Episode 96

The sterile white walls of the safe house felt like a different kind of cage, but at least this one was of her own choosing. Elara traced the condensation on her water glass, the chill seeping into her fingertips mirroring the cold dread that still coiled in her stomach. Julian’s final words, twisted and venomous, replayed in her mind: "You think you can escape me, Elara? You are mine, and I will find you."

Liam sat across from her, his gaze steady, a silent anchor in the storm. He’d been a whirlwind of efficiency and quiet reassurance since their escape, orchestrating their movements with a precision that belied his earlier gentle demeanor. He’d secured this nondescript apartment on the other side of the city, a place so far removed from the gilded prison Julian had built that it felt like another planet.

“He won’t find us here,” Liam said, his voice low and steady, as if he could read the turmoil behind her eyes. “This place is off the grid. No one knows about it but me.”