Grace Morgan's POV

Every move and sound Derek made after the therapy session increased my fear. As he dragged me across the house, my mind raced with thoughts of how to escape. However, my injuries had weakened me, and I knew I wouldn't be able to fight him off.

Derek threw me onto the bed, where I lay helpless, my heart pounding in my chest. "Please, Derek," I begged, knowing that my pleas were in vain. "Why are you doing this?"

He wouldn't answer, merely continuing to loom over me like an animal, his eyes filled with malice. I tried to move away, but he held me in place with a rough grip.

As he leaned in closer to me, his breath hot against my face, I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"You're mine," he repeated, his words slurring slightly. "And I'll do whatever it takes to keep you that way."

"Am I just a trophy wife for you?" I whispered, feeling the weight of his possessiveness suffocate me. His eyes flickered for a moment, betraying a hint of emotion, before his face hardened once more.

"You're more than that," he said with a cruel smile. "You're my possession, my prize. And I'll never let you go." The realization of my predicament washed over me, leaving me feeling trapped and helpless in his grasp. Desperation and fear flooded my senses.

The fear inside me was perceptible, but so too was a sense of rage. I couldn't believe that I had let myself become this vulnerable to someone so cruel and abusive. Derek couldn't be the man I thought I had married, and the realization stung like a bee.

Before I could formulate a plan, however, Derek was upon me again, his hands tightening around my neck. I could feel the air being squeezed from my lungs, and I knew that this time I wouldn't be able to escape.

In that moment, I thought of Zane, who had spent so much time trying to help us. I wished I could be back in his clinic, where I felt safe and protected. The world made sense, and I wasn't trapped in a nightmare.

And then, in the midst of my panic and pain, something strange happened. A glimmer of light, a voice in the back of my mind that whispered of hope and freedom.

It was as if a veil had been lifted, and I could see things clearly for the first time in years. I knew that I had to leave and that staying here with Derek would only lead to more pain and suffering.

I struggled to break free from his grasp, my fingers scrabbling at his skin. But it was no use; he was too strong.

And then, as if out of nowhere, there was a knock at the door. Derek froze, his grip loosening for a moment as he turned to see who it was.

I took the opportunity to scurry away from him, my body shaking with fear and adrenaline. As I stumbled towards the door, I could hear Derek cursing behind me, threatening all sorts of unspeakable acts if I dared to betray him.

But it was too late for that. The knock at the door had given me the strength to fight back and to embrace the glimmer of hope that had been born within me.

I opened the door to find Freya standing there, concern etched on her features. "Grace," she said softly, her voice filled with compassion and understanding. "I thought I heard something. Are you okay?"

Derek's presence behind me felt like a looming shadow, threatening to consume us both. His words, whispered with a chilling intensity, pierced the air like a dagger, sending a shiver down my spine.

"I'll cut her into pieces," Derek uttered softly, his voice a sinister whisper that seemed to echo in my ear. "And you know I'm capable of it, so don't you dare say anything."

I froze, the blood draining from my face as the weight of his threat settled over me like a suffocating blanket. In that moment, I felt utterly powerless, trapped between the fear of what Derek might do and the guilt of keeping Freya in the dark.

"It's a bluff." I tried to muster up the courage to speak, but the look in Derek's eyes told me he was deadly serious.

"Did you forget about Adam, your very close friend?" He whispered in a sarcastic tone.

The memory of Adam's fate flashed through my mind, and I knew I couldn't risk the same happening to Freya. My only choice was to comply with Derek's demands, no matter how much it went against everything I believed in.

Adam's disappearance was a tragedy that shook our community to its core. He was a bright guy with a heart of gold, always quick with a smile, and my best friend. But one fateful night, he vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and shattered dreams.

Soon later, Adam's body was found in a remote forest, a victim of foul play.

Even though, deep down I knew Derek to be a part of this murder, I always chose to ignore it. But looking at him now, I feel like he wasn't joking. I finally felt like I was living with a monster all these years.

I tried to change him but turns out, I was the one blinded by love. 

The thought of losing Freya in a similar way was unbearable, so I had no choice but to do whatever it took to keep her safe.

I quickly composed myself. "I'm fine, Freya," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just a little shaken up." I knew I couldn't let Freya see the fear in my eyes or suspect anything was wrong. Derek's threats lingered in the air, reminding me of the dangerous game I was caught in the middle of. But for now, I had to play my part and keep silent.

Freya's brow furrowed in concern, her gaze searching mine for any sign of deception. But I held her gaze with practiced ease, masking the storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.

I nodded, offering her a reassuring smile that belied the fear churning in my gut. "Positive," I replied, my tone light and airy, as if nothing were amiss. "It's been a long day, that's all. But I appreciate your concern."

For a moment, Freya hesitated, her intuition sensing that something was off as she glanced at me and Derek. But then, with a gentle nod, she relented, accepting my facade at face value. "Alright," she said, her voice softening with understanding.

