I Won't Accept Any of Your Regrets

Chapter 3: Trapped by Fate.

The dim glow of the moonlight filtered through the curtains as Evelyn sat on the edge of her bed, her heart still racing from the chilling phone call with Nickolas. The threat in his voice was still vivid in her mind, a constant reminder that Nickolas would always be one step behind, no matter how far she ran.

But the fear wasn't the worst part. What terrified Evelyn the most was the part of her that understood Nickolas—understood why he was so obsessed with her. He had a dark intensity, a need to control, to own. It wasn't love; it was something far more dangerous.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for the glass of water on the nightstand. She had thought she had escaped this kind of life after her divorce from Juan Yihe. But now, it seemed like she had stepped out of one cage only to fall into another.

A soft knock on her door broke the silence of the night. Evelyn's body tensed. She stood up, every nerve in her body on edge.

"Evelyn, it's Dmitry," her brother's voice called from the other side. She exhaled, the tension in her muscles loosening slightly.

Opening the door, she found Dmitry standing there, his expression grim. "You need to leave tonight. Nickolas is here in Beijing."

Her blood ran cold. "Already?" she whispered.

Dmitry nodded, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "He's moving fast. He has resources everywhere and people who are loyal to him. If we stay any longer, he'll find you. We must get you somewhere even if we can't be traced."

Evelyn's mind raced. How could she keep running? How long could she hide before Nickolas finally caught up with her?

"I don't know how much longer I can do this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dmitry reached out, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You have us, Evelyn. Ning Wei and I will never let him take you."

But Evelyn knew her brothers couldn't shield her forever. Nickolas was ruthless and calculating, and if there was one thing she knew about him, it was that he always got what he wanted.

Meanwhile, across the city, Nickolas stood in the penthouse of a luxurious hotel, his eyes focused on the glittering skyline of Beijing. The soft glow of the city lights framed his dark silhouette.

He had waited long enough.

Evelyn had always been his. Ever since he saw that picture of her in the Maxwell mansion when they were children, he knew she was different. Beautiful, yes—but it was more than that. Evelyn was a mystery, an enigma. There was something so untouchable about her, something that made him crave her even more.

And now, she was within his reach. After years of watching her from the sidelines and letting her waste away in a loveless marriage, Nickolas was done being patient.

He would take her—whether she was ready or not.