Prologue

The soft hum of the elevator filled the silence as she leaned back against the cold metal wall, closing her eyes for a brief second.

Another long day.

Meetings. Decisions. Responsibilities.

The life she had built—step by step, without anyone’s support.

As the doors slid open, she stepped out, her heels echoing against the quiet hallway. When she reached her apartment, a faint smile touched her lips.

Her sister was here.

For once, the house wouldn’t feel empty.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside.

Silence.

Her brows furrowed.

“Hey?” she called out, placing her bag aside. “I’m home.”

No response.

The smile faded.

She walked further in, glancing around. The lights were on. Everything was in place.

But her sister was nowhere to be seen.

A slow uneasiness settled in her chest.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed her sister’s number.

The call rang.

And rang.

And rang.

No answer.

“She must be busy…” she muttered, though the words felt hollow.

She called again.

Still nothing.

Her grip tightened around the phone.

This wasn’t like her. Her sister would never ignore her calls—not when she knew she’d be home.

Without wasting another second, she scrolled through her contacts and dialed her sister’s friend’s number.

The call connected almost immediately.

“Hello, akka(Sister)?” the girl answered.

“Where’s my sister?” she asked. Her voice didn’t shake—but her grip did. “Is she still with you?”

A small pause.

“No… she left some time ago,” her friend replied, confusion evident. “We went to a party together, but I came back home already. She said she was heading to your apartment.”

Her chest tightened.

“She said she was coming home?”

“Yes. She left before me. Isn’t she there?”

The world seemed to tilt.

“No…” she whispered. “She’s not here.”

Silence filled the line.

“Akka… (Sister....)is everything okay?”

“I’ll call you back.”

She ended the call before she could say anything else.

Her mind raced.

If her sister had already left…

If she was supposed to be here…

Then where was she?

She tried calling again.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

Something was wrong.

And just as panic threatened to take over—

Her phone rang.

She froze.

An unknown number flashed on the screen.

For a moment, she hesitated.

Then she answered.

“Hello?!”

Silence.

“Who is this?” she demanded.

A low chuckle echoed from the other end—dark, calm, unsettling.

Her heart skipped.

She knew that voice.

“You…” she breathed.

“Looking for someone?” he asked casually.

“Where is she?” Her voice was sharp now, steady despite the storm rising inside her.

A pause.

“Your sister is with me.”

Everything went still.

“What did you just say?” she whispered.

“I don’t repeat myself.”

“Don’t you dare touch her!”

“Relax,” he said, his tone turning colder. “She’s safe… for now. Don’t make me change that.”

Her pulse quickened.

“What do you want?”

Another pause—like he was enjoying every second.

“If you want your sister back…”

Her fingers curled tightly around the phone.

“…come to me.”

Her breath caught.

“What?”

“I’ll send the car. Come alone.”

“And if I don’t?” she challenged.

This time, his voice turned sharp.

“You will.”

Because he knew.

And she knew.

She had no choice.

The call ended.

Silence filled the room once again—heavier, suffocating.

Her phone buzzed.

Don’t overthink.

Her jaw clenched as she stared at the message—

Before another one appeared.

Come down.

Her brows furrowed.

A strange uneasiness settled deeper in her chest.

Slowly, she walked toward the window and pulled the curtain aside.

Her breath caught.

A sleek black car stood right in front of her apartment building.

Waiting.

For her.

Her fingers tightened around her phone.

Another message flashed.

Don’t make me wait.

Her heartbeat quickened.

This wasn’t a request.

It never was.

He had already planned everything.

Every move.

Every second.

Including her.

For a brief moment, fear tried to hold her back.

But then—

Her sister’s face flashed in her mind.

That was enough.

Grabbing her phone, she rushed out of the apartment, locking the door behind her.

Each step felt heavier than the last as she walked toward the car.

The driver stepped out the moment he saw her, opening the door without a word.

Like he had been expecting her.

Like this was already decided.

She hesitated—just for a second.

Then she got in.

The door shut behind her with a soft click.

And with that—

She stepped in…

unaware she was walking into the hands of a man who never lets go.