Alex's P.O.V.

I feel so frustrated and angry, imagining what Stella might be doing with Jade on their trip. The thought of them lying naked in each other's arms drives me insane. I fucking want Stella to be mine. I want to kiss her, to feel every inch of her body, to hear her soft moans. I fucking want to do everything with her.

But it's not possible. She can never be mine. She's my stepsister, and she has a boyfriend.

Why does she have a boyfriend?

Yesterday, I wanted to stop her—kidnap her, even—and not let her leave to meet her boyfriend. Only I know how hard it was to control myself.

I know I have no right to feel this way about her because I have no claim over Stella, but I can't stop myself from feeling possessive.

Why can't I have her?

God, stop it, Alex. Just stop thinking about her. She's messing with your mind.

I want to take that man's life with my own fucking hands, but I can't—he's her boyfriend, and I'm nothing to her. A few days ago, I was her enemy, and even now, she doesn't see me as anything.

We were perfect together two days ago; she had so much fun with me. The way she smiled at me, her dimple face, her golden eyes—everything seemed perfect and surreal. But then, her boyfriend called, and everything changed. I realised I mean nothing to the woman who has melted my heart.

She is in love with someone else and I can never have her. It hurts so much that I can't explain it in words.

At the gym, I punch the bag, trying to take out all my frustrations, but it's not helping at all. It's driving me insane imagining Stella with someone else.

Fuck! I've never felt this helpless in my life before.

I press my forehead against the punching bag, panting from the relentless punches, but I'm still frustrated.

I shove the bag and head to my room.

***

After the shower, as I leave my room, I see Olivia, Stella's mother, coming out of her room, distressed.

I feel like something is wrong. Is Stella back home? Is she fine?

I rush to her and ask her without a second thought. "Is everything alright?"

"Stella..." she closes her eyes and sighs. "She isn't fine. Since she returned home from her trip, she has been constantly crying. I don't know what happened to her."

Stella is crying. Why? I can't imagine tears in her eyes. I feel a pang in my heart after knowing this. Whoever is the reason for her tears, I'll fucking bury that person alive.

"Don't worry. Let me talk to her." I reassure Olivia before walking towards Stella's room.

My heart thumps in my chest with worry as I push open the door of her room.

I see her tearful, red eyes through the mirror. Her face is wet and her eyes are swollen from continuous crying. My heart breaks inside as I see her in this condition. I feel a kind of pain I have never felt before.

How the hell did this happen to her? She went on a trip with her boyfriend. If he is the reason for her state, I swear to God I'll burn him alive.

When she realises someone has entered her room, she closes her eyes immediately, pretending to be asleep.

"Sella, I know you're not sleeping." Hearing my voice, she clutches the pillow in her hand and opens her eyes. Her eyes filled with immense pain meet mine.

Fuck! I can't stand seeing her like this. It hurts every part of me to see her suffering.

Where has that joyful Stella gone? The one who bloomed like a flower just two days ago. Now that flower has withered. Who the hell stole her happiness and glow?

I take a deep breath, clutching my hand to compose myself before asking her, "Who did this to you?"

She closes her eyes, and silent tears begin to fall again, soaking the pillow beneath her.

Seeing Stella cry like this, I never thought I'd witness this day. It feels like someone has crushed my heart. She looks like a fragile wilted flower.

"Please say something." I request, going insane thinking about what happened to her.

She again opens her eyes and hiccups. "Everything has finished."

I lean in and frame her face with my hands. "Just tell me what happened," I ask in a tone softer than I've ever used in my life.

She truly seems like a fragile soul, and I feel like if I use my normal tone, she might break even more.

She opens her mouth to say something, but suddenly her entire body starts trembling. I freeze in place, seeing her in this condition.

"I-I..." She pants, struggling to say something, but the words won't come, and her tears keep flowing. She digs her nails into my hands, and I'm in a state of complete shock to see her like this. So many terrible thoughts cross through my mind, wondering what could have happened to break her down this much.

Right now, all I want is to calm her down at any cost, but I can't figure out what to do. How can I make her feel better?

Before I can do something, she pushes me away. "I can't take it." She jumps down from the bed and rushes towards the door, making me more shocked.

"Stella..." I shout, but she's already bolting out of the room.

I rush after her, distraught. She's running like she's trying to escape the world. I hear her shouting at the driver outside to give her the keys, and before I can stop her, she's in the car.

"Stella, stop..." I yell, sprinting after her, but she shut the door. She's not listening. She's too lost in whatever broke her, by the pain she's running from.

The tyres screech against the pavement as she speeds away, and all I can do is jump into my car and follow her.

This isn't safe. She's driving like a maniac, weaving through traffic, her speed increasing with every passing second. My heart is in my throat as I tail her, praying she doesn't do something reckless. I keep honking, trying to get her attention, but she doesn't slow down.

"Damn it, Stella, stop," I scream, slamming my hand against the steering wheel.

She takes a sharp turn, and I follow, hardly able to keep up. My mind flashes with a thousand thoughts—what if something happens to her? What if she crashes? What if this is all my fault for not being able to protect her?

No! No! I can't let anything happen to her.