Chapter 2

Mackenzie seemed to have lost all reason while they were in the early stages of their relationship, willingly giving in to Caleb's demands. "Caleb says he's doing this for my own good. He just cares about me too much."

He claimed that having her report her whereabouts was for her safety. "Did you see that celebrity who got trafficked to Malgora? She only survived because she kept people updated on her location constantly, Mackenzie."

He didn't allow her to have male friends. "There's no such thing as a platonic friendship between a man and a woman. I'm able to do it, so you should be able to do it for me too, right, Mackenzie?"

He controlled her outfits. "You dress to please the person you love. Who else are you dressing up for if not me, Mackenzie?"

Caleb's steady stream of manipulative reasoning left Mackenzie firmly believing this was love.

They suddenly had a huge fight just because Mackenzie got her nails done. "Caleb says he can't stand manicures and prefers a natural look. He says that, much like getting a tattoo, having manicured nails is often branded as unconventional. He told me no man actually likes them."

Mackenzie cried bitterly. "It's the one thing I enjoy, yet he refuses to let me keep it. Who the hell does he think he is?"

In the end, a fight broke out between them, which soon escalated into a physical clash. It was entirely one-sided, with Mackenzie taking the full brunt of it.

I couldn't just stand by and watch Mackenzie sink further into this toxic relationship, so I spent a long time earnestly trying to talk sense into her.

Mackenzie had it all—a good career, looks, and a great figure—and had no shortage of suitors. Why stay fixated on one guy, especially one who was an unhinged control freak?

Mackenzie cried on the video call, looking as though she'd been deeply wronged. Her tears caught the light on her cheeks, giving her an even more fragile, defenseless look.

I couldn't tell if she'd actually listened to what I said, but I hoped she'd snap out of it before long.

That night, Mackenzie sent me a message. "Caleb apologized, so I've forgiven him."

She included a photo of a designer handbag with the message.

I suddenly felt like a fool again, as nothing had changed. Mackenzie's cycle of domestic violence kept repeating itself, matched only by her endless, predictable forgiveness.

Mackenzie finally had enough and brought up breaking up. That was when Caleb dropped all his pretense and laid it out directly. "You want out? You've got two choices—either I walk away from you, or you die in my hands!"

Mackenzie called me late one night. She lowered her voice as she told me that she had resigned and planned to return to her hometown that night. She had already packed her belongings and left home. She asked tremblingly, "Can you come see me off, Adeline? I'm really scared…"

I was stunned, but I still got dressed and went out to meet her. I waited with her on the curb for a rideshare once we met up.

"I'm so glad you're here with me, Adeline," Mackenzie murmured, gripping my arm tightly. She looked pale and exhausted, the bruises and injuries under her tinted sunglasses just barely visible.

Yet, before Mackenzie's ride could arrive, Caleb appeared. He walked out of the dark a little ways off, picking up speed as he got closer.

Mackenzie shrieked as soon as she made out who it was.

"W-What do you want from us?" I fixed my eyes on Caleb as he closed in, the knife in his hand glinting coldly. I forced myself to stay calm, scanning out of the corner of my eye for anyone nearby who could help.

It was around 3:00 am in the dead of winter, so there were only a few scattered cars passing through.

"Where are you two off to?" Caleb asked, his voice cold and menacing.

I grabbed Mackenzie's hand and swallowed hard as Caleb closed in on us. I glanced at a store down the street that still had its lights on, getting ready to make a run for it.

Just as everything hung in the balance, Mackenzie let go of my hand and ran straight to Caleb. "Adeline's the one who forced me to run away! You know how much I love you, Caleb! How could I ever leave you?"