Chapter 72: A Nightmare Awakens

The silence after I left Liam was deafening. I curled up on my bed, the soft sheets a poor substitute for the warmth of his embrace. The storm outside raged on, mirroring the tempest within me. Rain lashed against the windows, and thunder rumbled like an angry beast, echoing the hurt and confusion that clawed at my heart.I had bared my soul to Liam, confessed my love with a vulnerability that scared and exhilarated me. And his response? A hasty retreat, a cold shower, and an empty apartment.I tried to sleep, to escape the turmoil of my thoughts, but the events of the night replayed relentlessly in my mind. The playful banter, the accidental fall, the hungry look in Liam's eyes – had it all been a facade? Was I just another conquest, another fleeting amusement for the billionaire bachelor?Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the rain outside. I felt foolish, naive, and utterly heartbroken. I had allowed myself to believe in a future with Liam, a future where our differences faded away, replaced by the strength of our connection. But now, it seemed, that future was nothing more than a shattered dream.Finally, exhausted from crying, my eyes fluttered shut, and I drifted into an uneasy sleep. But the respite was short-lived. A sudden, insistent buzzing from the doorbell jolted me awake.Groggy and disoriented, I glanced at the clock – 2:30 AM. Who could possibly be calling at this hour? My heart pounded with a mix of fear and annoyance.The buzzing continued, relentless and demanding. I knew it could be Liam, come to apologize, to explain. But I wasn't ready to face him, not yet. Not while the hurt was still so raw, so fresh.I grabbed my phone and typed out a curt message:Go away, Liam.A near-instant reply flashed across the screen:What do you mean?It wasn't Liam.Panic seized me, a cold dread gripping my heart. Who was at my door in the middle of the night? I fumbled for my phone, dialing William's number with trembling fingers."William," I whispered, my voice choked with fear, "someone's at my door. Please come quickly."The buzzing turned into a persistent pounding, the sound of someone trying to force the lock. I scrambled out of bed, my bare feet hitting the cold floor, my mind racing. I had to hide, to find a place to escape the impending intrusion.Tears streaming down my face, I crawled under the bed, the flimsy frame offering little comfort against the growing terror. I prayed, begged for help to arrive, for this nightmare to end.Suddenly, a large hand reached under the bed, grabbing my ankle and pulling me out with a force that sent me sprawling onto the floor. A scream tore from my throat as a rough hand slapped me hard across the face, the impact sending shockwaves through my head.The masked figure loomed over me, their identity hidden behind a dark cloth. My voice caught in my throat, a choked sob escaping my lips as another slap landed, this one even harder than the first.The figure's weight pressed down on me, their hands tearing at my clothes, their touch rough and invasive. I struggled, my feeble attempts at resistance met with brute force. Tears blurred my vision, my screams turning into whimpers as I felt my strength draining away.I closed my eyes, surrendering to the despair, the terror consuming me whole. This was it, I thought, this was the end.Then, a loud thud echoed through the room, followed by a scuffle and a muffled groan. I opened my eyes, a flicker of hope igniting within me. Through the blur of tears, I saw a familiar figure wrestling with my attacker."Liam," I whispered, my voice barely audible, a prayer of gratitude escaping my lips.