What am I gonna do?

The balcony overlooked an endless stretch of blue ocean, the waves glittering beneath the afternoon sun. White buildings climbed the distant hillsides, beautiful and unfamiliar, while warm foreign air brushed against Jean’s skin.

It should have felt peaceful.

Instead, she felt trapped.

Tyler’s arms remained wrapped around her waist from behind, his embrace disturbingly gentle... as though they were lovers sharing a quiet moment together instead of captor and prisoner.

His chin rested lightly on her shoulder while he admired the view with contentment.

"You like it?" He murmured softly. "I knew you would."

Jean’s fingers curled tightly around the balcony railing. She wanted to tear herself away from him. She wanted to scream but the memory of the syringe burning into her skin still lingered fresh in her mind.

No... Fighting recklessly wouldn’t save her.

Not anymore.

She had four days before he took her to that private island. Four days before she vanished from the world completely.

So instead of struggling, Jean forced herself to breathe slowly. Forced the tension from her shoulders little by little.

Immediately, Tyler noticed.

His hold loosened slightly, satisfaction flickering across his face. "See?" he whispered near her ear. "You’re calmer already. I knew bringing you away from all those toxic people was the right choice."

Jean nearly laughed at the insanity of it. Toxic people?

He had kidnapped her. Drugged her. Faked her death and somehow, in his mind, he was rescuing her.

Swallowing the disgust rising in her throat, she lowered her eyes and asked quietly, "You really planned all of this?"

Tyler smiled, completely charmed by her softer tone. "Every detail."

His hands slid from her waist to her arms, rubbing them affectionately. "I’ve spent years thinking about how our life would look once nobody could interfere anymore."

Jean’s stomach twisted painfully.

Still, she forced herself to ask the next question carefully. "And... we’re staying here?"

"For now." Tyler stepped beside her, leaning casually against the railing. "Only four more days. The island is still being prepared for your arrival." His eyes gleamed with excitement. "After that, we leave by yacht."

Jean kept her face still, but her heart skipped violently.

A yacht.

Not a flight. Not an airport.

That mattered.

She quietly stored the information away while Tyler continued speaking dreamily about beaches, privacy, sunsets, and their future together... as if he were discussing a honeymoon instead of lifelong captivity.

"You’ll love it there," he said. "No reporters. No family. No Logan."

At Logan’s name, something inside her cracked.

She quickly turned away before Tyler could notice the sudden tears filling her eyes. Was Logan searching for her right now? Or had he already been convinced she was dead?

Tyler noticed her silence and gently touched her cheek. "Hey..." His voice softened possessively. "None of that matters anymore. Your old life is over."

Jean forced herself not to flinch.

Then, slowly... carefully... she nodded.

The reaction transformed him instantly. Relief and triumph flashed across his face like he had finally won her over. He leaned down and kissed her forehead tenderly.

"That’s my girl."

Jean nearly broke right there but instead, she lowered her gaze and let him believe what he wanted because while Tyler stood there dreaming about forever... Jean was silently counting exits, cameras, guards, locks, distances.

Four days. Within four days I’ll have to escape anyhow.

She only needed one mistake from him and when he finally made it... she would escape.

Jean let her gaze wander across the massive villa, pretending awe while secretly memorizing every visible path. Marble floors. Open hallways. Cameras tucked discreetly into corners. At least two guards downstairs.

No obvious escape route yet.

She needed to move around more.

Carefully, Jean loosened her grip on the balcony railing and turned toward Tyler. Her voice came out softer this time, quieter.

"I’m hungry."

Tyler blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard by the request. For a moment, genuine relief crossed his face... as though her appetite somehow proved she was finally accepting this nightmare.

"Of course," he said quickly, almost eager. "Anything for you, darling. Tell me what you want and I’ll bring it here myself."

Jean’s heartbeat quickened.

No. Not here.

If he kept her confined to this room, she’d never understand the layout of the house. Never find weaknesses. Never escape.

She lowered her gaze shyly, playing into the fantasy he desperately wanted. "I’ll eat anything. Nothing fancy... just something filling." Then she glanced toward the distant grounds visible below. "This house looks really big."

Tyler smiled proudly. "It is."

Jean let curiosity soften her expression. "I saw a garden from the balcony..." She paused carefully before looking back at him. "Can we see it?"

Tyler’s expression shifted immediately with concern. "We can do that later. Aren’t you tired, dear? You’ve been through a lot. I don’t want you exhausting yourself."

Jean almost recoiled at the tenderness in his voice.

Instead, she stepped a little closer to him. Slowly. Delicately.

"This is a new journey for me..." she whispered. "With you."

Tyler’s eyes darkened instantly with emotion. The fuel of obsession in his eyes were evident.

Jean forced herself to continue, even though every word felt poisonous on her tongue.

"I want to explore every new thing... with you."

So I can find my way out and go back to Logan and to them who cares about her.

The thought screamed inside her head while she maintained the fragile smile on her face.

Tyler stared at her for several long seconds, clearly overwhelmed by what he believed was trust blooming between them. Then his lips curled upward slowly, triumphantly.

"That’s exactly what I wanted to hear."

He gently brushed her hair behind her ear before taking her hand possessively into his and placing a lingering kiss on the back of her hands.

"Alright," he murmured. "I’ll show you everything."

Jean swallowed hard as he led her toward the bedroom door and silently, carefully, she began counting steps.

I can do this... I can endure this for the last time.