"I was here to invite you both to join us for dinner tonight. It would be a wonderful opportunity for us to meet with everyone within the neighborhood," Freya paused, her eyes lingering on me for a moment longer before turning to Derek.

I quickly shook my head, plastering on a smile to reassure her. "No, no, we'd love to join you for dinner," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic despite the unease in my stomach. "Thank you for the invitation."

Freya's eyes held a flicker of concern before she smiled warmly.

I glanced at Derek, who was still standing next to me, his face unreadable. "We'll be there," he said.

"Looking forward to it." With that settled, Freya's smile widened, and she bid us farewell before heading back to her house.

My hands went cold as I thought to myself why Derek agreed to go to this invitation. As Freya turned to leave, I watched her go, a knot of guilt tightening in my chest at the thought of keeping her in the dark. But I knew that I had no other choice. With a heavy heart, I closed the door behind Freya, locking away the truth of my suffering along with it.

I could feel Derek's eyes boring into me, his silent warning echoing in my mind like a chilling refrain. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to run, to escape this nightmare before it consumed me whole. But I knew that wasn't an option, not with Freya's safety hanging in the balance.

I turned to face Derek, his expression impassive as he watched me with predatory intensity. "Why did you agree to go to dinner?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What are you planning?"

Derek's lips curled into a sardonic grin, his eyes glinting with spite. "Just playing the part of the loving husband, my dear," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "We wouldn't want to raise any suspicions, now would we?"

His words chilled me to the bone, a cold reminder of the danger in him. I knew I had to tread carefully and play along with Derek's twisted game until I found a way to escape his clutches.

"As long as you behave, everything will be just fine," Derek continued, his tone intimidating.

"So all those talks about blocking Ava and never talking to her were just an act?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear creeping in.

Derek's eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned in closer. "Oh, darling," he hissed, "she's just a toy; you're the one I really want to play with." My heart raced as I realized the true extent of Derek's dangerous obsession with me.

As he pulled me closer to him, my heart pounded in my chest, a realization of how much trouble I was truly sinking into. Before I could protest or push him away, Derek forcefully kissed me, his lips pressing against mine with a rough urgency.

I struggled against him, my hands pushing at his chest. But Derek only tightened his hold on me, his kiss becoming more demanding and possessive. My mind raced with fear and confusion as I tried to come to terms with the perilous situation. I found myself trapped in Derek's dangerous web of desire and manipulation.

We pulled away from the kiss, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. Derek stared at me, his eyes a mix of desire and something darker lurking beneath the surface, making me shiver with unease.

I could feel Derek's grip on me tightening, his fingers digging into my skin as he leaned in closer.

His grip was unyielding as he whispered in a low, menacing voice, "You know," Derek muttered, his breath warm against my ear, "you could be a bit more cooperative."

My stomach twisted as I thought of what he could be implying, the memories of his previous violence flashing through my mind. Sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his wicked smile, giving me goosebumps. This was far more dangerous than I had ever imagined.

"What are you going to do?" I whispered, my voice trembling with fear.

Derek smiled, his expression full of sinful promise. "Whatever it takes," he replied, his words causing an eerie sensation.

As the day wore on, my thoughts drifted to the man standing opposite me and to the secret torment that I knew lay hidden beneath his icy exterior.

I had first sensed his pain, his loneliness, and his possessiveness in the early days of our relationship—a shadow of loss and grief that had cast its long, dark shadow over his every word and action.

But he had always brushed away my questions, refusing to open up, choosing instead to bury his demons in the recesses of his mind.

Now, as the years have passed, the pain has grown deeper and more entrenched; the darkness that had once been held at bay by his love for me is now threatening to devour us.

And so, as we stood in silence, I wondered what terrible secrets were buried within the depths of his soul and what horrors lay in his past.

***
(4 years ago)

Reporter: unknown.

Authorities were alerted to a disturbing discovery today in a remote forest on the outskirts of Stonebrooke. The body of a young man, identified as 21-year-old Adam Vernice, was found by a hiker who stumbled upon the scene while exploring the area.

Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement officials discovered the victim's lifeless body lying amidst the dense foliage of the forest floor. According to preliminary reports, the victim appeared to have suffered multiple stab wounds, suggesting a violent and targeted attack.

Detectives have launched a full-scale investigation into the incident, canvassing the area for witnesses and collecting evidence from the scene. The motive behind the murder remains unclear at this time, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.

Friends and family of the victim have been left devastated by the news, describing Adam as a bright and promising young man with his whole life ahead of him.

As the investigation unfolds, residents in the area are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. With the perpetrator still at large, the safety of the community hangs in the balance.

The investigation into the suspicious death of Adam Vernice continues, with authorities pledging to pursue every lead until the truth behind this senseless tragedy is revealed.

In the end, the real killer was never caught.

The case of Adam Vernice remained unsolved.