CHAPTER 2

SKYLAR'S POV

The unsettling feeling of being watched had been creeping up on me immediately I left work and started walking home. And now, here he was, standing too close for comfort.

"I've been keeping an eye on you for some time," he said even as he stopped me in my tracks, his voice smooth but laced with an eerie undertone. "You're… interesting. I think we should get to know each other better."

I stood, soaked in fear, making my hands shake. "Please," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady, "just leave me alone."

He smirked, the look in his eyes chilling. "Oh, I don't think I can do that. Besides, you don't know how influential I am, I can have you disappear without a trace."

My pulse raced as his words sank in. Something wasn't right about him, and the more he spoke, the more I realized I needed to get out of this place.

"Look," he said casually, as though he hadn't just threatened me, "why don't we make things simple? Just be my woman, and I'll back off. Say no, and you'll see just how far I can go to make your life miserable."

I blinked at him, shocked. I had never met someone so audacious, so willing to use fear as a weapon. But I couldn't let him win.

Summoning every ounce of courage I had, I lifted my chin and looked him directly in the eyes.

"I would rather face anything than agree to that," I said firmly, though my heart was pounding.

His reaction was swift. His hand shot out and grabbed me by the neck, squeezing hard enough to make me gasp for breath.

The pressure choked me, and for a moment, all I could feel was his fingers digging into my skin, cutting off my air. My pulse roared in my ears, and my heart pounded wildly.

"You'll regret this," he hissed, his face close to mine, eyes flashing with fury. "Next time, I won't be so nice."

He released me suddenly, and I stumbled back, choking down air. My neck ached from his grip, but the disbelief hit me harder than the pain.

He turned and walked away, his footsteps heavy, leaving me there trembling but somehow still standing.

I rubbed my neck.

Shaking off the fear, I focused on making my way home, forcing myself to push this stranger actions off my mind from my mind. I had to be composed before I saw Mom. She didn't need to know what had just happened. I wasn't going to let him break me.

As I walked, the cool evening air helped calm my nerves. The hunger I hadn't felt ever since finally caught up with me, so I stopped at a small shop, grabbed a sandwich, and found a quiet corner to eat. The food grounded me, gave me the energy to shake off what had happened.

Once I felt ready, I hurried home, hoping for a peaceful evening. But the moment I stepped inside, I knew something was off. My uncle sat on the couch, his eyes flicking up from the newspaper he was reading and giving me this seductive look.

"Hey, sweetie," he said with a strange smile, "you're home."

"Yeah, where's Mom?" I asked, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in my stomach.

"She's not back yet," he said, his tone casual, but something about the way he spoke made me pause.

I frowned. "She's usually home by now."

He shrugged, putting down the paper. "Probably just running late. Don't worry about it."

I forced a smile, though his words didn't put me at ease. Feeling exhausted, I decided to take a shower, hoping the warm water would wash away the day's stress. As I let the steam surround me, I thought about everything that had happened. The encounter with the stalker, my uncle's strange behavior—it was all too much.

Once I was out of the shower, I slipped into some comfortable clothes and headed to the kitchen to make tea. The quiet was comforting. I wrapped my hands around the warm mug and allowed myself to relax, just for a moment.

But that moment didn't last long.

My uncle walked into the kitchen, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. He sat down beside me, too close, his presence unsettling.

"Everything alright?" I asked, keeping my voice light, though I felt tension growing in the room.

"I'm fine, sweetie," he said, his tone too soft. "You know… you could make me some dinner. I've been waiting for you."

I was taken aback. I'd just come back, exhausted, and he wanted me to cook for him? I bit my tongue, not wanting to start an argument. Begrudgingly, I stood up and started preparing Pasta and some scrambled eggs.

As I worked, I could feel his eyes on me. It made my skin crawl, but I tried to push the discomfort aside. When the food was ready, I handed him his plate, hoping that would be the end of it.

But after he finished eating, instead of leaving, he came up behind me as I washed the dishes. His arms went round my waist, and I froze.

"I've been thinking, Skylar," he whispered in my ear, his voice sending a shiver down my spine, "you and I… we could have something special."

I felt sick. I tried to pull away, but he held me firmly. "What are you doing?" I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You know what I want," he said softly, as if this was the most normal conversation in the world. "And I think you want it too."

"No," I said, my voice trembling. "Stop this."

But he didn't. His grip tightened, and he whispered in my ear again, "Don't fight it. I'll make sure no one finds out. Just relax."

I wanted to scream, but I was frozen.

"Please….stop!!!!"