Torn Between Two

Chapter5: Nowhere to Run

Mia’s hands trembled as she tossed clothes into the suitcase, her breath coming in uneven gasps. She needed to get out. Now.

Adrian’s words echoed in her mind—Let’s see how well you survive without me.

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to move faster. She had let him control her for too long, let him dictate her choices. Not anymore.

The penthouse was eerily silent, except for the faint hum of the city outside. Every sound made her heart race, every shadow felt like Adrian lurking just beyond the doorway.

She grabbed her phone, her fingers hovering over Liam’s contact. He had texted her again:

Liam: Mia, if you need help, say the word.

Her throat tightened. Asking Liam for help felt like stepping back into a past she wasn’t sure she belonged to. But was that any worse than staying here, under Adrian’s control?

Before she could decide, the bedroom door creaked open.

Mia spun around—Adrian.

He stood in the doorway, one hand in his pocket, the other cradling a whiskey glass. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that made her stomach twist.

“Going somewhere?” His voice was deceptively calm.

Mia lifted her chin. “I need space.”

Adrian exhaled slowly, stepping into the room. “Space?” He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his gaze locking onto hers. “After everything I’ve done for you, you’re just going to walk away?”

Her fingers tightened around the suitcase handle. “I’m not yours to keep, Adrian.”

Something flickered in his eyes. Annoyance? Amusement?

“I see,” he murmured. “And where exactly do you plan on going, Mia?”

She didn’t answer.

Adrian smirked, shaking his head. “That’s the thing—you don’t have anywhere, do you?” He set his glass down on the dresser and took a step closer. “You’ve lived in my world for so long, sweetheart. Do you really think you can just leave?”

Her chest tightened, but she refused to back down. “I don’t think—I know.”

Adrian’s smirk widened. “Fine.”

Mia blinked. That was too easy.

Adrian never gave up control.

But she wouldn’t waste time questioning it. Keeping her expression neutral, she grabbed her bag and pushed past him, her heart pounding as she made her way to the front door.

Just as she reached for the handle, his voice stopped her cold.

“Oh, and Mia?”

She turned, her fingers still wrapped around the doorknob.

Adrian pulled out his phone, tapping the screen with lazy amusement. “You might want to check your bank account before you leave.”

Dread pooled in her stomach. Slowly, she pulled out her phone and opened her banking app.

Her blood turned to ice.

Balance: $0.00.

Her entire body went numb. “You—”

Adrian leaned against the wall, watching her reaction with quiet satisfaction. “I told you,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “Let’s see how well you survive without me.”

Mia’s breath came in short, sharp bursts. He had frozen her finances. Cut her off completely.

She wanted to scream, to curse him, to wipe that arrogant smirk off his face. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her panic.

Lifting her chin, she forced a smirk of her own. “I’ll survive.”

Adrian took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes gleaming. “I’m counting on it.”

With one last glare, Mia yanked the door open and stepped into the cold night.

She was free.

But for how long?