Now, he sat in his luxurious leather chair in his office, his sharp gaze locked onto the massive computer screen filled with data and information. Several men in black suits stood before him, their expressions tense.

"As of now, there is still no trace of Nadine, Mr. Callway," one of them reported cautiously.

Adrian tapped his fingers on the desk, his expression unreadable.

"So you're telling me that a little girl managed to disappear into thin air?" His voice was calm, yet laced with an icy threat.

No one dared to answer.

Adrian sighed and slowly stood up. He walked toward the large window that overlooked the city below. The lights twinkled, life continued. But for him, everything felt empty.

Since Nadine left, his world had lost its color.

"Activate all our contacts. Check every corner of the city, every surveillance camera, every plane or train ticket out of the country."

"But, Mr. Callway-"

Adrian turned, his gaze sharp enough to kill.

"Do I sound like I'm joking?"

The man swallowed hard and quickly nodded. "We'll move immediately, sir."

As soon as they left, Adrian exhaled deeply, rubbing his face in frustration.

Every night, he couldn't sleep. Nadine haunted him.

He could still remember the scent of her hair, the sound of her breath when she slept, the terrified look in her eyes when he gripped her chin roughly.

He once thought he could own Nadine however he pleased. But the truth was... the girl was far more stubborn than he had anticipated.

But it didn't matter.

He would find her. He would teach her that there was no place in this world far enough to escape from him.

---

2. NADINE – RUNNING FROM THE SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Far from Adrian's world of luxury, Nadine inhaled the crisp morning air as she stood on the balcony of her small apartment.

She now lived in a small town where no one knew her. Where Adrian wouldn't find her.

Lucas and Queen had helped her obtain a new identity. Now, she was Anna Williams, an ordinary woman working at a café, trying to live a simple life.

But even though she was physically free from Adrian, one thing still clung to her-fear.

Every time she walked down the street, she felt watched. Every time her phone rang, her chest tightened, thinking someone had found her.

At the café, she always had the urge to glance over her shoulder, making sure Adrian wasn't there.

She knew his obsession had no limits.

"Are you okay?"

The voice of Ethan Carter, her coworker, pulled her out of her thoughts.

Nadine turned and offered a small smile. "I'm fine."

Ethan studied her for a moment, as if trying to read her mind. "I hope one day you'll truly be fine."

His words struck something in her chest. Because even though she was free... her soul was still imprisoned.

But she made a promise to herself-she would learn to live.

---

3. ADRIAN – ANGER UNLEASHED

Meanwhile, Adrian stormed into Queen Dior's family estate, his steps heavy and ominous.

Queen sat up straight on the sofa, her face turning pale the moment she saw him.

"Where is she?" Adrian demanded, his voice sharp and dangerous.

Queen swallowed hard, trying to hide the tremble in her body. "I don't know."

One second. Two seconds.

By the third second, Adrian was already in front of her, gripping her chin harshly.

"You think I'll believe that lie?"

Queen bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears. She had helped Nadine escape, but she also didn't want to see her friend live in fear forever.

"Adrian, please..."

His grip tightened. "You knew from the beginning, didn't you? That I would never stop searching for Nadine."

Queen stared into his eyes, seeing the deep-rooted obsession consuming him.

Adrian would never give up.

Even if the whole world turned against him... he would burn it all down to get Nadine back.

---

4. NADINE – TRYING TO FORGET IT ALL

That night, Nadine sat on the rooftop of her apartment, gazing at the starlit sky.

Back when she was trapped in Adrian's world, she often dreamed of nights like this. Nights where she could sit alone, without fear, without chains.

But reality was never that simple.

She held the small locket around her neck-the only thing she had kept from her past.

"Will I ever truly be free?" she whispered to herself.

In the distance, she could hear Ethan and his friends laughing.

Life moved on.

And for the first time... Nadine wanted to move with it.

Without Adrian.

Without the darkness of her past.

But what she didn't realize was...

Adrian hadn't given up.

And the moment he found her again, there would be no second chance to escape.

But how much longer can Nadine live in peace before Adrian finds her again?

Chapter 10 ADRIAN GOES INSANE AND NADINE STARTS A NEW LIFE

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