All Chapters of Hidden Obsession : Chapter 11 - Chapter 14

Adrian woke the next morning with the uneasy weight of memory pressing against his ribs. He’d dreamt of Evan—too vividly. The scent of cedarwood clung to him like it had soaked into his sheets. The apartment felt smaller now, more like a cage than a home. Every creak of the walls made him wonder if Evan was there again, standing silently, watching. By nine, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He decided to work from the café down the street, somewhere with people, noise, and witnesses. He showered, dressed quickly, and left without breakfast, needing the fresh air more than food. The café was half-full, filled with the low hum of conversation and the hiss of the espresso machine. Adrian ordered a black coffee and set up his laptop in the corner. The normalcy was a balm—until he looked up. Evan was at the counter. It shouldn’t have been possible. Adrian hadn’t told anyone he was leaving. He hadn’t even followed his usual route here. But there Evan stood, dressed in a dark turtleneck an

Adrian barely slept.Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Evan standing in his office lobby, talking to the guard like he had every right to be there. He saw the bouquet of flowers on his desk, the curious glances of his coworkers. He heard Evan’s voice in the park, soft but unshakable. I see you. And sooner or later, you’ll see me too.By morning, Adrian’s head throbbed with exhaustion. He knew he couldn’t keep pretending nothing was wrong. If Evan had the audacity to show up at his workplace, there was no telling where he would appear next.He needed to draw a line. A real one.--The office buzzed with chatter that morning, but Adrian barely registered it. He kept his head down, answering emails, finishing reports, forcing his mind to focus. But when he reached for his coffee, he froze.A small folded note sat beside his cup.He hadn’t seen anyone place it there.His pulse quickened as he unfolded the paper.'You look tired. Don’t stay up so late thinking of me'.The handwriting w