Prologue

“Let go of me, please!”

Despite her dizziness and weakness, Arwena fought desperately against the man dragging her out of the bar. She kicked and shoved him, doing everything she could to break free, but he wouldn't let go. His grip tightened as he forced her toward the car.

“Stop fighting if you don't want to get hurt,” he warned sharply.

He grabbed her by the arms and forced her to face him, his gaze cold and threatening.

Arwena's cries faltered for a moment. Her breathing grew ragged as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her heart pounded so hard that she could barely think straight.

Without warning, he shoved her against the hood of a car. She gasped as the cold metal pressed against her back, leaving her momentarily breathless.

“Please, let me go,” she begged, her voice trembling. She pushed weakly against his chest, turning her face away as he loomed over her.

“Stop pretending you're innocent,” he sneered. 

Arwena's stomach churned at his words. Disgust washed over her as he moved even closer.

“I don't want this!” she screamed, struggling against his hold. But her strength was fading, and she could barely keep fighting.

“You don't want this?” he mocked. “Then maybe you shouldn't have drawn so much attention to yourself.”

He leaned closer, making her skin crawl.

“Please, no! Arwena cried, using what little strength she had left to push him away. Her efforts did nothing to stop him. If anything, they only seemed to make him angrier.

“Stop fighting,” he growled. “This won't take long.”

He leaned in, ignoring her desperate protests.

Arwena's strength finally gave out. Her whole body trembled as fear and helplessness overwhelmed her. Her desperate cries dwindled to faint whimpers.

As he continued to overpower her, her mind drifted back to the reason she'd come to the bar in the first place. She had wanted to forget everything, to drown her sorrows in alcohol and silence the pain, even for just one night.

But Jake's cruel words continued to haunt her.

“It's your fault, Arwena. You pushed me to find someone else. I have needs you refused to meet.”

The words echoed in her mind, bringing back the questions she'd been trying so hard to escape.

Was it really her fault? Had she pushed him away? Would he have stayed faithful if she'd done things differently?

---

Flashback

“Why her, Jake?” Arwena asked through her tears.

She turned to Farah, the woman she'd once considered her closest friend.

“Why, Farah? You were my best friend, practically my sister. How could you do this to me?”

Farah's response was cold and unapologetic.

“Don't blame me, Arwena. If you'd been a better partner, Jake wouldn't have looked elsewhere.”

Arwena turned back to Jake, her heart breaking.

“I thought you loved me,” she whispered.

“I did,” Jake replied coldly. “But loving you became boring. You're suffocating, Arwena. Why should I wait when someone else is willing to give me everything I want?”

End of Flashback

Rage burned inside her, directed at Jake, at Farah, and even at herself for ever believing their betrayal was somehow her fault.

“Let go of me!” she screamed again, summoning the last of her strength to push him away.

“Shut up!” he snapped, raising his hand as if to strike her.

Before he could bring it down, he let out a sharp cry of pain.

Arwena opened her eyes, dazed and disoriented. The man was no longer holding her. He lay sprawled on the ground in front of the car, groaning in pain.

Another man stood over him, his fists clenched. In the glare of the headlights, Arwena watched as he delivered another swift punch to her attacker.

“Don't move unless you want to lose consciousness,” the newcomer warned, his voice cold and commanding.

Arwena's legs gave out, and she sank to the ground. She covered her face with trembling hands, trying to shut out the chaos around her. Her entire body shook as tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

“Mr. Tan... what happened here?” a voice called out.

“Where the hell were you?” Tandre demanded.

“Sorry, Mr. Tandre. I had to use the restroom,” his assistant replied, glancing at Arwena before looking at the man lying on the ground.

“Take him straight to the authorities,” Tandre ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Arwena heard their conversation, but she was too shaken to speak. She sat motionless, staring at the man who had saved her.

“Miss, it's okay. You're safe now,” Tandre said gently as he knelt beside her.

His voice was calm and steady, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.

He reached toward her, then paused, giving her space.

“It's all right. He can't hurt you anymore.”

Arwena slowly turned toward him and lifted her head. When their eyes met, she found herself holding his gaze despite the tears blurring her vision. The fear and pain didn't disappear, but for the first time that night, she felt a little less alone.

“Come with me,” he said softly. “I'll get you out of here. You don't have to stay in this place anymore.”