my gaze fixated on the small window. Could I escape from there? No—impossible. We were on the tenth floor, and I had only ten seconds left. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I turned away from the window, swallowing my fear. 

"Tick-tock, Isa," Damien's voice echoed from outside, taunting me. "Your minute is almost up."

I swallowed hard. I had no choice but to walk out. With slow, hesitant steps, I emerged, my hands clenched into fists.

"Good girl," he mused, taking a step forward.

I instinctively stepped back, but he was faster. In an instant, his fingers curled under my chin, tilting my face up to his. His gaze locked onto mine, searching, daring me to defy him.

"Now," he murmured, his voice deceptively soft. "Shall we go home?"

Home? The word felt foreign now. I knew I had no choice but to comply... for now. But I refused to accept my fate. I had to escape, and I had to do it smartly.

As he grabbed my wrist, I nodded obediently, lowering my gaze to mask the fire burning inside me. "Fine," I murmured. "I'll come with you."

A triumphant smirk played on his lips. "That's more like it. But let me remind you," he leaned in, voice dangerously low, "no screaming, no stupid tricks, or you'll regret it."

I nodded again, forcing myself to stay calm. As he reached to close the door behind us, his grip loosened for just a second—his focus slipping. That was my moment.

With every ounce of strength, I shoved him backward into the house, catching him off guard. The automatic lock clicked into place, sealing him inside.

I didn't wait. I sprinted down the hallway, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

I had one minute. One minute before he broke out. One minute to disappear.

I ran straight for the stairwell, knowing the elevator would be too risky. With every step I took, one thought rang in my mind—I had to escape. Because if Damien caught me again, there would be no second chance.