Austin was discharged three days later.

Selene moved back in temporarily, ignoring every instinct screaming that this was dangerous. His penthouse felt colder than before, like it remembered all the lies spoken within it.

At night, Austin woke sweating, breath shallow, fingers gripping her like she was the last solid thing in the world.

"I saw the headlights again," he whispered once.

She held him tighter. "I'm here."

But unease crept into Selene's bones.

Her phone started acting strange - calls dropping, messages unsent. Once, she found her door unlocked when she was sure she'd closed it. Another time, she caught a black SUV idling across the street.

Austin noticed her silence.

"You're scared," he said one evening.

She shook her head. "Just tired."

He didn't believe her. He also didn't push.

That night, Selene stood at the window, watching the city glow beneath her like a trap dressed up as opportunity.

She touched the ring.

Somewhere in the darkness, a camera lens clicked.

And Diana began planning the final move.

Selene didn't sleep that night.

Austin was finally resting, his breathing slow and even, but her mind refused to quiet. The penthouse felt too large, too silent, as if the walls were listening. She kept replaying Diana's voice in her head-While it lasts.

At dawn, Selene slipped out of bed and padded into the kitchen. She made tea she didn't drink and stared out at the city that never really cared who survived it. This was supposed to be her fresh start. Instead, it felt like she had stepped into someone else's unfinished war.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: Nice ring.

Her fingers went cold.

She stared at the screen, heart thudding. Slowly, she typed back.

Selene: Who is this?

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Then another message came through.

Unknown Number: Tell Austin congratulations. He always rushed into bad decisions.

Selene deleted the conversation, but the unease stayed.

When Austin woke, she forced a smile. "You're staring," he said.

"Just making sure you're real," she replied.

He reached for her hand. "Talk to me."

She hesitated, then shook her head. "Later."

Austin didn't like that answer. He never had.

That evening, his grandmother called. His parents had been too busy to even see him at the hospital.

Selene listened quietly as Austin paced the living room, voice low with suppressed Anger and tense. When he ended the call, his jaw was tight.

"She knows," he said.

"Knows what?"

"About Diana. About how manipulative she was. About what she's capable of." He stopped in front of Selene. "She thinks Diana won't stop until you're gone."

Selene let out a humorless laugh. "That's comforting."

"I'm serious."

"So am I," Selene said softly. "I won't live my life hiding."

But fear was already curling in her chest.

Two days later, Selene finished her shift late. It was past 11pm.

The restaurant was nearly empty when she stepped outside, apron folded over her arm. The street was quieter than usual. Too quiet.

Her phone rang.

Austin.

"Hey babe we closed late today, couldn't get a cab going towards my direction so I have to walk down to the next stop, sorry I couldn't call earlier I know u were worried" she told him 

"By this time? You can't walk down those streets alone. I'm on my way," he said. "Please don't move."

"I'm fine," she replied, scanning the road. "You worry too much." Then ended the call

She took three steps forward.

A hand grabbed her from behind.

The phone slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground as a cloth pressed over her mouth. She struggled with muffled groaning as she was suffocating till she collapsed.

The world tilted, sounds blurring, lights smearing into darkness.

The last thing Selene heard was a woman's voice-calm, satisfied.

"Finally."

Somewhere across the city, Austin Blake felt his chest seize with a fear he couldn't explain. He got his car keys and rushed out to Selene's workplace.

And somewhere out there Diana smiled.

Austin reached the restaurant in under fifteen minutes.

He didn't remember the traffic lights on George Street or the way he cut across Darling Harbour like the rules didn't apply to him anymore. His hands shook as he parked badly, door slamming behind him as he ran inside.

"Selene?" he called.

The staff looked up, confused.

"She left already," the manager said. "About ten minutes ago."

Austin's chest tightened.

Outside, the night air felt wrong. Too still. His eyes scanned the pavement-and then he saw it.

Her phone.

Lying face down near the curb.

His heart dropped straight into his stomach.

He picked it up. The screen was cracked. Her last call was his number. It was a missed call. No signal now.

"Selene," he whispered, louder this time. Panic clawed its way up his throat.

No response.

Somewhere behind him, a black SUV eased into traffic and disappeared toward the Anzac Bridge.

...............................

Austin stood frozen outside the restaurant for a full minute, Selene's phone heavy in his palm.

The screen was cracked, and the battery was almost dead. One missed call. Then nothing.

"She wouldn't leave this," he muttered.

His chest tightened as understanding settled in-slow, undeniable.

She hadn't walked away.

Someone had taken her.

He drove straight to Vaucluse.

His grandmother's house sat quietly above the water, lights glowing warmly, as if nothing in the world had gone wrong. The irony made his hands tremble as he pushed the door open without knocking.

"I couldn't find Selene," he said, his voice rough. "She's gone."

His grandmother looked up from her chair.

Silence.

"You knew," Austin said slowly. "Didn't you?"

She set her teacup down with care.

"Answer me," he snapped. "Did you know this would happen?"

Her eyes hardened. "Do not raise your voice at me, my son."

He laughed-short, broken. "My fiancée is missing."

"She chose to be involved," his grandmother replied calmly. "Some choices come with consequences."

Austin stared at her. "What does that mean?"

She stood. Smoothed her cardigan. "You're exhausted. You're imagining things where there are none." She is fine.

"Selene is not imagination," he said. "She's real. And she's in danger."

His grandmother held his gaze. "Go home, Austin."

Something cold settled in his gut.

She wasn't surprised.

