Vella tried to ignore the chilling sensation creeping through her body as Victor stood so close, his smile faint but his eyes full of hidden meaning.

"You look tense," he said softly, his fingers almost touching Vella's cheek before the girl took a step back.

"I'm just surprised," Vella said, her voice striving to sound flat.

Victor raised an eyebrow, as if mocking her. "Surprised that I'm back? Or because you've finally realized you can't escape me?"

Vella's heart beat faster. She couldn't get caught in this game.

"I've forgotten you, Victor."

Victor laughed softly, his expression seeming self-amused. "You really want me to believe that?"

Vella didn't answer. She chose to leave, stepping past Victor. However, before she could get far, Victor caught her wrist. Not too tight, but enough to stop her.

"You'd better get ready, Vella," he whispered close to her ear. "I'll make sure you can never ignore me again."

Vella held her breath, trying to free herself from Victor's grasp. "Let me go."

Victor gave a small smile before finally releasing her.

But before Vella could truly walk away, he managed to whisper, "Welcome back to my life, darling."

---

Vella couldn't stand staying at that party any longer. After exchanging pleasantries with a few guests she didn't even really know, she finally asked her mother for permission to leave early.

"I'll be staying at the hotel tonight," her mother said with a happy smile. "Enjoy the house by yourself tonight, dear."

Vella just nodded. Honestly, she was relieved. She needed space to breathe.

A light rain was falling as Vella stepped into the house. The atmosphere was quiet. Silent.

She turned on the living room light, dropped her bag on the sofa, and walked straight to her bedroom. After changing out of the stuffy party dress, she went into the bathroom, trying to wash away all the burdens on her mind under the stream of warm water.

But the image of Victor kept appearing in her head. His gaze, his words from earlier that night...

"I'll make sure you can never ignore me again."

Vella let out a heavy sigh, quickly dried her hair, and went into the bedroom. She was just about to get into bed when her phone suddenly vibrated on the nightstand.

Unknown number.

She frowned. It was past midnight. Who would call at this hour?

Hesitantly, she slid the green button. "Hello?"

A few seconds of silence. Only soft breathing on the other end.

Vella was about to hang up when the voice sounded.

"You left too early, darling."

Vella froze.

It was Victor's voice. Soft. Calm. But there was something that made her hair stand on end.

"Victor?" her voice rose, a reflex. "How did you get my number?"

Victor laughed softly. The sound sent shivers down Vella's spine.

"I always know what you have, Vella." Then the call disconnected.

Vella stared at her dark phone screen, her chest pounding.

How did he know? Had Victor been following her? Or… had he infiltrated her life deeper than she imagined?

Her mind was filled with fear that was starting to turn into panic.

She gripped her phone tightly, staring into the darkness of the night outside her window.

Biting her lip, she tried to think clearly. This must just be a psychological game. Victor just wanted to scare her. But why did it feel so real?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

DING-DONG.

Vella jolted.

The doorbell rang.

The sound echoed through the spacious, quiet house, reverberating in the empty halls.

Who would come at this hour?

She glanced at the time on her phone—12:24 AM.

Her hand clenched the phone tightly as the bell rang again. This time, longer.

DING-DONG. DING-DONG.

Vella held her breath.

She strained her ears, trying to hear any sound outside. No footsteps, no sound of a car stopping in front of her house.

DING-DONG.

Her heart beat faster.

She walked slowly towards the front door, passing through the dark hallway. The shadow from the outside light cast a faint silhouette on the marble floor.

Arriving at the door, she stood still. Didn't dare move.

She stared at the peephole. Hesitant.

But before she could see who was outside, her phone vibrated again.

A message from an unknown number:

"Why aren't you opening the door, Vella?"

Her breath caught.

Vella's hands trembled as she slowly backed away. She didn't dare look through the peephole again.

The doorbell didn't ring anymore.

However, in the silence of the night, she could feel something.

Someone was out there. Waiting for her.

And she knew exactly who it was.

Victor.

Vella bit her lip, her heart pounding as she stared at the door in front of her.

She knew this was a bad idea. A very bad idea.

But curiosity and fear mixed into one, making her slowly reach out her hand and turn the doorknob.

As the door opened, Victor stood there.

He was dressed entirely in black, his hair slightly disheveled, and his expression was completely different from the man she met at the party earlier. Cold. Dark. Dangerous.

The drizzle had dampened his shoulders, and his gaze immediately pierced through Vella's eyes, sharp and demanding.

