The private jet cut through the night sky like a blade.
Chloe sat by the window, her forehead resting against the cold glass as Paris disappeared beneath the clouds. The city of lights now felt like a trap she had barely escaped.
Across from her, Lucas stood with his back to her, one hand braced against the wall, his reflection faint in the window. He looked distant — dangerous — like a man carrying too many ghosts.
"Where are we going?" Chloe asked quietly.
Lucas didn't turn around.
"South," he said. "Somewhere quiet."
She swallowed. "You're not telling me everything."
A pause.
"I never do," he replied.
Chloe hugged herself. The silence pressed on her chest.
"You kissed me," she said. "Then you said Elise is watching. You can't just—" She stopped, her voice trembling. "You can't pull me close and then push me into darkness."
Lucas finally turned.
His eyes were hard, but there was something else beneath it — restraint.
"If I don't push you away," he said slowly, "you won't survive me."
Chloe stood up.
"I didn't ask to be part of this," she said. "But I'm already in it. So don't treat me like I'm fragile."
Lucas walked toward her.
"You are fragile," he said. "And that's why she'll use you."
Chloe lifted her chin. "Then teach me how not to be."
Lucas stared at her for a long moment.
Then he exhaled.
"You don't understand Elise," he said. "She doesn't just destroy people. She dismantles them. Emotion first. Trust second. Love last."
Chloe's chest tightened. "You loved her."
Lucas's jaw clenched.
"Yes."
"Do you still?" she asked.
The question hung between them like a loaded gun.
"No," he said finally. "But she thinks I do."
Chloe's heart sank.
"That's worse," she whispered.
Lucas moved closer, lowering his voice.
"She believes you are a replacement," he said. "If she can't have me, she'll take you instead."
Chloe's breath caught. "You mean—"
"She wants to break you," Lucas finished. "And then make you her weapon."
The plane hit turbulence.
Chloe grabbed the armrest.
Lucas instinctively reached for her hand, steadying her. Their fingers tangled before either of them could stop it.
The contact sent a shock through Chloe's body.
Lucas froze.
Slowly, he tried to pull away.
Chloe didn't let him.
"Don't," she said softly.
Lucas looked down at their hands.
"This is how it starts," he warned.
"Then let it," she replied.
Lucas lifted his gaze to hers.
"You don't know what you're asking for."
Chloe stepped closer.
"I know I don't want to be alone," she said.
Lucas's control wavered.
For a moment, he looked like a man on the edge of surrender.
Then his phone vibrated.
He stiffened.
Chloe watched his expression change as he read the message.
"What is it?" she asked.
Lucas's voice was cold. "She found your apartment."
Chloe's blood ran cold. "My apartment?"
"Yes," he said. "She was there an hour ago."
"What did she do?" Chloe whispered.
Lucas looked at her.
"She left you a gift."
Chloe's heart pounded. "What kind of gift?"
Lucas turned the phone toward her.
It was a photo.
A red rose placed neatly on Chloe's bed.
And beneath it — a note.
You can run.
But you belong to me.
Chloe's knees weakened.
"She knows," Chloe said.
Lucas nodded. "She always knows."
Chloe looked up at him.
"Then what do we do?"
Lucas reached out and cupped her face gently, his touch grounding her.
"Now," he said quietly, "I stop running."
Chloe searched his eyes.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," he said, "she's declared war."
The plane began its descent.
Chloe felt fear coil in her stomach — but beneath it was something else.
Resolve.
She squeezed Lucas's hand.
"Then I'm not leaving you," she said.
Lucas's eyes darkened.
"That promise," he said, "may cost you everything."
Chloe didn't hesitate.
"Then it's a promise I'll keep."
Lucas studied her, then nodded once.
"No turning back," he said.
"No turning back," Chloe echoed.
Outside, the night waited.
And somewhere in the darkness, Elise was smiling