Nowhere is Safe

The message on the mirror wasn’t her imagination. The fogged-up glass still carried the chilling words, taunting her.

"You look beautiful when you sleep."

Alina’s breath hitched. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the towel around her body, her damp hair sticking to her back. Someone had been inside the bathroom. Inside Aiden’s penthouse. Watching her.

Her heart pounded violently. Every cell in her body screamed at her to run, but her legs refused to move. The warm steam clung to her skin, but she felt ice-cold.

The bathroom light flickered once. Twice. Then, without warning—complete darkness.

A strangled gasp escaped her lips. She wasn’t alone. She could feel it. A presence. A weight in the air. The faintest shift, like someone breathing just behind her.

And then—a whisper.

"You can’t run from me, sweetheart."

Her body jerked as if electrocuted. The darkness pressed in from all sides. A shiver crawled down her spine, the hair on her arms standing on end. She forced herself to move, her hands fumbling blindly for the door. She yanked it open and ran.

Her bare feet slapped against the cold marble floor as she sprinted down the hallway. "Aiden!" Her voice came out strangled, desperate.

The moment she reached the living room, Aiden was there. His sharp blue eyes locked onto her with a mix of concern and danger. His entire posture went rigid when he saw the sheer panic on her face.

"What happened?" His voice was low, calm—too calm. The kind of calm that came before a storm.

Alina struggled to speak, her body still shaking. "H-He was here. Kai. He left a message. On the mirror."

Aiden’s eyes darkened instantly. Without another word, he stormed towards the bathroom, his movements controlled but lethal.

Alina followed him, her pulse hammering.

The lights flickered back on the moment he stepped inside. The steam had cleared.

And the mirror?

Completely clean.

No message. No proof. Nothing.

Alina’s stomach twisted violently. "I swear it was there, Aiden. I—"

Aiden’s jaw clenched. "Did you see him?"

"No, but I heard him," she whispered.

Aiden’s lips pressed into a thin line. His fingers curled into fists as he pulled out his phone. "I want security footage from the last hour. Now," he snapped at whoever was on the other end.

Alina stood frozen, a horrible realization sinking in.

Kai had been inside Aiden’s penthouse. Inside her bathroom. And yet, there was no sign of forced entry.

Which meant... he had access.

And worse?

He was toying with them.

Aiden ended the call and turned to her. "You're not leaving this penthouse alone. Not now. Not ever."

She swallowed hard. "Aiden, what does he want from me?"

His expression darkened. "Everything."

---

Across the city, in a dimly lit penthouse, Kai Reynolds leaned back in his chair, watching Alina through his private security feed.

The look of fear on her face made him smile. The way she clung to Aiden for safety—pathetic.

Did she really think Aiden could protect her? That this game was over?

He let out a slow breath, his fingers lazily tapping against the desk. "Not yet, sweetheart," he murmured to himself.

His phone buzzed. He answered without taking his eyes off the screen.

A deep voice spoke on the other end. "The car is ready. Just say the word."

Kai’s lips curled into a slow, predatory smirk.

"Do it."

He ended the call and watched as Aiden held Alina close, whispering reassurances in her ear. It was almost amusing.

Almost.

Because soon, Aiden wouldn’t be whispering reassurances.

He’d be screaming her name.

---

Two hours later, Aiden’s phone buzzed. He frowned at the unknown number before opening the message.

An image.

Alina’s car, parked outside, looking completely normal. Except—the brakes had been cut.

Aiden’s blood ran cold.

And then, another text.

"Tick, tock. Let’s see if you can save her in time."

Before he could react, Alina walked into the living room, holding her car keys.

"I need to go to work," she said casually.

Aiden’s heart nearly stopped.

No.

He moved instantly, snatching the keys from her hand.

"You’re not going anywhere," he said firmly.

Alina frowned. "Aiden, I have to—"

His grip tightened on the keys. "Someone tampered with your car, Alina."

Her face paled. "What?"

"If you had gotten in, you wouldn’t have made it to work alive."

Alina’s hands shook slightly. She looked at Aiden, searching his face for any sign that this was some kind of mistake. But his expression was unreadable—cold, furious, and terrifyingly serious.

Aiden took a slow, controlled breath, but his knuckles were white as he gripped the keys. Kai had crossed the line.

And now?

Aiden was done playing games.

That night, while Alina slept, Aiden stood near the window, staring into the city. His mind raced through every possible counterattack. He had underestimated Kai’s obsession, and that mistake could’ve cost Alina her life.

It wouldn’t happen again.

Because now, this wasn’t just a rivalry.

This was war.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***