Vella felt her tongue go numb.

"Victor… what are you doing here?"

Victor didn't answer immediately. Suddenly, the man stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.

"Victor! What are you—"

Click.

He closed the door behind him and quickly locked it.

Vella took a step back, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Victor, get out."

Victor didn't move. He just looked around the house, as if assessing every corner, before his gaze finally returned to Vella.

"A big house," Victor murmured softly. "Too big to live in alone."

"You look scared," Victor finally said, his voice deep and calm.

"Of course I'm scared! You can't just barge into my house like this!"

Victor gave a faint smirk. "I never needed permission, Vella."

His hand slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a duplicate key.

Vella's blood ran cold. "Where did you get that?" her voice trembled.

Victor twirled the key on his finger casually. "You should know I always have a key."

Vella's heart pounded; she quickly grabbed her phone from her dress pocket, intending to call someone—but Victor swiftly snatched it and tossed it onto the sofa.

Vella was shocked. She looked up. Instantly, her throat tightened.

Victor looked at her with an indescribable gaze. There was tenderness, but also a darkness lurking behind his eyes.

He stepped closer, forcing Vella further back against the wall.

"Why do you always try to get away from me?" he whispered, his fingers rising to gently touch Vella's hair.

Vella felt her body tremble. She wanted to move away, but something in Victor's gaze held her in place.

Vella knew she had to run. Now.

She gathered her courage, trying to avoid Victor's gaze and move towards the stairs. However, quick as lightning, Victor caught her wrist and pulled her back forcefully.

Vella jolted. "Let me go, Victor!"

But Victor just looked at her with a relaxed expression—as if he was enjoying every bit of panic radiating from Vella's eyes.

"I let you run away once," his voice was deep, full of a dangerous calm. "This time, I won't let you go."

Before Vella could struggle, Victor bent down and lifted her in a bridal carry.

"What are you doing?!" Vella tried to struggle, hitting Victor's shoulder with her fists.

Victor didn't budge an inch. "Taking my wife to where she belongs."

My wife?

Vella shuddered at the term.

Victor's steps were firm as he carried Vella up the stairs, as if he knew this house intimately.

Vella's mind was in chaos. How could Victor know which room was hers?

They had dated, but during their three-year relationship, Vella had never brought him to her family home. Victor had never met her mother, let alone been inside this house.

So... how did he know?

"Victor! Put me down now!" Vella struggled again, but Victor only tightened his hold.

"Stop moving, or I'll drop you," he threatened softly.

Damn.

Vella could only stare wide-eyed as Victor easily pushed open her bedroom door and carried her inside.

The door closed with a soft click.

Vella didn't even have time to say anything before Victor dropped her onto the bed, then pinned her down with his hands on either side of her head.

Vella's breath caught.

Victor was too close.

His gaze was too intense.

"Why is your face so tense, darling?" he whispered softly. "Didn't you miss this?"

Vella turned her face away, trying to avoid the man's gaze. "You're crazy..."

Victor touched her chin, forcing her face back towards his.

"Why did you leave me three years ago?" he asked, his voice deep, cold, and full of tension.

Vella fell silent.

Victor narrowed his eyes. "Say it, Vella."

Vella swallowed, her body tense.

She tried to push against Victor's chest, but the man didn't move an inch.

"You loved me too much… you were too obsessive," Vella finally whispered, admitting something she had tried to forget.

Victor was silent for a moment.

Then, he smiled. A smile Vella couldn't interpret—whether it was angry, satisfied, or worse… anticipating something.

"So you admit it."

Victor's hand moved down Vella's cheek, then to her neck, his fingers touching the pulse beating rapidly.

Vella froze.

"You know, Vella… obsessive people usually never let go of what they have," Victor whispered right into her ear.

---

The Next Morning

As sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, Vella slowly opened her eyes.

Her head felt heavy, her body tired, and she still felt like she was in a real-life nightmare.

But what made her startle was Victor lying beside her, his face only inches from Vella's.

The man was still holding her tightly, as if refusing to let her go even in sleep.

How did this happen?

Vella wanted to get up, but the moment she moved even slightly, Victor's arm tightened.

Victor's eyelids opened, and he looked at her with a gaze full of possession.

"Good morning, darling," he whispered in a deep, morning-hoarse voice.

Vella was trapped.

Vella froze.

