Episode 4: THE MISSING MASSAGE

After being confined for several days, Nina finally managed to persuade the housemaid to lend her the phone for a moment, claiming she just wanted to check the time.

She sighed softly and said, "Can I just check the time for a moment? It feels like it’s gotten really late."

The housemaid glanced at her suspiciously but eventually nodded slowly.

"Just a moment, alright… and don’t do anything strange," the woman warned.

Nina took the phone with a small, forced smile. Deep inside, she knew this was her best chance.

Quickly, her fingers typed a message to her younger brother: “Don’t trust anyone. Find Dad’s files. They’re hiding something.”

Her hands trembled slightly as she typed. She glanced around, making sure no one was watching.

"Brother... please read this carefully..." she whispered softly.

Letter by letter, she pressed the keys with hope pounding in her chest. Her breath came fast, as if racing against time itself.

But just as she was about to hit ‘send’, the phone suddenly beeped—the message deleted itself and the screen went dark.

The sudden notification startled Nina.

“What? Why is the screen black?!” she almost cried out.

She tried to turn the screen back on, but it remained empty. The message she had just typed was gone without a trace.

Her face instantly drained of color.

Suddenly, Rayyan appeared behind her, calm and composed. “I’m impressed... but you’re too early to be clever,” he said softly.

His voice felt like a shadow creeping over her, freezing her in place. She slowly turned around, eyes wide with shock.

"Rayyan... I was just—"

“Just trying to play me?” Rayyan cut her off, a smile curling on his lips.

But it was no friendly smile—it was a cold, sinister grin.

Nina was startled—she hadn’t heard his footsteps enter the room—and now realized she had no privacy at all.

“How did you know I—”

“I know everything, Nina,” Rayyan answered curtly.

He stepped closer, the space between them shrinking.

Nina glanced nervously around, looking for cameras.

A chill ran down her spine.

Without anger, Rayyan took the phone and handed it back to the housemaid, his smile now full of mockery.

“Take it back. She doesn’t need this anymore.”

The housemaid lowered her head and silently took the phone.

Nina clenched the fabric of her shirt tightly.

“The phone’s been cloned since the day you arrived,” Rayyan whispered, standing dangerously close behind her.

His breath brushed her neck.

“Every letter you typed, I saw it.”

Nina spun around, trying to keep some distance.

“Why do this?”

“Because I can,” he replied shortly.

His breath grazed her neck—not harsh, but enough to raise the hairs on her arms and send a message of power.

Nina stepped back, uneasy.

“Rayyan... please, step away.”

“I didn’t touch you, did I?”

His tone was teasing, as if savoring her confusion.

Nina closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath.

Swallowing hard, she tried to stay calm despite her racing heart.

She looked down at the floor.

“I don’t like this game.”

Rayyan raised an eyebrow. “But you’re still playing.”

Her breaths grew heavier.

She knew she had to be strong—but somehow, it was difficult.

“I won’t touch you... but I’ll make sure you always feel my presence,” Rayyan whispered, half-joking.

Nina felt like she was being mocked in silence.

“Is that a threat?” she asked, trying to fight back.

“Not a threat. A promise.”

He smiled, unnervingly calm.

Nina took a step back, her hands trembling.

She turned sharply, eyes sharp, but Rayyan just shrugged and walked away.

“Think I’m afraid of your glare?” he sneered.

Nina bit her lip, angry but powerless.

All she could do was watch him retreat.

The door closed quietly behind him.

Silence wrapped the room again.

That night, Nina scribbled a small note and tried to hide it inside her clothes, but before she could sleep, the housemaid checked her outfit.

“What’s this?” the woman asked, pulling at the fabric.

“I... I just wrote a note,” Nina stammered.

“Check everything,” Rayyan’s voice came from outside.

The note was confiscated and read quietly.

Nina clenched her hands, feeling helpless.

She began to realize every move, every word, every blink was watched and recorded.

A small camera in the corner caught her attention.

The mirror that never fogged up was actually two-way glass.

“Am I a prisoner or some kind of lab experiment?” Nina whispered.

She threw a pillow at the camera, but there was no reaction.

Anger and fear twisted inside her.

Rayyan seemed to toy With time and pressure; he appeared whenever he wanted, without warning.

While Nina showered, the door suddenly knocked loudly.

While she slept, Rayyan’s voice came through the intercom.

“Nina, sleeping well?”

She never knew when it was safe.

Fear became part of her routine.

Sometimes, he invited her to play chess or eat together, pretending he wanted to “get to know her better.”

“One game. You versus me,” he proposed.

Nina just nodded, not wanting to argue.

“You’re good at strategy, but I like surprises better.”

Rayyan smiled while eating, but his eyes were sharp.

Nina knew it wasn’t just a casual activity.

During one dinner, Rayyan asked, “Have you ever thought... maybe you’re safer here than outside?”

Nina set down her spoon slowly.

“Safe? In a golden cage like this?”

“The outside world is cruel, Nina.”

“At least outside, I get to choose.”

Rayyan smiled but didn’t respond.

Nina answered coldly, “If this is safe, I’d rather live in danger.”

The table’s atmosphere tightened.

Rayyan chuckled softly, “You’ve got a bold mouth.”

Nina stared him down.

“I’m not your emotional slave.”

“But you’re still here,” he said quietly.

Rayyan’s only reaction was a low laugh, as if her words only fueled his twisted interest.

“I like women who know how to fight.”

He raised his glass and drank slowly.

“But I’ll make you choose to submit.”

Nina watched him silently.

The dinner felt like a silent battle.

Nina knew this wasn’t love or mere hate—it was a test of power, where she was just a puppet in a chaotic man’s game.

She began planning her moves in her mind.

“He’s just human. He has weaknesses too.”

Nina wrote down each of Rayyan’s behaviors.

She made sure she wouldn’t break.

“I will find a way out,” she whispered to herself.

Before the episode ended, Nina scribbled on the back of a tissue and hid it inside her shoe: “If I lose my voice, find my shoes.”

She chose a rarely worn pair, placing the note at the bottom.

The writing was small but clear.

“Please... whoever finds this...”

She folded the tissue carefully and slipped it inside.

It was her only tiny hope, if all else failed.

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