CHAPTER FIVE-ELENA’S POV
1102 Words
The tiles were cold beneath me.
I don’t remember walking into the bathroom or locking the door. One minute I had been standing in the living room, the contract still clutched in my hand… the next, I was here, on the floor, crying.
A strangled sob tore out of my throat before I could stop it. Then another. Then I couldn’t breathe anymore.
My chest heaved violently as tears blurred everything. My fingers dug into my hair, pulling hard like I could rip the thoughts out of my head.
I had forty-eight hours to choose between my life… and my son.
A broken laugh slipped through my lips. It didn’t even feel like a choice. I squeezed my eyes shut, but it didn’t help. His voice still echoed in my head.
I will stop asking and take what’s mine.
A shiver ran through me because I knew he meant it. That was the worst part.
Adrian didn’t bluff.
I dragged in a shaky breath, pressing my forehead against my knees as my body shook uncontrollably.
I had tried. God, I had tried.
Lawyers, calls, meetings. Begging without actually begging. Every door had slammed in my face like I didn’t even exist.
Because to him… I didn’t.
I was just an obstacle and now he was removing me.
Another sob broke out of me. My chest burned. My throat hurts. Everything hurts.
“I can’t…” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I can’t lose him…”
Silence swallowed my words. Slowly, painfully, I lifted my head.
The thought of my son snapped something inside me. I pushed myself up, my legs unsteady, and stumbled out of the bathroom.
The apartment was quiet. Each step toward his room felt heavier than the last.
I paused at the door, my hand hovering over the handle. For a second, I couldn’t move. Then I pushed it open.
Soft light spilled across the room.
Noah was asleep. He was curled up under his blanket, his small chest rising and falling gently, completely at peace.
My heart shattered all over again.
I stepped inside slowly, like any sudden movement might break the moment. My eyes never left him.
This… this was everything.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, my fingers trembling as I reached out and brushed his hair back gently.
He stirred slightly but didn’t wake up.
“Mommy’s here,” I whispered instinctively, even though he couldn’t hear me.
Tears slipped down my cheeks again, but this time I didn’t make a sound. I just watched him.
Memories hit me hard. I could see Adrian’s cold eyes, the way he controlled everything, the way he broke people without even raising his voice.
I remembered the night everything ended, the humiliation, the way I had sworn I would never go back.
My stomach twisted violently. And now…now I was standing on the edge of walking right back into his world.
My hand tightened in the blanket.
“I hate you,” I whispered under my breath, with tears spilling down my face.
I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Noah’s forehead. My lips lingered there for a second longer than necessary.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
The words felt like they tore something out of me.
Then I stood up and just like that…omething inside me died.
******
The next evening came too fast. I didn’t sleep, eat or even think.
The paper sat in my bag like a ticking bomb.
I stepped out of the car, my heels hitting the pavement with sharp, steady sounds.
Adrian’s building stood in front of me, tall and untouchable. Just like him.
I didn’t hesitate as I walked in. The guards didn’t stop me.
Of course they didn’t. They already knew who I was.
The elevator ride felt endless. My reflection in the mirrored walls looked… different.
The doors opened and he was already there.
Adrian stood by the window, his back to me, like he had known the exact second I would arrive.
“Right on time,” he said without turning around.
My fingers tightened around my bag, but my face didn’t change.
“I don’t have much time,” I replied flatly.
He turned then. His eyes landed on me. “Have you made your decision?” he asked.
I didn’t answer. Instead, I reached into my bag and pulled out the contract.
The air around us changed instantly. His gaze dropped to the paper, then back to me.
I walked toward him, each step filled with anger and hate for the monster standing before me.
I stopped right in front of him, close enough to feel his presence and remember everything he had done to hurt me.
My hand didn’t shake as I held the paper out.
“Don’t mistake this for surrender,” I said quietly.
His eyes darkened slightly.
“I’m doing this for my son,” I continued. “Not for you or us.”
Silence stretched between us. Then Adrian took the contract from my hand. His fingers brushed mine briefly.
“Of course,” he said calmly.
A pen appeared in his hand like it had always been there. He handed it to me. I stared at it for a second.
This was it. The line. Once I crossed it… there was no going back.
My grip tightened. Then, without giving myself another second to think…I signed.
My name carved into the paper like a permanent mark.
I dropped the pen. The sound echoed louder than it should have.
Adrian picked up the document, scanning it briefly and looking satisfied.
“Good,” he said. That was it?
He had no emotion or reaction.
My chest tightened, but I didn’t let it show. “When do we leave?” I asked, my voice steady.
His gaze lifted to mine. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes. “Now.”
My breath caught…but before I could respond, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, then answered. “Yes.”
It was silent. Then his expression changed. His eyes snapped to me and for the first time since I walked in….something felt wrong.
“What do you mean he’s gone?” Adrian said coldly.
My heart stopped. Gone? A chill ran down my spine.
Adrian’s grip tightened around the phone, his jaw locking.
“Find him,” he ordered.
The line went dead. Slowly… painfully slowly… his gaze returned to me and in that moment….I knew. Something had just gone terribly wrong.
“Noah…” I whispered, my voice breaking.
Adrian didn’t say anything.
My son was missing.
- Writer
