Chapter 4

By the time Isabela finished her meeting with her father and Hadley, it was late.

Hadley had to catch a red-eye flight for a business trip and left immediately after.

Isabela returned to her aunt' s apartment building. The lobby was dark and empty.

She stepped into the hallway, and the lights flickered on.

Kason was sitting on a bench by the elevators, his face a thunderous mask.

Isabela was confused. What was he doing here?

He stood up and stalked toward her.

He didn't look like the Kason she knew. He looked like a demon clawed up from hell.

Before she could react, his hand shot out and he slapped her across the face.

The force of the blow sent her stumbling to the floor. She stared up at him, her cheek stinging, her mind reeling in disbelief.

"You whore!" he spat, his voice shaking with rage. "How dare you cheat on me!"

He was completely out of control, his eyes wild.

This was a stranger. The man who had protected her, cared for her, was gone.

In his eyes, was she always just this... this thing? A possession to be controlled and punished?

She remembered all the times he had stood up for her, trusted her without question.

He had once punched a boy in school just for spreading a rumor about her. He had always taken her side, no matter what.

Now, he believed Dalia without a moment's hesitation.

She didn't even have a chance to defend herself.

Tears streamed down her face. She pushed him away, scrambling to her feet.

She ran back to her aunt's apartment, fumbling with the key, and locked the door behind her.

She frantically started throwing her few things into her bag.

She had to get out of here. She had to get away from him.

An hour later, she pushed her small suitcase out the door.

The hallway was dark again.

A thick smell of alcohol and smoke hit her. It was suffocating.

She coughed, her hand flying to her mouth.

She reached for the light switch, and her hand brushed against something warm. Someone was standing in the darkness.

Kason grabbed her, his arms like steel bands.

He lifted her off her feet as if she weighed nothing.

He carried her down the hall to his own apartment, kicking the door shut behind them.

He threw her onto his bed.

She tried to fight, to scream, but he was too strong.

He pinned her down, his weight crushing her.