Adeline's morning started like any other—peaceful, focused, and dedicated to ticking off her tasks. The day at work felt like another routine, until she stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby.
Luke was there. Leaning casually against the reception counter, a smirk on his lips as though he owned the building. The moment his eyes locked onto hers, cold and predatory, something in her gut tightened.
She halted mid-step, a chill running up her spine. Time hadn't been kind to him. His features had sharpened, his arrogance had grown, and there was an unsettling edge to his smile—something darker, something colder.
Luke (smiling, voice dripping with sarcasm):"Well, well, if it isn't the woman of the hour. Back from your little vacation?"
Adeline didn't flinch, though the cutting tone in his voice scraped against her nerves. She forced a smile, her eyes narrowing as she suppressed the unease coiling inside her.
Adeline (coldly):"Not a vacation. A business trip. And thank you for showing up without any prior notice."
Luke pushed off from the desk, his steps slow and deliberate as he moved toward her. The air seemed to thicken, the space between them charged. His eyes flashed with something too calculating to be dismissed.
Luke (scoffing):"Right, business trip. How's it, huh? You managing without your little family to fall back on?"
Adeline's jaw tightened. The words stung more than she cared to admit. She'd worked so hard to break free from him, from the toxic world he represented, but the familiarity of his cruelty still had a way of getting under her skin.
Adeline (with forced calm):"Why are you here, Luke?"
He laughed, his shadow looming over her as he stepped closer, prodding her space with deliberate intent, as though testing her limits.
Luke (smiling, voice low):"I'm just here to see how the prodigal daughter's doing. I'm sure your new fancy job at Waylen is keeping you busy, but I see you haven't really moved on from the past."
The anger in her chest flared, but Adeline swallowed it down, pushing it to the back of her mind. He didn't deserve to see her lose her composure. Not now, not ever.
Adeline (coldly):"I've gotten by just fine. Something you might want to consider doing too."
Luke took another step closer, his proximity almost suffocating, and his voice dropped lower, more taunting.
Luke (voice simmering with malice):"You know, Adeline, I always thought you were the smart one. But now I see you're just hiding away in this little corner of the world you created. You think it's enough? Do you think you've really escaped it all?"
Her heart pounded as his words hit too close to a place she'd buried deep within. He had always known how to twist the knife, to make her feel small, make her feel like that helpless girl she once was.
Adeline (sharply, her voice steady but her eyes cold):"I'm not hiding from anything. And I'm certainly not hiding from you."
Luke's laugh was harsh, bitter, and full of spite. He closed the gap between them, his form towering as he leaned in, his words laced with venom.
Luke:"Don't kid yourself, Adeline. You think you've left behind the life I gave you? The life we gave you? You'll never be free of it. Not truly. No matter how far you run."
The anger, the frustration, everything she had fought so hard to bury surged within her, but she pushed it down. She had learned to control herself, to keep the past from swallowing her whole. But this moment, this conversation—it was different. It always was with him.
Adeline (firmly, unwavering):"I'm through with you, Luke. Whatever delusion you have about me crawling back into your life—it's never going to happen. Ever."
For a moment, his face flickered, a crack in his confident sneer that revealed something else—something far darker. His fists clenched at his sides, his gaze flashing with fury.
Luke (gritting his teeth):"Fine. Play the victim. Do it your way. But I know you, Adeline. You'll never escape us completely."
Her breath caught in her throat, but she didn't back down. She stood tall, her posture rigid, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't let him see the wound he had just reopened.
Adeline (coldly):"I don't need you. And I don't need your threats."
Luke's eyes darkened, the tension in his body palpable as if he were about to lash out. But then, just as quickly, it was gone. His sneer returned, his composure reasserted, and with a final dismissive glance, he backed away.
Luke (scoffing):"Okay, princess. Have your little existence while you can. But don't fool yourself—you haven't won."
Without another word, he turned on his heel, his footsteps echoing sharply as he strode down the hallway, disappearing around the corner.
Adeline stood frozen, her body rigid with suppressed emotion. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her breath shaky from the confrontation. She wasn't the person she used to be, not the girl who had let Luke manipulate and control her, but there were times—like this—that the past had a way of crashing back into her life, uninvited and unwanted.
As the last of the tension bled out of the air, a surge of resolve filled her. No matter how many times Luke tried to worm his way back into her life, she wouldn't let him win. Not now. Not ever.
She inhaled deeply, releasing the lingering weight of his presence, and walked toward her office. The nagging question remained at the back of her mind—what was Luke really plotting? How long before his games would catch up with her again?
But for now, she wasn't going to let it distract her. Not today.