The tension had been growing ever since Luca walked away from the garden that night, leaving Shanaya standing alone in the cold darkness. She watched him go, her jaw clenched, the burning anger in her chest growing stronger with each passing moment.

If she couldn't win Luca back with manipulation, she had to go further. Her obsession had now consumed every part of her rational mind, pushing her to a place where she could no longer distinguish love from control. Her desire for Luca wasn't about affection anymore—it was about possession.

Shanaya had spent days scheming, trying to figure out a plan that would break Elena's hold on Luca once and for all. She could see the way Luca looked at her, how much he still cared about Elena despite all the years they'd been apart. The memories of the past weren't enough to separate them, and no matter how much Shanaya tried to discredit Elena in Luca's eyes, it wasn't working.

She needed something drastic—something that would remove Elena from the picture altogether.

Sitting in her living room, her mind racing, Shanaya picked up her phone and made a call. Her hand trembled as the dial tone echoed in her ear, but her resolve remained strong.

The voice on the other end of the line answered with a gruff tone, the kind of voice you could tell belonged to someone who was used to operating outside the law.

"What do you need?" the man asked.

Shanaya hesitated for a moment, but then steeled herself. "I need you to take someone. Keep her out of sight for a while."

There was a pause on the other end, and then the man responded. "You know what you're asking, right? This isn't something you can come back from."

Shanaya swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "I know exactly what I'm asking. Do it."

The day started off like any other for Elena. She had been avoiding Luca for the past week, trying to distance herself from the emotional whirlwind that had engulfed them both. Every time she saw Luca, the memories, the feelings, and the unresolved tension between them bubbled to the surface. She needed space to think clearly, to decide if she could really be with him again after everything they'd been through.

But something about the day felt off. As Elena left her apartment to head to work, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder a few times, but there was no one there. It was just her nerves, she told herself. The whole situation with Luca and Shanaya had her on edge, and it was probably nothing.

However, as the day went on, the uneasy feeling grew stronger. It wasn't until later that afternoon, as Elena was heading to her car after a meeting, that everything changed.

A black van pulled up beside her, and before she could react, two men stepped out, grabbing her from behind. Elena struggled, panic rising in her chest as she tried to scream, but one of the men clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be," one of the men muttered as they shoved her into the van, the doors slamming shut behind them.

Elena's heart raced as the van sped off, her mind scrambling to make sense of what was happening. She tried to fight, to get away, but the men were too strong. She felt a sharp sting in her arm, and within moments, the world around her began to blur. Her vision faded, and then there was only darkness.

When Elena woke up, she was in a small, dimly lit room. The walls were bare, and the only furniture was a single chair and a cot in the corner. Her wrists were tied together, and she felt the rough texture of the ropes biting into her skin.

Panic set in as she realized she had been kidnapped. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breath came in shallow gasps. Why was this happening? Who had done this?

And then it hit her. Shanaya.

This had to be Shanaya's doing. She was the only one who had a motive to do something like this. Luca had rejected her, and now Shanaya was spiraling out of control.

Elena's mind raced, trying to think of a way out. She needed to stay calm, to think logically. If she panicked, it would only make things worse. But her hands were tied, and she had no idea where she was or how long she'd been out.

She could hear footsteps approaching from the hallway outside the door, and a moment later, the door creaked open. A tall man stepped inside, his face cold and expressionless.

"You're awake," he said, his voice flat.

Elena swallowed, trying to keep her fear in check. "Why are you doing this? What does she want from me?"

The man didn't respond. Instead, he walked over to her and checked the ropes around her wrists, making sure they were secure. "Just stay quiet. You'll be out of here soon enough."

Elena's heart sank. If Shanaya had gone this far, there was no telling what she was capable of.

Meanwhile, back in the city, Luca was starting to grow worried. Elena hadn't shown up to work, and she wasn't answering her phone. He had tried calling her several times, but there was no response. He had even gone by her apartment, but there was no sign of her.

Something wasn't right.

Luca's mind raced with possibilities, each one worse than the last. He couldn't shake the feeling that Shanaya had something to do with this. He had seen the desperation in her eyes during their last conversation, and he knew she was capable of doing something drastic.

Without wasting another moment, Luca called Victor, explaining the situation. "Dad, I think Shanaya's done something to Elena. She's missing, and I can't get ahold of her."

Victor's voice was tense on the other end of the line. "I'll make some calls, Luca. We'll find out what's going on."

Back in the small, dim room, Elena was losing hope. The hours felt like days, and every sound outside the door made her heart race. She had no way of knowing if anyone was looking for her, if Luca even knew she was missing.

As she sat there in the silence, she thought about Luca. Despite everything that had happened between them, she couldn't deny the feelings that still lingered. She had tried to push him away, tried to convince herself that being with him again wasn't an option. But deep down, she knew the truth—she still loved him.

And now, trapped in this nightmare, all she could think about was whether or not she would get the chance to tell him.

Meanwhile, Shanaya's madness was growing. She paced her apartment, her mind buzzing with plans and schemes. She had to marry Luca—there was no other option. If Elena was out of the picture, Luca would have no choice but to come back to her. She would make sure of it.

She picked up her phone and dialed her father. "Dad, it's time. We need to move forward with the wedding. Luca and I... we're getting married soon."

Her father, always eager to support his daughter's desires, didn't question her. "I'll make the arrangements, Shanaya. Just leave it to me."

Shanaya smiled, her eyes gleaming with the twisted satisfaction of a plan finally coming together. Soon, Luca would be hers. By hook or crook, she was going to marry him.

Luca, unaware of Shanaya's plans, was working tirelessly to find Elena. He wouldn't stop until she was safe, until she was back in his arms. But as the hours ticked by, he couldn't shake the growing fear that time was running out.