Chapter 5 Kidnapped

Austin was discharged three days later.

Selene moved back in temporarily, ignoring every instinct screaming that this was dangerous. His penthouse felt colder than before, like it remembered all the lies spoken within it.

At night, Austin woke sweating, breath shallow, fingers gripping her like she was the last solid thing in the world.

"I saw the headlights again," he whispered once.

She held him tighter. "I'm here."

But unease crept into Selene's bones.

Her phone started acting strange - calls dropping, messages unsent. Once, she found her door unlocked when she was sure she'd closed it. Another time, she caught a black SUV idling across the street.

Austin noticed her silence.

"You're scared," he said one evening.

She shook her head. "Just tired."

He didn't believe her. He also didn't push.

That night, Selene stood at the window, watching the city glow beneath her like a trap dressed up as opportunity.

She touched the ring.

Somewhere in the darkness, a camera lens clicked.

And Diana began planning the final move.

Selene didn't sleep that night.

Austin was finally resting, his breathing slow and even, but her mind refused to quiet. The penthouse felt too large, too silent, as if the walls were listening. She kept replaying Diana's voice in her head-While it lasts.

At dawn, Selene slipped out of bed and padded into the kitchen. She made tea she didn't drink and stared out at the city that never really cared who survived it. This was supposed to be her fresh start. Instead, it felt like she had stepped into someone else's unfinished war.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: Nice ring.

Her fingers went cold.

She stared at the screen, heart thudding. Slowly, she typed back.

Selene: Who is this?

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Then another message came through.

Unknown Number: Tell Austin congratulations. He always rushed into bad decisions.

Selene deleted the conversation, but the unease stayed.

When Austin woke, she forced a smile. "You're staring," he said.

"Just making sure you're real," she replied.

He reached for her hand. "Talk to me."

She hesitated, then shook her head. "Later."

Austin didn't like that answer. He never had.

That evening, his grandmother called. His parents had been too busy to even see him at the hospital.

Selene listened quietly as Austin paced the living room, voice low with suppressed Anger and tense. When he ended the call, his jaw was tight.

"She knows," he said.

"Knows what?"

"About Diana. About how manipulative she was. About what she's capable of." He stopped in front of Selene. "She thinks Diana won't stop until you're gone."

Selene let out a humorless laugh. "That's comforting."

"I'm serious."

"So am I," Selene said softly. "I won't live my life hiding."

But fear was already curling in her chest.

Two days later, Selene finished her shift late. It was past 11pm.

The restaurant was nearly empty when she stepped outside, apron folded over her arm. The street was quieter than usual. Too quiet.

Her phone rang.

Austin.

"Hey babe we closed late today, couldn't get a cab going towards my direction so I have to walk down to the next stop, sorry I couldn't call earlier I know u were worried" she told him

"By this time? You can't walk down those streets alone. I'm on my way," he said. "Please don't move."

"I'm fine," she replied, scanning the road. "You worry too much." Then ended the call

She took three steps forward.

A hand grabbed her from behind.

The phone slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground as a cloth pressed over her mouth. She struggled with muffled groaning as she was suffocating till she collapsed.

The world tilted, sounds blurring, lights smearing into darkness.

The last thing Selene heard was a woman's voice-calm, satisfied.

"Finally."

Somewhere across the city, Austin Blake felt his chest seize with a fear he couldn't explain. He got his car keys and rushed out to Selene's workplace.

And somewhere out there Diana smiled.

Austin reached the restaurant in under fifteen minutes.

He didn't remember the traffic lights on George Street or the way he cut across Darling Harbour like the rules didn't apply to him anymore. His hands shook as he parked badly, door slamming behind him as he ran inside.

"Selene?" he called.

The staff looked up, confused.

"She left already," the manager said. "About ten minutes ago."

Austin's chest tightened.

Outside, the night air felt wrong. Too still. His eyes scanned the pavement-and then he saw it.

Her phone.

Lying face down near the curb.

His heart dropped straight into his stomach.

He picked it up. The screen was cracked. Her last call was his number. It was a missed call. No signal now.

"Selene," he whispered, louder this time. Panic clawed its way up his throat.

No response.

Somewhere behind him, a black SUV eased into traffic and disappeared toward the Anzac Bridge.

...............................

Austin stood frozen outside the restaurant for a full minute, Selene's phone heavy in his palm.

The screen was cracked, and the battery was almost dead. One missed call. Then nothing.

"She wouldn't leave this," he muttered.

His chest tightened as understanding settled in-slow, undeniable.

She hadn't walked away.

Someone had taken her.

He drove straight to Vaucluse.

His grandmother's house sat quietly above the water, lights glowing warmly, as if nothing in the world had gone wrong. The irony made his hands tremble as he pushed the door open without knocking.

"I couldn't find Selene," he said, his voice rough. "She's gone."

His grandmother looked up from her chair.

Silence.

"You knew," Austin said slowly. "Didn't you?"

She set her teacup down with care.

"Answer me," he snapped. "Did you know this would happen?"

Her eyes hardened. "Do not raise your voice at me, my son."

He laughed-short, broken. "My fiancée is missing."

"She chose to be involved," his grandmother replied calmly. "Some choices come with consequences."

Austin stared at her. "What does that mean?"

She stood. Smoothed her cardigan. "You're exhausted. You're imagining things where there are none." She is fine.

"Selene is not imagination," he said. "She's real. And she's in danger."

His grandmother held his gaze. "Go home, Austin."

Something cold settled in his gut.

She wasn't surprised.

Selene woke with a pounding head and ropes biting into her wrists.

The warehouse smelled like oil and saltwater. A foghorn sounded in the distance. She was near the docks-maybe Port Botany.

Diana crouched in front of her, her heels immaculate, expression almost kind.

"Do you know how your parents died?" Diana asked casually.

Selene was silent for a few minutes, then she muttered. "It was an accident." her gaze facing her feet

Diana smiled. "That's what they told you."

Selene shook her head. "Yes."

"Oh Really?" Diana tilted her head. "Two men built a company together. Best friends. Big dreams. Bigger money." she continued

Selene's breath caught. She looked up at Dianne.

"Your father wanted clean growth," Diana continued. "Austin's father wanted power. Offshore accounts. Arms routing through shell companies. Government contracts greased with bribes."

"That's not-"

"Your father threatened to expose everything," Diana said softly. "He walked away. He planned to start fresh, a clean start and a better family."

Selene's voice broke. "Stop."

"They staged the crash, Selene" Diana finished. "Weather reports were adjusted. They caused the brake failure, they planted the truck that hit them and that was it. Case closed."

Selene laughed weakly. "You expect me to believe this?"

Diana leaned closer. "Ask yourself why Austin's family never talks about that year."

Selene's heart pounded.

This wasn't proof.

But it wasn't nonsense either.

Across the city, Austin sat alone in his car overlooking the Harbour Bridge, staring at Selene's ring on the passenger seat.

For the first time, he wondered-

What else had his family hidden from him?

And why is Dianne so obsessed with Selene?