Gabriel's Obsession

Escape

The day Amelia had long prayed for had finally arrived. Yet, instead of the overwhelming relief she had imagined, her heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and dread. Every moment leading up to this had been a careful performance—smiling at Gabriel when necessary, obeying without hesitation, playing the role of the docile, broken woman he believed her to be.

He hadn't suspected a thing.

For days, she had quietly prepared, ensuring that when the time came, she would be ready. A small bag hidden beneath the nursery crib held only the essentials—clothes, a few supplies for Rose and Luna, and a phone Adrian had given her two nights ago. That phone, now tucked into the folds of her dress, was her lifeline, its call the signal she had been waiting for.

Now, as the sun cast long shadows across the grand mansion, the moment was near.

Gabriel was gone.

Amelia sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers trembling slightly as they smoothed the fabric of her dress. This is it. There's no turning back.

Then, the phone vibrated.

She yanked it from her pocket, her heart slamming against her ribs as she answered.

"Come to the back garden," Adrian's voice instructed, low and urgent. "Make sure no one sees you. If anyone asks, tell them you're taking the babies for a stroll."

Amelia swallowed hard, nodding even though he couldn't see her. "Okay," she whispered.

Turning to the crib, she bent down and kissed her daughters gently, inhaling the scent of their soft, baby-fresh skin. "We're leaving, my loves. Today, we start over."

With deliberate movements, she tucked them snugly into the stroller, their tiny hands curled into peaceful fists. She took one last look around the room—her gilded prison. The walls had witnessed her pain, her suffering, and now, her escape.

With a deep breath, she pushed the stroller forward, each step calculated and measured.

The grand hallways stretched endlessly, but Amelia kept her focus ahead, refusing to let fear paralyze her. The exit was near. Just a few more steps.

Then—

"Hey, mistress, where do you think you're going?"

Amelia froze.

Paige.

The woman leaned lazily against the doorframe, a smirk curving her lips. Her tone dripped with condescension, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be locked up in your room, pining for my dear brother?"

Amelia forced a nervous laugh, gripping the stroller tighter. "Just taking the babies for some fresh air," she said lightly, keeping her tone even.

Paige arched an eyebrow but shrugged. "Whatever. Have fun playing house with your brats." She turned on her heel and walked away, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

A shaky exhale escaped Amelia. Too close.

Without wasting another second, she hurried toward the back garden.

The moment she stepped into the shadows of the garden, Adrian materialized from behind a hedge. His eyes, sharp and calculating, softened slightly when he saw her.

"You made it," he murmured.

She nodded. "Where do we go?"

He pointed toward a hidden pathway. "There's a back door on the left. A car is waiting for you. Get in, and don't look back."

Amelia hesitated. Her grip on the stroller tightened. "What about Jonathan?"

Adrian's jaw clenched. "I couldn't get him out," he admitted, frustration lacing his voice. "The basement is locked down tight. But Amelia—" His expression turned grim. "Do you know what's happening tonight?"