It had been over two years since I gave birth to Ethan, and our life was quiet until one afternoon when everything changed. I was watching TV with Ethan playing by my feet when Rachel’s face appeared on the screen. She was standing next to Mr. Luca at a gala for the mansion’s charity, looking completely transformed. Her smile was wide, but her eyes were different, almost… content.
I froze, unable to process her glamorous appearance. This wasn’t the Rachel I remembered. I had always hoped she’d found a way out, a fresh start. But here she was, smiling and leaning against Luca’s side like she belonged there. She seemed happy, not at all like someone being forced.
I grabbed my phone, desperate to call her, to understand why she was back in that life. But as I dialed, I got a message saying her number was no longer in service. My heart sank. She was truly out of my life, swallowed by the very world she had promised to help me escape.
Just as I thought about packing to leave, there was a loud knock on the door. I froze, dread pooling in my stomach. Ethan looked up at me, his eyes wide and innocent. I forced a smile for him, took a shaky breath, and approached the door. Through the peephole, I could only make out a shadowy figure.
I opened the door a crack, but before I could react, a hand shot out, covering my eyes with a piece of cloth. A gloved hand muffled my scream. My heart pounded as the darkness closed in, and my legs went weak.
Rough hands grabbed me, forcing my arms behind my back and snapping on handcuffs that bit into my skin. I felt myself being dragged down a staircase, my steps echoing against the walls. The fabric over my eyes smelled sickly sweet, making my head spin.
I struggled, fear clouding my thoughts. Where was Ethan? What was happening? They threw me into a cold, empty room, shutting the door with a loud slam. I tugged at the blindfold, desperate to see, but it was tied too tightly.
“Ethan!” I screamed, my voice hoarse with terror. “Where is he? What have you done with my son?”
The silence was heavy, filled with an unsettling smell that made my skin crawl. I could hear the rush of my own heartbeat, but nothing else. Suddenly, footsteps clicked against the floor, stopping just in front of me. The air filled with the scent of expensive perfume.
The blindfold was yanked off, making my eyes water as I blinked against the harsh light. When my vision cleared, I saw Adrianne standing over me, a sneer twisting her features. Her gaze drifted over me, filled with disdain.
“Well, look who we have here,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “Emma, the runaway.”
Her words were sharp, and I felt them like a slap. I tried to stand, but the handcuffs kept me grounded. “Where is Ethan?” I demanded, trying to sound brave, though my voice trembled.
Adrianne’s smile grew colder. “Oh, don’t worry about him,” she said with a smug grin. “He’s safe… for now. But I’m not here to talk about him.” She crouched, her eyes glinting as she leaned closer. “I’m here to remind you of your place.”
Her words cut deep, filling me with a mix of anger and fear. “What do you want from me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
The door creaked open again, and the sound of high heels echoed. Rachel appeared in the doorway, looking stunning in a fitted dress and flawless makeup. She looked completely out of place in this grimy room, like a diamond in dirt.
“Rachel?” I whispered, barely able to believe it. “Please, tell me where Ethan is. I need to know he’s safe.”
But the Rachel I saw was different, colder. She crouched down, a cruel smile playing on her lips as she tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Oh, Emma,” she said softly, her voice laced with mock sweetness. “Still so naive.”
Her hand lingered on my cheek, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a glimpse of the old Rachel, my friend. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by something harsh and unrecognizable. “Did you really think I cared?” she sneered. “You were just… convenient. And when you became a problem, I had to cut you out.”
Her words hit me like a punch. Everything the friendship, the kindness, the promises to help had all been fake. My chest tightened as I fought to breathe. “Why?” I whispered, unable to hold back the hurt in my voice.
She laughed, a sound that felt like ice. “Because, Emma,” she said, her tone dripping with bitterness, “you started getting everything I wanted. The attention, the care… even a child. That was supposed to be mine.”
Her words cut deep, and I felt the weight of betrayal settle over me. Tears blurred my vision. “Please, Rachel,” I begged, my voice a broken whisper. “Just tell me where my son is. I’ll do anything.”
Rachel’s gaze hardened, any trace of kindness gone. “Oh, he’s safe,” she replied, her tone sharp. “For now. But make no mistake, Emma you’re alone. You always were.”
The tears spilled down my cheeks as the truth of her betrayal crushed me. The friendship, the late-night talks, the trust it had all been an act. She’d been pretending, hiding behind a mask to protect herself, and I had fallen for it completely.
Rachel stood, looking down at me with cold satisfaction. “You were just a pawn, Emma. A way for me to keep my place secure, to get closer to Luca. And when you got in the way, I made sure you were taken care of.”
I felt the walls close in around me. My only friend, my one hope, had betrayed me for her own gain. The room spun, and I felt my body slump against the wall, drained.
As Rachel walked away, leaving me chained and broken, I whispered one last plea, barely able to find my voice. “Please… don’t hurt him.”
She paused at the door, glancing back at me one final time. Her face was blank, her gaze hard. “Goodbye, Emma,” she said softly, then turned and disappeared, leaving me in silence.