Chapter 7 TRAPPED IN OBSESSION

1. NADINE – ENSNARED IN THE LION'S DEN

The air in the room was freezing, piercing down to her bones.

When Nadine opened her eyes again, awareness came slowly, like fog gradually lifting. Her eyes burned, her breath was heavy, and her entire body felt stiff.

She couldn't move.

Her hands were bound with leather straps behind the cold chair. Her legs were also tied, giving her no room to fight.

Her heart pounded violently.

Her eyes scanned the room-gray stone walls without large windows, only a small barred window that barely let any light in. There was only one large steel door in front of her, tightly shut.

Her mind instantly recalled the last thing she remembered.

Lucas. Queen Dior.

Adrian.

The open apartment door.

Queen Dior standing there, her expression unreadable.

And then... Adrian appeared.

He took her as if she were nothing more than an object that rightfully belonged to him. Lucas couldn't do anything.

And now, she was here.

Alone.

Her heart pounded faster, fear slowly tightening its grip on her.

Then, footsteps echoed from beyond the steel door.

One step. Two steps.

Nadine held her breath.

A click sounded as the lock was turned, and in an instant, the door swung open.

The person she despised the most walked in with unsettling calmness.

Adrian Callway.

He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing the toned muscles of his arms. His sharp eyes bore into Nadine with an unreadable expression.

Too calm. Too confident.

The man shut the door behind him and stepped closer.

"You're awake," he said, his voice deep and low, sending chills down Nadine's spine.

Nadine bit her lip. She wanted to scream, to fight, to say something that would free her from this situation.

But for the first time, she felt utterly powerless.

"Why are you doing this?" Her voice trembled, thick with unmistakable hatred.

Adrian simply gave a small smile and knelt before her. His gaze remained unchanged-cold, sharp, calculating.

"I already told you, Nadine," he whispered, his voice so soft yet so piercing. "You are mine. And I will never let you go."

2. ADRIAN – AN UNRELENTING POSSESSION

Adrian gazed at Nadine as if he had just reclaimed the most valuable treasure of his life.

He had waited so long for this moment.

Years ago, Nadine left him. She tried to forget him, tried to live a normal life as if their relationship had never existed.

But that was her biggest mistake.

Adrian Callway was not a man to be left behind.

Even when he was imprisoned, he never truly lost control. Everyone thought he was locked behind bars, but in reality, he was still pulling the strings from within. He still had power over his business, over his men... and most importantly, over Nadine.

He always knew where she went. Who was around her. What she did every single day.

And when he realized Nadine had grown too comfortable in her new life, he knew it was time to act.

Now, he had brought her back to where she belonged-by his side.

He lifted his hand, letting his fingers brush gently against Nadine's face.

But Nadine harshly jerked away from his touch, even though she was still bound.

"Don't touch me!" she spat, fire burning in her eyes.

Adrian only chuckled softly and stood up.

"You're as stubborn as ever," he murmured, walking in circles around the chair she was tied to.

"You still think you can escape me."

He stopped behind her, his voice lowering to a whisper right next to her ear.

"But you're wrong, Nadine."

Nadine clenched her jaw, her body tense.

"I would rather die than go back to you," she said, her voice laced with pure venom.

Adrian sighed, then stepped forward again, kneeling in front of her.

"My love," he said, his tone softer now but still laced with quiet menace. "No one can love you the way I do."

Nadine shut her eyes tightly.

She didn't want to hear this.

She wanted to escape.

But deep down, she knew.

There was no way out.

3. LUCAS – A PAINFUL REALIZATION

Lucas sat on the sofa, his fists clenched at his sides.

He couldn't do anything.

Nadine had been taken.

And he... had lost.

A gentle hand touched his shoulder. Queen Dior stood beside him, her face full of guilt.

"Lucas..." she whispered.

Lucas stared at her, expressionless.

"You betrayed your best friend."

Queen Dior lowered her head, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"I didn't have a choice," she murmured. "Adrian is too powerful. If I hadn't cooperated, he would have killed you."

Lucas closed his eyes, exhaling sharply.

This shouldn't have happened.

But now, it was too late.

And deep in his heart, something else began to settle.

As Nadine was trapped in Adrian's grasp...

As he felt the loss of something he thought was so important...

The only person who had remained by his side, who truly cared for him, was Queen Dior.

Lucas looked at her in silence.

For the first time, he saw her not as Nadine's best friend...

But as someone who-maybe-could fill the emptiness in his heart.

However, before that could happen, there was one thing he needed to do.

He had to save Nadine.

Even if it meant facing Adrian once more.

4. NADINE – A SHATTERING SURRENDER

Nadine stared at Adrian, her breathing uneven.

She wanted to be angry.

Wanted to scream.

Wanted to fight.

But she knew...

It was useless.

She had lost.

Adrian had won.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

But deep in her heart, she knew one undeniable truth.

If she wanted to survive, she had to surrender.