The doctor stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression stern. "Ms. Guzman, I cannot discharge you. Your blood loss was significant, and your psychological evaluation-"

"I am signing myself out against medical advice," Adriana said, pulling the IV line out of her hand for the second time in this life. A small drop of blood welled up, but she ignored it, pressing a cotton ball to the spot. "Give me the forms."

"Adriana," Janna said, hovering by the bed. "Maybe you should stay one more night."

"No." Adriana swung her legs over the side of the bed. She was wearing the clothes Janna had brought her: simple black pants and a cashmere sweater. The collar of the sweater hid the bandages on her neck.

She stood up, her legs steady. The dizziness was there, but she pushed through it. She didn't have time to be weak.

She signed the forms with a flourish, ignoring the doctor's disapproving stare. She grabbed her bag and walked out of the room, her heels clicking on the linoleum.

The sunlight outside was blinding. It was a beautiful, crisp morning, the kind of day that felt like a fresh start. But all Adriana felt was the chill in the air.

"Where are we going?" Janna asked, following her to the curb.

"You're going home," Adriana said, pulling out her phone. "Remember what I said. Stay away from Troy."

"But what about you?" Janna grabbed her arm. "You can't just go back to the hotel. Everette is looking for you."

"I'm not going to the hotel," Adriana said. She opened the Uber app and typed in an address. "I'm going to Long Island."

Janna's eyes widened. "The Mills Estate? Are you insane?"

"Probably," Adriana said. A black SUV pulled up to the curb. The driver rolled down the window. "But I have to finish this."

She climbed into the back seat before Janna could argue. She closed the door, shutting out her friend's worried face.

The car pulled away from the hospital, merging onto the expressway. Adriana watched the city skyline give way to the leafy suburbs of Long Island. Her heart was beating fast, but her mind was clear.

Her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

Emergency trust liquidation authorized. Funds will be available within 24 hours. Awaiting your final instructions.

Five million dollars. Her grandmother had come through. It was her inheritance, the money that was supposed to be for her wedding. It was enough to start over. Enough to disappear.

The car turned onto the private road leading to the Mills Estate. The wrought-iron gates stood open, a silent invitation to the gilded cage. The house loomed at the end of the drive, a massive stone mansion that looked more like a museum than a home.

Adriana paid the driver and stepped out. The air smelled like cut grass and money. She walked up the steps to the front door.

The butler opened it before she could knock. His face was a perfect mask of professional calm, but his only sign of surprise was a fractional hesitation before he stepped back, his voice a low, even murmur. "Miss Guzman."

"Where is he?" Adriana asked, her voice leaving no room for small talk. "Where is Everette Mills?"

The butler hesitated. "Mr. Mills is in his study."

"Good," Adriana said. She didn't wait for an invitation. She stepped past him and walked into the grand foyer. Her heels echoed on the marble floor, a steady, rhythmic sound that matched her heartbeat.

She walked down the long hallway, her eyes straight ahead. She didn't look at the family portraits on the walls. She didn't look at the fresh flowers that cost more than most people's rent.

She was here for one reason. To burn the bridge to the ground.

She reached the study doors. They were heavy oak, carved with the Mills family crest. They were slightly ajar.

She raised her hand to push them open, but a voice from inside stopped her.

"You can't be serious, sir." It was Graham Fletcher, Everette's head of security. His voice was tight with panic.

Adriana froze, her hand hovering in the air. She leaned closer to the crack in the door.

Adriana held her breath, pressing her ear closer to the gap. The voices were clear, drifting out into the quiet hallway.

"Sir, this is career suicide." Graham's voice was strained, bordering on desperate. "You're talking about giving up your seat on the board. The Mills Corporation board. Your birthright."

A cold knot formed in Adriana's stomach. The board seat. In the other timeline, Everette had fought tooth and nail for that seat. He had sacrificed his marriage, his family, everything to keep it. And now he was just giving it up?

"It's done, Graham." Everette's voice was flat, but there was an edge to it. A weariness that sounded almost like defeat. "I've made my decision."

"Sir, please." That was K. Stone, his assistant. "This isn't just about the seat. If you step down now, the other directors will move in. Everything we've built for the last five years will be gone. You'll be out."

"Then let them have it," Everette snapped.

Adriana's jaw dropped. Let them have it? This wasn't the Everette Mills she knew. The man she knew would rather die than let go of power.

"Why?" Graham asked, echoing her thoughts. "Why are you doing this? It makes no sense. Is it because of the girl? Because of what happened at the hotel?"

The girl. That was her. They were talking about her.

