Chapter 2 - The Man in the Black SUVThe black SUV followed Emma's car for twelve blocks.
Not closely.
Never close enough to be noticed.
The driver kept several vehicles between them, moving through traffic like a shadow.
Inside Emma's car, she sat silently with her forehead against the window.
The city blurred around her.
She had imagined leaving Adrian dozens of times.
In those fantasies, she had always screamed.
She had always thrown something.
She had always demanded answers.
Reality was different.
Reality was quiet.
Too quiet.
Her phone vibrated.
Adrian.
Emma stared at his name.
Declined.
Another call.
Declined.
A message appeared.
Please come back. We need to talk.
Emma deleted it.
Then another message.
Emma, I'm serious.
She locked her phone.
The driver looked at her.
"Are you sure about the destination?"
"Yes."
He nodded.
Emma had not told anyone where she was going.
Not her father.
Not her sister.
Not even her closest friend.
She had booked a small private apartment under a different name three days earlier.
Because somewhere deep inside, she had known tonight was coming.
The driver turned onto a quieter road.
Behind them, the black SUV followed.
Inside it, the man checked the time.
Then he called someone.
"She has left the city center."
"Is she alone?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Should I continue?"
A pause.
"No."
The man frowned.
"Why?"
"Because she already has what we need."
The call ended.
Meanwhile, Emma arrived at the apartment.
It was small and ordinary.
Nothing like Adrian's mansion.
She loved it immediately.
There were no crystal chandeliers.
No reporters.
No people pretending to adore her.
Just quiet walls and a small kitchen.
Emma shut the door.
Then she slid down against it.
For the first time that night, she cried.
Not loudly.
Just silent tears soaking into the sleeve of her gown.
Her hand moved to her stomach.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
She didn't know whether she was apologizing to the baby or herself.
Maybe both.
She stood and placed the ultrasound image on the kitchen table.
The tiny black-and-white picture looked almost meaningless.
But Emma could see everything in it.
A future.
A reason to survive.
She poured herself water.
Her phone vibrated again.
This time, it wasn't Adrian.
Unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
"You shouldn't have left."
Emma froze.
"Who is this?"
"You don't know me."
"Then why are you calling?"
"Because you know Adrian doesn't love Vivian."
Emma's heart pounded.
"What?"
"He never wanted to marry her."
"Who are you?"
The stranger continued.
"He was forced to."
Emma gripped the counter.
"Forced by who?"
Silence.
Then:
"Your father."
The line went dead.
Emma stared at the phone.
Her father's name suddenly seemed to echo inside the apartment.
William Carter.
A respected businessman.
A loving father.
A man who had encouraged Emma's relationship with Adrian from the beginning.
A man who had repeatedly told her, The Blake family is the safest place for you.
Emma's phone rang again.
This time, it was her father.
She almost didn't answer.
Then she did.
"Dad?"
His voice was unusually tense.
"Where are you?"
"Why?"
"Because Adrian just called me."
Emma's stomach tightened.
"What did he say?"
"He said you left the engagement party."
"I did."
Her father exhaled.
"Emma, listen to me carefully."
"What?"
"Do not go home."
She stopped breathing.
"Why?"
Her father's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because they're looking for you."
Emma looked toward the window.
Outside, a car slowed near the building.
Black SUV.
The same one.
Her father's voice trembled.
"And whatever happens, don't trust Adrian."
Emma swallowed.
"Why?"
There was a long silence.
Then her father said:
"Because July 14th wasn't the first time he lied to you."
Emma's blood ran cold.
"What happened on July 14th?"
The line went silent.
Then came the sound of something crashing.
"Dad?"
A man's voice shouted in the background.
Her father gasped.
Then the call ended.
Emma stood frozen.
A second later, someone knocked on her apartment door.
Three slow knocks.
Emma's eyes widened.
Another three knocks.
Then a familiar voice came from the hallway.
"Emma."
Adrian.
"It's me."
Emma backed away from the door.
May you like
And for the first time that night, she realized something much worse than being betrayed.
She realized she had been running from the wrong person.