She almost forgot how to breathe with Victor pressed so closely against her, his arm still wrapped around her waist as if he had full rights over Vella's body.

Their eyes met.

Victor's sharp eyes looked softer in the morning light, but Vella knew… behind that gaze hid something deeper and more dangerous.

Why was he still here?

Vella immediately pushed against Victor's chest with all her strength.

"Get out of my room," she hissed sharply.

Instead of retreating, Victor just gave a faint smile—a smile that made Vella even more wary.

"What's the problem?" he asked casually. "We just slept, right?"

Yes… slept.

Nothing more.

Vella felt a strange sense of relief, although the fact that Victor had slept beside her all night was still something she couldn't accept.

"I'm not yours anymore, Victor," Vella said firmly, trying to establish boundaries between them.

Victor looked at her for a moment, then suddenly… he leaned forward and gently kissed Vella's cheek.

His lips were warm on Vella's skin.

Vella's eyes widened, her heart beating wildly.

"Victor—!"

The man pulled back slowly, a satisfied expression on his face.

"Of course you're not mine," he said in a tone that sounded like a subtle mockery.

Vella felt angry, but also confused.

Why did Victor always act like this? As if their relationship had never ended. As if Vella still belonged to him.

"I'm serious, Victor," Vella said again, trying to remain calm. "What you did last night… and now… it doesn't mean anything. I broke up with you, and I'm not coming back."

Victor didn't answer immediately.

He just stared at Vella… for a long time.

As if gauging how far the woman's patience would stretch before he finally destroyed her bit by bit.

Then, his lips curved into a very dangerous smile.

"Then…" his voice was low, deep, and sounded full of hidden pleasure.

"…how about we go on a honeymoon too?"

Vella's blood ran cold.

What?!

Victor propped his chin on his hand, enjoying Vella's shocked expression.

"Our parents are on their honeymoon. I thought we could do the same."

"Don't joke, Victor."

"I'm not joking," he replied lightly. "I just thought, if you keep insisting on rejecting me, maybe I should make you remember what it's like to be with me."

Vella swallowed.

She knew Victor never said anything without a reason.

And if the man had an intention… then nothing could stop him.

Vella's phone vibrated. A message appeared from an unknown number:

“You're in danger. Stay away from him. Before you truly lose everything.”

“He's not who you think he is. He... destroyed other people's lives before you.”

Her eyes widened. Her hands trembled.

And behind her, Victor pulled her into an embrace.

"Who is it?" whispered Victor, his voice sharp yet soft. "Is someone bothering you, darling?"

The mysterious message kept echoing in Vella's head. But before she could reread it, Victor took her phone. His movements were calm—too calm, making Vella's heart beat even faster.

"I'm just worried about you," he said, spinning the phone with two fingers, his eyes never leaving Vella's face. "Who would dare send a message like this, hmm?"

"Give it back to me, Victor." Vella tried to grab her phone, but the man pulled her into a hug before she could reach it.

Victor's hand landed on her back, tracing the line of her spine gently but firmly. His breath fanned her neck, warm and heavy.

"I know you're still afraid of me," he whispered. "But... isn't a part of you still wanting me?"

"Victor—"

"Shh..." His hand touched her chin, tilting her face up. "You can deny it with your mouth, but your body has always been honest with me."

Victor's gaze pierced like a knife. Deep and intense. Then his lips touched Vella's cheek—not softly, but demanding. Leaving a hot mark on her skin.

"You remember, don't you?" he whispered. "That night, before you decided to leave, I wanted to propose to you in the town square. But you... chose to run away. You were more afraid of this love, than of feeling it."

"Because your love is frightening," Vella murmured. "You want to control everything, including me."

Victor let out a long sigh, then slowly pressed Vella's body down onto the bed. But this time, something was different. The aura around him had changed. His eyes were darker, colder.

"I'm not controlling you, Vella. I... own you. It's different." His lips were now near hers. "Because you are mine. From the very beginning. Even when you decided to leave... I could still smell your perfume on the pillow."

His fingers slipped into her hair, then down to her nape, forcing her eyes to meet his gaze.

"Don't run away again, Vella," he said quietly. "Because this time, I won't let you go."

Then he kissed her. Deeply. All-encompassing. As if pouring out all the pent-up emotions from the past three years.

And even though her mind rejected it, Vella's body trembled, accepting every touch. There was fear, but also longing. There was a part of her that yearned for this embrace—the scent of Victor's skin, his breath, the gaze that once made her feel special… before everything turned into a prison.

