l P

pe. She had never heard tha

r her? After everything she's done?" She dissolved into fr

It was exhausting. "Alicia, please. Just calm down." I pulled out my ph

l. Again. And again. A cold dread s

hen, I remembered Emerson, her small, thoughtful gestures. The little tin of artisanal mints she would leave on my desk, a

ost of a memory. She wasn't here. She wou

She's scared! You have to report her! Have her arrested!" She leaned in, her voice dropping to a theatrical whispe

ys threats. From the victim. Fr

y voice tight. "Just... go back to

onfusion in her eye

over me. "To the penthous

the car, then back at me. "Axel, darling.

penthouse. My home with Emerson. And A

over me. This wasn't r

thouse. It was silent

ded, my voice sharp, my ey

ung her hands. "Mr. Flynn, Mrs. Flynn... she hasn't been back since you had her... rem

ad locked her in there. For three days. No food, no

tic, Axel. Trying to get your attention. She'll be back. She always comes back." She gl

rd felt wrong.

ad dismissed her anger, her hurt, as childish petulance. I had always believed s

orite. Alicia was sprawled across it, a satisfied smirk on her face. A sudden,

g in my gut. I retreated to my s

oom, a flicker of hope in my chest. Maybe sh

of the table, sipping coffee, her hai

ic

hat are you doing in that, Alici

's just a robe." She smiled, a faint, innocent curve of

mes. She wouldn't want her clothes contaminated." It was a lie. Emerson was allergic to nothing

anything. You told me this was my home. That we would finally be together, like we always wante

ick with unspoken history. The promise

, sharp and clear, pierced through the f

. "Go shopping, Alicia. Buy whatever you want.

ed, her tears immediately forgotten. She watc

the empty rooms, a gnawing anxiety in my gut. No Emerson. My fingers hovered over her co

ill and panicked. "Axel! Help me!

re: Emerson, wild with rage, finally snapping. I grabbed my keys, bursting

use district. I found her tied to a chair, her eyes wide with

y voice raw with despe

e was here! She tried to k

w subdued by my security, blurted out, "She paid me! The

ally in my arms. A cold, chilling certainty settled over me.

of genuine emotion, was a mask of calculated fear. The trut

y voice flat, pointing at Alici

ologize. My heart ached with a longing I hadn't rea

sed. It was the first time I had cared about my appearance in weeks. A wr

asped, her eyes wide with sho

n here, alone, in this grand, empty house, while I

so solicitous, greeted me

ked, my voice tight. "I

ther, his face grim, said, "She's not here, Axel. And frankly, it's none of your business

bout? No! That's not possible! She's just... she's