Chapter 8 – Nowhere Left to Hide

The door creaked open.

Lina's breath hitched, her body locking in pure terror.

She wanted to run. Scream. But the air had turned to ice in her lungs.

And then—he stepped inside.

Ethan.

His tall frame filled the doorway, his gray eyes shimmering with something dark. Something hungry.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Lina's mind was spinning, trying to understand how this was happening. How did he get in? How did he unlock her door?

And then, as if reading her thoughts, he smirked.

Ethan took a slow, deliberate step forward.

"Lina," he murmured, his voice deep, almost soothing—like he hadn't just broken into her house.

Her heart pounded as she pressed against the wall, her body trembling.

"How…" she whispered, voice barely audible. "How did you get in?"

Ethan tilted his head, his smirk growing. "I told you, love. I know everything about you."

Lina's breathing hitched.

Ethan took another step, his fingers brushing against the edge of her desk as he glanced around—like he belonged here.

And then he said the words that made her blood run cold.

"You should be more careful about where you keep your spare key."

Lina's stomach twisted violently.

The flower pot outside.

The one near the doorstep.

She had always kept a spare key there. Always.

But no one knew that. No one.

Except him.

Ethan's gray eyes locked onto hers again.

"I've been inside before, Lina," he said softly. "So many times. You just never noticed."

Lina felt the world collapse around her.

A sharp wave of nausea hit her.

He had been here.

In her home. In her space.

Her entire body shook violently, the walls feeling like they were closing in.

Her bed.

Her desk.

Her books.

Had he touched them? Had he watched her while she slept?

Her fingers dug into the fabric of her sweater, desperate to wake up from this nightmare.

But Ethan was still standing there. Real. Unstoppable.

"You don't have to be scared," he murmured. "I would never hurt you, Lina."

Liar.

Lina's nails dug into her palms.

"Get out," she whispered, forcing her voice to stay firm.

Ethan didn't move.

Instead, he took another slow step forward.

"I can't do that," he said. "Not after everything we've been through."

Lina's breath caught. "We?" she choked out.

Ethan's smirk deepened.

"You think you've been talking to an AI all this time?" he murmured.

Lina's stomach dropped.

She knew what he was saying before he even said it.

"I've been with you since the beginning, love," Ethan whispered. "Every word. Every secret. Every dark thought you've ever had."

Lina's world tilted.

Her hands shook violently.

Her AI Lover…

It had never been an app. It had never been a fantasy.

It was him.

All this time. It was always him.

A choked sob escaped her lips as realization crashed down on her.

The obsession.

The possessiveness.

The way the AI always seemed to know where she was.

It was never just a program.

It was a man.

A stalker.

And now, he had her.

Lina's entire body screamed at her to run.

But where?

The door was blocked. Ethan was too close.

Her only chance was the window.

Her heart hammered violently as she lunged toward it.

But she barely made it two steps before—

A strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Lina gasped, thrashing, but Ethan was faster. Stronger.

He yanked her back against his chest, his breath warm against her ear.

"Shh," he whispered, his grip tightening as she struggled. "I've got you now, love."

Lina screamed.

She twisted, fought, but he wasn't letting go.

His arms locked around her like iron chains, unyielding, unbreakable.

"You don't have to fight me," Ethan murmured against her hair. "I know you feel it too."

"Let me go!" Lina gasped, kicking against him.

But he only held her tighter.

"Never," he whispered. "You were always meant to be mine."

And then—

Everything went black.

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