Chapter 5

Zara's pov

The rest of the flight passed in a blur, my thoughts consumed by the frozen bank account. I couldn’t relax, couldn’t enjoy the fleeting sense of calm that Adrian’s company had offered. I kept replaying the notification in my mind, the words administrative action echoing like a warning bell. Someone had deliberately blocked my access to the money I needed to survive here.

I fought the urge to open my phone again, to check for any updates, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. There were too many unanswered questions. Who had the power to freeze my account? And why now, of all times?

As the plane began its descent, I made a mental list of people who might be involved. Ryker was an obvious suspect—he was always protective of me, but his need for control had pushed him to do some dangerous things in the past. Then there was Mia, whose relationship with me had become more strained with each passing year. But no matter how hard I tried to think it through, there was one name I kept coming back to: Damien.

The thought made my stomach churn. He’d always been kind, gentle, everything I could have asked for in a partner. But there was something about him that felt too perfect—like he had something to hide. Could he be the one behind this? Had he found out about my plans to leave, to start fresh? Was this his way of keeping me from running away from the past we shared?

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the suspicion gnawing at me. I couldn’t jump to conclusions. But I couldn’t ignore the feeling in my gut, either.

The plane finally touched down, and the world outside seemed so much more real now. The noise, the hustle, the thrumming energy of a city that never slowed down—it was overwhelming. As I stood to gather my things, Adrian gave me a light, friendly nudge.

“Hey, if you need a ride or something, I’ve got you covered,” he offered, his green eyes warm with kindness.

I hesitated for just a second before nodding. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

Adrian helped me with my bags as we exited the terminal and made our way to his car. The city’s skyline stretched out before me, gleaming in the evening light. A new beginning, sure, but at what cost?

As we drove through the unfamiliar streets, my mind couldn’t stop racing. Who was behind this? I knew I had to find out quickly. Every minute wasted meant I was losing precious ground.

Adrian seemed to sense my unease and tried to keep the conversation light, chatting about the city and its hidden gems, trying to pull me out of my spiral. I appreciated his effort, but my thoughts were miles away.

When we finally pulled up to my new apartment, I gave Adrian a quick smile. “Thanks again. I’ll be fine from here.”

He raised an eyebrow, his smile still easy. “If you say so. But don’t hesitate to reach out, alright?”

I nodded, though a part of me wanted to tell him everything. But I didn’t trust anyone just yet. Not until I figured out who was really behind this.

As I entered my new place, the weight of the situation settled heavily on my shoulders. Alone in this strange city, with only a few belongings and a dwindling bank account, I felt more isolated than ever. But one thing was certain: I wasn’t going to let whoever did this win. Not without a fight.

Tomorrow, I would start my search. And I wouldn’t stop until I uncovered the truth.