Inessa

6

INESSA

"It’s just a date. Please don’t say no." His voice was polite, but the edge of frustration and impatience didn’t go unnoticed. Five years together, and I had come to realize he was no longer the same sweet boy from high school. He had changed. That wasn’t the problem—people grow, mature—but the way he changed terrified me. His need for control had crept in slowly, subtly, until one day I realized I was suffocating. It had started with small things, things I brushed off, things that didn’t seem like a big deal at first. But over time, I saw the truth—I wasn’t his girlfriend. I was his possession.

"Dad will be home before eight. You have to understand, I can’t leave Aria alone."

"I’ll be gone for six months, Inessa. Can’t you spend just a few hours with me before I leave?" Six months. He was leaving for six whole months. I should have felt sad, maybe even a little empty, but instead, I felt relief. Maybe, just maybe, I could breathe again. Maybe, for six months, I could feel normal.

But I knew better than to say no.

"Okay. I’ll come."

I had been on dates with him before. It was always the same—a fancy restaurant, expensive gifts I never wanted, pastries for Aria that she refused to eat. Noah never took no for an answer.

After preparing dinner, I changed into a simple top and jeans, letting my hair fall loose.

"Please don’t be late this time, sis," Aria whispered, worry evident in her voice. "Dad gets angry when he comes home and you’re not here."

I sighed. She was right. But it wasn’t my fault. It was his.

"I promise I’ll be back early."

Sneaking out through the backstreet, I found him waiting in his car, just like always.

---

"Noah, what is this place?" I asked hesitantly as he pulled up in front of a tall building.

"It’s a surprise." He smiled, taking my hand and leading me inside. We stopped in front of door number seventy-eight. He pulled out a set of keys and unlocked it with ease.

The moment I stepped inside, my breath hitched. The apartment was beautiful, painted in soft blue. My gaze shifted to the walls, where pictures of us hung, frozen in time.

"You like it?"

"It’s... nice," I answered cautiously.

"I bought it for us."

My stomach dropped.

Us?

No. No, no, no.

I turned to face him, but something in his eyes made my body stiffen. There was an intensity there, something dark, something predatory. Then, before I could react, his hands gripped my waist.

Lust.

I saw it, felt it.

My pulse pounded. My mouth went dry.

"I love you," he whispered, and I cringed.

This wasn’t love.

"Noah, please stop."

My voice trembled. He was touching me—touching me in places he never had before. My limbs felt heavy, my body betraying me.

"No, please don’t. Noah, you promised we wouldn’t—"

"Inessa, you love me, and I love you. This is what people do when they’re in love." His hand slid under my top.

I tried to push him away. I fought, but he was stronger. His grip tightened as he pressed against me.

"Stop struggling," he growled, his breath hot against my skin.

I screamed, but the walls swallowed my voice.

I begged.

But he didn’t stop.

And just like that, everything was gone.

When it was over, I felt hollow. My body ached, my mind felt detached from reality. I stared at the ceiling, my vision blurred by tears.

"I’m sorry," he murmured, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "I couldn’t stop myself."

I turned my head away in disgust.

"I hate you."

His expression twisted. "No, you don’t. You can’t hate me. You love me."

"Leave me, Noah. We’re done. This is what you wanted all along, right? You got it. Now get out of my life."

His hand shot out, gripping my hair, forcing me to look at him.

"How dare you?" he hissed. "Say that again, and you’ll see what I’m capable of. You don’t want to see my bad side, do you?"

I shook my head, my entire body trembling.

"Good girl."

---

The shrill ringing of my phone jolted me awake. My heart pounded as I sat up, gasping for air. Sweat clung to my skin, my hands shaking as I reached for the phone.

Unknown Number.

I hesitated before answering. "Hello?"

A familiar voice filled my ears. "Miss Inessa?"

Mr. Rossi?

"Sir?" My voice was hoarse, thick with sleep and something else—something I didn’t want to name.

"I hope I’m not disturbing you," he said hesitantly.

I glanced at the time. 11:00 p.m. Definitely not the right time for a call.

"No, you’re not."

"I just called to give you the address for tomorrow."

"You could have messaged me," I pointed out, rubbing my temples.

"Oh... well... I thought calling would be better." He paused. "Okay then, good night."

The line went dead.

Strange.

I let out a shaky breath, gulped down a glass of water, and wiped the sweat from my forehead. As I lay back down, staring at the ceiling, the familiar, gut-wrenching regret crept in.

I regret choosing him. I regret loving him.

No matter how hard I tried to keep the past from haunting me, it always found a way back. But it was time to change that.

It was about time I took control of my life again.