Selene woke with a pounding head and ropes biting into her wrists.

The warehouse smelled like oil and saltwater. A foghorn sounded in the distance. She was near the docks-maybe Port Botany.

Diana crouched in front of her, her heels immaculate, expression almost kind.

"Do you know how your parents died?" Diana asked casually.

Selene was silent for a few minutes, then she muttered. "It was an accident." her gaze facing her feet 

Diana smiled. "That's what they told you."

Selene shook her head. "Yes."

"Oh Really?" Diana tilted her head. "Two men built a company together. Best friends. Big dreams. Bigger money." she continued 

Selene's breath caught. She looked up at Dianne.

"Your father wanted clean growth," Diana continued. "Austin's father wanted power. Offshore accounts. Arms routing through shell companies. Government contracts greased with bribes."

"That's not-"

"Your father threatened to expose everything," Diana said softly. "He walked away. He planned to start fresh, a clean start and a better family."

Selene's voice broke. "Stop."

"They staged the crash, Selene" Diana finished. "Weather reports were adjusted. They caused the brake failure, they planted the truck that hit them and that was it. Case closed."

Selene laughed weakly. "You expect me to believe this?"

Diana leaned closer. "Ask yourself why Austin's family never talks about that year."

Selene's heart pounded.

This wasn't proof.

But it wasn't nonsense either.

Across the city, Austin sat alone in his car overlooking the Harbour Bridge, staring at Selene's ring on the passenger seat.

For the first time, he wondered-

What else had his family hidden from him?

And why is Dianne so obsessed with Selene?

Selene woke to pain that wasn't sharp-but intentional.

Her wrists burned where the ropes dug into her skin, tightened just enough to remind her they were still there. Her throat felt dry, like it had been scraped raw from the inside. The concrete floor beneath her was cold and unforgiving, as though there was an inbuilt air conditioner in the ground, stealing warmth slowly.

She didn't scream when she opened her eyes. She just scanned the room.

Not because she wasn't afraid-but because she'd learned fear fed the people watching.

The air smelled stale. Time had lost its shape.

Three days.

That's how long it had been since she last drank water. Since hunger had turned from discomfort into something comforting -something that hollowed her out and made her limbs weak.

The door creaked open.

Footsteps entered the room.

Selene lifted her head with effort.

Diana stepped inside.

She looked flawless. Dark hair smooth, makeup untouched, heels clicking against the floor like this was her stage and Selene was just a prop placed badly. Two men followed her-broad chests, quiet, faces blank. Not bodyguards. Enforcers.

"Still breathing," Diana said, almost disappointed. "You're stronger than you look."

Selene swallowed painfully. "If you're going to kill me...just do it."

Diana laughed-a short, delighted sound. "Kill you? No. That would be merciful."

She walked closer, eyes sharp and glittering. "You see, Selene, I believe you know something."

Selene frowned weakly. "I don't know anything."

Diana tilted her head. "Your father did."

Selene's chest tightened. As she glared at her with pain in her eyes.

"Documents," Diana continued. "Evidence. Financial trails. He was very careful." She smiled. "Where did he hide them?"

Selene shook her head slowly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Diana's smile vanished.

She straightened and snapped her fingers once.

The next moment, pain exploded in Selene's stomach.

"AAHHN"

She cried out despite herself, body jerking forward as one of the men struck her hard. The air rushed from her lungs in a sharp, helpless gasp. Her vision blurred.

"Again," Diana said calmly.

Another punch.

Selene whimpered, folding inward, her body screaming in protest. Tears spilled freely now-not from weakness, but from the sheer shock of it.

"I don't know!" she cried. "Please-"

Diana crouched in front of her, eyes blazing. "You don't get to beg yet."

She stood and nodded.

The men stepped back.

Selene sagged in the chair, chest heaving, every breath painful. Her stomach throbbed, nausea rising. Blood streaming down her nostrils.

Diana watched her carefully. "Your father threatened powerful people," she said. "Men who don't forgive." Her lips curled. "He wasn't stupid enough to leave proof lying around."

Selene shook her head weakly. "He never told me anything I swear."

Diana sighed, annoyed. "Then we'll try something else."

One of the men returned holding a bucket.

Selene's eyes flicked to it, hope flashing for half a second.

Freezing Water.

The man lifted it-and dumped it over her head.

Cold water drenched her clothes, soaked her hair, and splashed across the floor. Selene gasped, shivering instantly, thirst burning worse than before.

Diana smiled. "See? I'm not heartless."

Selene's lips trembled. "You're cruel."

Diana leaned down, whispering, "Cruel is letting empires fall because of sentiment."

She turned and walked toward the door. "Think harder."

The lights went out.

The lock clicked.

Selene sobbed quietly in the dark, body shaking-not just from pain or cold, but from fear.

Because if Diana was right...

Her parents hadn't just died.

They'd been erased.

Hours later-or maybe days-Selene barely registered the sound of the door opening again.

Diana's voice floated toward her. "He's coming."

Selene lifted her head weakly. "Austin?"

"Yes," Diana said with satisfaction. "And he still believes in family."

Selene's heart ached painfully.

Diana stepped closer. "By the time he leaves here, that belief will be broken."

Across the city, Austin Blake stared at his phone screen.

A location glowed back at him.

"Port Botany."

One message beneath it.

"Come alone."

His chest tightened.

He grabbed his keys.

He didn't know what waited for him there.

He didn't know how much harm had already done to Selene.

But he knew one thing-

Selene was running out of time.