Mia barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, Elise's voice returned like a whisper she couldn't escape.
He destroys everything he loves.
By morning, the fear had settled deep in her chest.
She stood by her kitchen window, holding a mug of untouched coffee, staring at the grey sky outside. The city felt heavy today—quiet in a way that made her uneasy.
A knock sounded at the door.
Her heart jumped.
She already knew it was him.
Mia took a slow breath and opened the door.
Adrian stood there, his expression serious, his eyes dark with something she couldn't quite read.
"Good morning," he said softly.
"It doesn't feel like one," Mia replied, stepping aside to let him in.
The door closed behind him with a quiet click that felt louder than it should have.
They stood facing each other in silence.
Neither of them knew where to begin.
Finally, Mia broke it.
"I saw her," she said.
Adrian stiffened. "Elise?"
"Yes."
His jaw tightened. "Did she threaten you?"
"No," Mia replied. "She warned me."
Adrian exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair. "I was afraid of that."
Mia crossed her arms, steadying herself. "I need the truth. Not pieces. Not 'soon'. Now."
Adrian looked at her for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
"You're right," he said quietly. "You deserve to know."
⸻
The Past
They sat on opposite ends of the couch.
The distance between them felt wider than the room itself.
"I didn't always own lounges and businesses," Adrian began. "That's just the clean part of my life."
Mia listened, her heart pounding.
"Before that, I worked for people who dealt in influence," he continued. "Power. Money. Control."
Mia frowned. "That sounds dangerous."
"It was," he said. "And it still is."
He looked at her now, his eyes steady.
"Elise and I were partners. Not just romantically. Professionally."
Mia's chest tightened.
"She helped build everything I have," Adrian went on. "But the cost was... high."
"How high?" Mia asked softly.
Adrian swallowed. "I became someone I hated."
Silence fell.
Mia could hear her own heartbeat.
"What changed?" she asked.
Adrian's eyes lifted to hers.
"You," he said simply.
Mia blinked. "Me?"
"Meeting you made me realize how empty my life was," he said. "You reminded me that there's more than survival. More than power."
Mia felt tears sting her eyes.
"So why doesn't Elise let go?" she asked.
Adrian's voice hardened. "Because if I walk away, everything we built collapses. And she loses control."
Mia leaned back, overwhelmed.
"And you?" she asked. "What do you lose?"
Adrian didn't hesitate. "Everything I used to be."
⸻
The Choice
Mia stood up and walked to the window.
She needed space to think.
"So Elise is right," she said quietly. "Being with me puts me in danger."
Adrian stood as well, moving closer but stopping short of touching her.
"Yes," he admitted. "But walking away from you would destroy me."
Mia turned to face him.
"That's not fair," she whispered.
"I know," he said. "And I hate myself for it."
She looked into his eyes and saw something raw there—fear, regret, love.
"You should've stayed away from me," she said.
"I tried," Adrian replied. "I failed."
Tears slipped down Mia's cheeks.
"I don't want to be strong all the time," she said. "I don't want to fight just to love someone."
Adrian reached out, hesitating before gently taking her hands.
"You don't have to fight alone," he said.
Mia let out a shaky laugh. "That's easy for you to say."
Adrian stepped closer, his voice low. "Then let me prove it."
She looked at him, searching for certainty.
"What are you choosing?" she asked.
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"You," he said. "Even if it costs me everything."
Her breath caught.
"That's a big promise," she whispered.
"I know."
Mia closed her eyes.
This was the moment Elise had warned her about.
The moment love demanded a price.
⸻
The Interruption
Suddenly, Mia's phone rang.
She pulled away from Adrian and looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Her stomach twisted.
She answered.
"Hello?"
Elise's voice came through, calm and sharp.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," Elise said. "But things just accelerated."
Mia's heart pounded. "What do you want?"
"To give you a choice," Elise replied. "Because Adrian won't."
Adrian's eyes narrowed as Mia put the call on speaker.
"Elise," he said coldly. "This ends now."
Elise laughed softly. "It ends tonight."
Mia's breath caught. "What do you mean?"
Elise's tone turned serious. "Walk away from him by midnight, and you stay safe."
Adrian stepped forward. "Don't listen to her."
Mia felt trapped.
"And if I don't?" Mia asked.
There was a pause.
Then Elise said, "Then you learn what loving Adrian really costs."
The call ended.
Silence filled the room.
Mia felt dizzy.
Adrian reached for her. "Mia—"
She stepped back.
"I need time," she said. "I need to think."
Adrian nodded slowly, pain flashing across his face. "I'll give you that."
Mia looked at him one last time.
"I wish loving you didn't feel like a war," she whispered.
Adrian's voice broke. "Me too."
⸻
The Decision Ahead
That night, Mia sat alone in her apartment, lights off, city glowing outside her window.
Midnight was coming.
She thought of Adrian's smile.
His warmth.
The way he held her like she mattered.
She thought of Elise's warning.
Of danger.
Of loss.
Her phone buzzed.
Adrian:
No matter what you choose, I love you.
Mia closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face.
She didn't know yet what she would choose.
But she knew one thing—
By morning, nothing would ever be the same.