Then
I felt like I had betrayed Michael, but I wanted him all to myself. It was either me or no one. He had already hurt me; I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he hurt Hana too.
I went to his apartment to tell him it was my fault that Hana was leaving. I didn’t want him to go after her; I wanted him to do whatever he needed to do to me, and then we would move on. we could be together again.
After he forced me onto the ground after he choked me out, after I refused to call Hana and tell her I was lying, he manipulated me yet again.
He was silent for a moment as he sulked in the kitchen. His posture was one of deep frustration—he leaned heavily against the counter, his shoulders slumped as he stared intently at the clean surface. His hands, spread flat on the countertop, seemed almost to anchor him to the spot. After a few moments, he finally spoke.
“Get up, baby. Come here,” he ordered quietly.
I quickly stood up and moved to his side. Without looking at me, he took my hand and guided me in front of him, positioning me with my back pressed against his chest. A shiver of anticipation ran through me as he leaned in, his lips brushing softly against my neck. Each gentle, deliberate kiss sent a tingling sensation across my skin.
“Sweet Jackie. You’ve really gone and ruined everything,” he whispered, his tone gentle despite the sharpness of his words.
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I just want you to myself,” I shakily whispered back, the lump in my throat threatening a meltdown.
He chuckled darkly. “No, baby. Like I said,” he began, drawing something from the kitchen drawer, “I will never, ever be yours.”
The tip of the cold knife pressed against the front of my neck, and I trembled uncontrollably, my fear escalating. I forced myself to remain still, my breath hitching as his warm breath ghosted over the side of my neck.
“I would rather kill you than spend my days with you, you fucking nuisance.”
I could hardly hear him over the pounding of my pulse in my ears. “Please,” I cried. “Please don’t.”
“I thought you’d do anything for me, sweet Jackie?” His voice was full of contempt and mockery.
My chest heaved up and down as I began to sob. “ just fucking do it, Michael. Just put me out of my misery already.”
My love for him would always be there, despite everything he had done to me. How was I going to live with that? I didn’t want to love him, but I did. And if it meant dying by his hands just to end the agonizing cycle, then maybe that was what I needed.
“God, Jackie. Would you just put up a fight for once? I can’t believe how fucking pathetic you are.” He withdrew the knife from my neck, sliding it across the counter before stepping back. I collapsed to my knees, burying my face in my hands as sobs wracked my body, overwhelmed by the crushing sense of how utterly broken he had made me feel.
“What do you want then, Jackie, hm? You want me to fuck you? You want me to keep you here forever, locked away in my bedroom to use and dispose of as I please?” The contempt oozed from every word he uttered.
I didn’t answer him. I was lost, unsure of what I wanted anymore—I just wanted him to love me.
“Come on, then. Let’s go get your things. I’ll keep you here and punish you as I see fit.”
I lifted my gaze to meet his. He stood, hand on hip, exasperation etched across his face.
“Really?” I hated how much hope was in my voice.
He simply nodded and extended his hand toward me. Mine trembled as it reached out to meet his, and his grip was firm as he clasped it tightly.
As we walked out of his apartment, he hailed a cab and instructed the driver to wait. , he tugged me toward Hana’s apartment building. In that moment, I knew something terrible was going to happen. He held something in his hand, some sort of small cloth, and I eyed it as we took the elevator upstairs.
“What are you going to do?” I asked him warily.
He shook his head and didn’t answer. “Once we get to Hana’s door, act like you’re alone. Make them open the door,” he ordered.
My eyes brimmed with tears. “And what if I don’t?”
He turned, casting me a menacing glare. “One way or another, Jackie, I’ll always get what I want. It’s up to you if you want to make it easier or harder for yourself.”
I looked away and gritted my teeth. I only needed to know one thing. “Are you going to hurt her?”
He scoffed. “Never.”
* * *
I watched, paralyzed by terror, as Michael scooped the unconscious Hana off the floor. My heart pounded in my chest as he carried her into the hallway and went down the emergency stairs.
“You said you weren’t going to hurt her!” I wailed, following close behind.
“Shut up, Jackie,” he growled out as he quickly paced down the stairs, holding Hana in his arms with ease.
“What are you going to do to her?” I screamed, my voice breaking with panic.
He ignored me, his focus unwavering as he continued downward.
“Michael!” I shouted again, desperate and terrified.
He exited the side of the building and hurried toward the cab.
“Please hurry, mate. I need to get my fiancée some help.” He gently settled Hana into the cab, leaving me standing there, rendered speechless in shock. He slid into the seat beside her and the cab screeched away.
I just helped Michael kidnap Hana. I just witnessed him chloroform that poor woman and knock the shit out of her husband. Jesus Christ. What do I do? I jumped when my phone began to vibrate in my pocket; it was Billie.
“Billie?” I answered.
“Jackie, there’s a fucking water leak in the building. I need you to get to the apartment and make sure it hasn’t fucking flooded the place. I’m on my way too, but it’s gonna take forever to get there from work.” She sounded frantic, and I was still too stunned to question it.
“O—okay. I’ll go now.” I hung up quickly.
Should I call the cops? Should I turn myself in as an accessory to kidnapping? No, it wasn’t my fault—he coerced me. Didn’t he? God, I should go check to make sure Jack is okay. No, the water leak. My thoughts raced as I took the train to our apartment. Distracted, I got off one stop too early and cursed myself as I sprinted the rest of the way.
I spotted Jack as soon as I shut the door behind me. There was no water leak; Billie must have known something had happened and lured me there to Jack. And when he told me he was going to the police, I knew I had to tell them everything. I knew this nightmare had to finally end.