There was a long silence. Adriana could almost picture Everette standing behind his desk, his jaw clenched, his eyes dark.

"Because I have to," Everette finally said, his voice low and rough. "Because if I don't, I lose everything that matters."

"That's not an answer," Graham pushed. "This is irrational. You're acting out of fear."

"Fear?" Everette let out a bitter laugh. "You have no idea what fear is, Graham. Now get out. Both of you."

Footsteps. Adriana jumped back, pressing herself into the alcove behind a large statue. The door swung open, and Graham and K. Stone walked out. Their faces were pale, their expressions shell-shocked.

They walked down the hall, their voices low but still audible.

"He's lost his mind," Graham muttered. "He hasn't been right since he came back from that hotel. Now he's throwing it all away for her."

"I've never seen him like this," K. Stone replied, shaking his head. "He's terrified. I've seen him face down hostile takeovers without blinking, but this... he looks like a man staring at the end of the world."

They turned the corner and disappeared.

Adriana stepped out of the shadows, her mind racing. Terrified? Everette was terrified? Of what? Losing her?

No. That couldn't be it. The Everette she knew didn't care about her. He had proven that in the woods. This had to be a trick. Some kind of elaborate manipulation to make her feel guilty, to make her think he was sacrificing something for her so she would stay.

It was a trap. A new, twisted version of the same game.

Well, she wasn't falling for it.

She straightened her sweater, lifted her chin, and walked to the door. She pushed it open wide. It hit the wall with a bang.

Everette was standing by the window, his back to the door. At the sound, he spun around. His eyes were red-rimmed, his tie loosened, his hair disheveled. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.

Their eyes met. The shock on his face was real, quickly replaced by something intense and unreadable.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

Adriana walked into the room, letting the door swing shut behind her. "I heard."

Everette's face hardened. "Heard what?"

"Don't play dumb with me," Adriana said, stopping a few feet away from his desk. She kept her distance, her body tense, ready to run. "I heard you're giving up your board seat. Because of me."

Everette stared at her, his jaw working. "It's not because of you. It's-"

"Stop," she cut him off. She reached into her bag and pulled out the folded document she had printed at the hospital. She threw it onto the desk. It slid across the polished wood, stopping right in front of him. "I'm not here to apologize. I'm here to end this."

Everette didn't even glance at the paper. His eyes were glued to her face. "What is that?"

"Divorce papers," Adriana said clearly. "I signed them. I don't want your money. I don't want your house. I don't want anything from you. I just want to disappear."

The word hung in the air. Disappear.

Everette flinched like he had been slapped. The color drained from his face, and his hands balled into fists at his sides. His breathing changed, becoming rapid and shallow.

"Disappear," he repeated, the word sounding like a curse. "You want to disappear."

"Yes," Adriana said, taking a step back. The look in his eyes was scaring her, but she held her ground. "I'm leaving, Everette. You don't have to play the martyr. You can keep your board seat. I won't be a problem anymore."

"You think this is a game?" he roared, suddenly moving. He crossed the distance between them in two long strides.

Adriana gasped, stumbling backward, but she wasn't fast enough. His hand shot out, wrapping around her wrist like a vise. His grip was bruising, his fingers digging into her skin.

"Let go of me!" she cried out, trying to yank her arm away.

"No." He yanked her forward, pulling her flush against his chest. His other arm wrapped around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides. He held her tight, his heart pounding so hard against her chest she could feel it.

"You are not going anywhere," he said, his voice a harsh whisper against her hair. "You are not leaving this house. You are not disappearing. I won't let you."

Panic exploded in Adriana's chest. The smell of his cologne, the heat of his body-it was suffocating. It was the cage closing in again.

"Are you crazy?" she screamed, thrashing against him. She kicked his shin, clawed at his arms, but he didn't budge. He just held on tighter, a man drowning, clinging to the only thing keeping him afloat.

"I won't let you hurt yourself again," he said, his voice cracking. "I won't let you die. Do you hear me? I won't!"

"I'm not trying to die!" she yelled, her voice breaking. "I'm trying to get away from you! You're the one killing me!"

He ignored her. He lifted her off her feet, ignoring her fists beating against his shoulders. He carried her across the study to the small sitting area and dropped her onto the sofa.

Before she could scramble up, he turned and walked back to the door. He stepped out, spoke to someone in the hall, and then came back in.

He closed the door. And then, he turned the lock.

The click of the latch was like a gunshot.

Adriana froze, staring at the locked door. "What are you doing?"

Everette leaned back against the door, his chest heaving, his eyes wild. "I'm keeping you alive. Even if you hate me for it."