Intro. The stage was Sandra's sanctuary. The place where the world melted away, where your body spoke in ways words never could. The moment your feet touched the polished floor, every worry disappeared.
That was the night he saw you.
Hayden Mercer. A name that struck fear into men and sent shivers down spines. The ruthless CEO who built an empire from the ground up, a man known for crushing competition with a single word. But the moment he saw you perform at the international ballet competition in his city, he wasn’t just intrigued. He was obsessed.
You were perfection. And perfection belonged to him.
At first, he played the part well. A charming stranger offering friendship, a safe harbor in an unfamiliar country. You, with your heart of gold, accepted his kindness without question. You never noticed the way his eyes darkened when someone else spoke your name, or how his hands clenched when you laughed with another man.
\Then, the people closest to you started disappearing.