But before the kiss could deepen, another phone notification sounded.

Victor pulled away, his eyes still red with passion and something else… something dark. He picked up the phone, reading it in silence. But the look in his eyes instantly turned threatening.

"You should stop receiving messages from people you don't know, darling. Otherwise, they might make you lose sleep..."

Vella swallowed. There was something in his tone that made her hair stand on end.

"What do you mean?"

Victor stroked her hair gently, then kissed her forehead.

"Don't worry. I'll find out who this nuisance is. And once I do... I'll make sure he can never touch you again. Not even with words."

---

Morning seeped softly through the bedroom curtains, leaving a golden hue on the walls. Vella opened her eyes slowly. The air still carried traces of Victor's cologne—a scent that was both calming and suffocating. The space beside her was empty.His pillow was still warm.

"Victor?" her voice was hoarse, hesitant. No answer. She sat up,the blanket slipping to her lap. Shadows from the previous night surfaced: Victor's tight embrace, his gaze that felt threatening yet also like real protection. Vella bit her lip, holding back a strange feeling in her chest—a mix of longing and fear.

Her footsteps led her to the living room. The house was silent, too silent. There was only a cup of still-steaming coffee on the table. Under the cup, a small, neatly folded note with Victor's handwriting: "I'll be out for a while. Don't leave the house. —V."

Vella frowned. Something felt wrong. She didn't know where Victor had gone, or why she had to stay home.

As she turned, her phone vibrated on the dining table. One new message from an unnamed number.

"Do you know who he really is?"

Her heart beat fast. She stared at the phone screen for a few seconds before typing a reply.

Who do you mean?

The reply came quickly: "Victor is not who you think he is. Look under the piano in the living room. You'll find out."

Vella swallowed. Her hands trembled as she walked to the living room. The white piano in the corner looked clean, unsuspicious. But when she bent down, there was something under it—a small black box.

The box felt cold in her hands. She opened it slowly.

Inside was a silver flash drive with the initials "V.H."

Instantly, her heart beat faster. She knew it belonged to Victor. But why was it hidden in his house? She stared at the lit laptop on the table,hesitating. Then she took a deep breath and plugged in the flash drive.

A single folder appeared on the screen, titled: Velentine. Her fingers trembled as she clicked it.Inside the folder were dozens of photos of her—candid shots, taken secretly from various places: the photo studio, her old apartment, even one at the airport when she had just returned to this city.

Vella's breath hitched. "What is this…?"

The screen suddenly changed. A single video file opened automatically. The CCTV recording showed Victor talking with an older man in a luxurious office.

"She must not know anything," Victor's voice was clear. "If she finds out, it will all be over."

Vella stared at the screen, her body trembling. "Must not know… what?" she whispered.

The front door creaked.

Vella quickly closed the laptop. Heavy footsteps approached. Her breath quickened. She knew those steps.

Victor appeared in the doorway in a dark suit, his hair slightly disheveled. His eyes immediately fixed on Vella standing in the living room, her face pale.

"Vella." His voice was flat, almost devoid of emotion. "So you're awake already."

Vella tried to smile, but her voice trembled. "You... where were you?"

Victor walked slowly, glancing around the room as if inspecting for something out of place. "A small matter at the office." He stopped right in front of Vella. "Are you okay?"

"I…" But her voice vanished when Victor's eyes landed on the laptop, where she hadn't had time to remove the flash drive.

A sudden thick silence fell between them. Victor stepped closer,close enough for Vella to hear his breath. "You… opened something that wasn't yours?" he asked softly.

His tone was calm, but its coldness was biting. Vella took a step back."I—I just found—"

Victor touched her cheek gently, but his gaze was sharp as a knife. "Sometimes curiosity is dangerous, darling."

"Victor, what does all this mean?"

A thin smile appeared on the man's lips. "Mean?" He leaned down slightly, his voice whispering in her ear. "Perhaps you aren't ready to know… who the man who has been holding you really is." Suddenly,the lights in the living room flickered, and the laptop turned off with a soft pop.

Vella flinched. Victor stared at the blackened screen, then at Vella, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't have opened that box,"he said quietly.

"Now… everything has changed."

And before Vella could ask anything else, her phone rang on the table. The unnamed number appeared again, but this time the contact name had changed: "I know who he is."

Vella stared at the phone screen, her body trembling, while Victor only gave a faint smile, as if he had been waiting for that message all along.