Francis_Oluchi

Love. Devotion. Obsession. How far would you go to keep the one you love?

Ella Williams has spent her life surviving. Orphaned at five and raised by an abusive aunt, she clawed her way out of darkness, building a thriving business and a life of independence. But one thing has always remained just out of reach—Zack Sinclair, her best friend and secret love. He was the one person who made her feel safe, the one man she thought would eventually see her.

But he never did.

For years, she watched him cycle through women, never once realizing that she was right there, waiting. And just when she finally starts to let go, when she allows herself to look beyond him—she meets Leo Carter.

Leo is everything Zack isn’t. Steady. Devoted. A man who looks at Ella like she’s the only woman in the world. For the first time in her life, she feels wanted. Chosen. Loved.

And she will do anything to keep it that way.

But love, for Ella, isn’t just affection—it’s possession.

When Zack realizes his own feelings too late, when Leo’s mother and best friend disapprove, when old flames from his past try to return, Ella doesn’t see these as mere obstacles.

She sees threats.

And threats must be eliminated.

As her obsession grows, the line between love and madness blurs. She has fought too hard, suffered too much, to lose the only man who has ever made her feel whole. And if she has to manipulate, destroy, or even kill to keep Leo by her side, so be it.

Because in Ella’s mind, Leo isn’t just the love of her life.

He is hers. Forever.

But what happens when the perfect obsession turns into the perfect nightmare?

The Perfect Obsession

The weekend at the cabin had changed everything.

Leo wasn't just a man I loved. He was a man I needed. Every kiss, every whisper of my name, every touch that lingered long after he pulled away—it all made me crave him more.

And now, as we drove back to the city, I realized something dangerous.

As soon as we returned, reality rushed back in—uninvited, unwelcome.

Leo's phone buzzed with texts. His best friend, Jordan. His business partners. His mother.

I watched his expression tighten as he read a message, his jaw clenching.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice soft.

He sighed, rubbing his temple. "My mom wants to have dinner with me. She insisted."

I forced a smile. "I'm sure she means well."

Leo let out a humorless laugh. "You don't have to lie, Ella. We both know she hates you."

I shrugged, resting a hand on his thigh. "She'll come around. She loves you, and she'll see how happy I make you."

His lips quirked slightly as he glanced at me. "You really believe that?"

"I believe in us," I murmured, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

He exhaled, shaking his head with a small smile. "You always know what to say."

I smiled sweetly, but my mind was already working.

So I would have to make her irrelevant.

That night, as I sat curled up on Leo's couch, wearing one of his shirts, sipping wine, a knock echoed at the door.

Leo frowned, setting down his phone. "Expecting someone?"

When he opened the door, my stomach twisted.

His gaze landed on me first, my bare legs tucked beneath me, Leo's clothes on my body, and something in his expression darkened.

"I need to talk to you," Zack said to Leo, his voice flat.

Leo glanced back at me before sighing. "Alright. Come in."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as Zack stepped inside. His presence felt wrong here. This was our space—mine and Leo's.

I stayed silent as they talked, but I studied Zack carefully. His posture was stiff, his eyes guarded. He didn't trust me anymore.

"Just… be careful, man," Zack was saying. "That's all I'm saying."

Leo frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Zack hesitated, then shook his head. "Nothing. Forget it."

But I didn't miss the way his gaze flicked to me before he left.

He knew. He didn't have proof yet, but he knew I was dangerous.

I smiled to myself as Leo shut the door.

And soon, I would make sure the rest of the world knew it too.

Chapter Twelve: His World, My Rules