Chapter 3 Escape

• Leah’s POV
• My breath hitched as I blinked, my mind still swirling from the confusion…
• Before I could stop it, the memories I had tried so hard to bury came rushing back—disjointed, hazy, like pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t quite fit together. It was the night I wanted to forget. The night everything changed.
• His face was still a blur in my mind, the details vague. But I remembered the heat in his gaze, the way he’d made my pulse race when he smiled, how his touch sent shivers down my spine.
• His hands were on my waist, pulling me close, and I hadn’t resisted. His lips were on mine, and everything else faded away—his name, his face, even his voice. All I knew was the way my body reacted to his touch, the heat of his skin against mine.
• It had been reckless, stupid, but for that one night, I didn’t care.
• And then... darkness.
• I woke up alone, cold sheets around me, my head pounding. His scent lingered on my skin, but he was already gone.
• I had left without looking back, telling myself it didn’t matter. It was a mistake, something that didn’t mean anything. I had buried it deep, locking it away in the furthest corner of my mind.
• But now...
• My hand trembled as I touched my stomach, the realization slowly sinking in. I didn’t know who he was…
• "P-Please, just let me go. Don’t keep me trapped in this scary place anymore."
• The three men looked at each other. Lucian let go of me, stepping back like he didn't know what to do. He didn't show any feelings, but I could tell they were all trying to decide what to do.
• “I’m… uh,” Lucian coughed, trying to speak, not looking at me. His voice was quiet, but I heard him say, "We’ll give you some time. Excuse us."
• He looked at the other two and said, “Let’s go.”
• They left the room. But strangely, when they were gone, my heart slowed down, and I felt a little calmer.
• I took a deep breath, trying to think clearly. Instead of just sitting there, I stood up. I looked around the room. The windows were closed, and there was no other door except the bathroom door.
• But I had to get out. The bad memories from before kept coming back. I still couldn't understand what happened to me, or what would happen now. The result of that scary night...
• I went to the door, knowing it was probably locked. But when I tried to open it, it wasn't locked. It had just clicked shut earlier, but it wasn't locked. Slowly, I opened the door and looked outside. The hallway was empty.
• I took my chance. Quietly, I went out, closing the door behind me, and started walking down the long, empty hallway. I knew there could be guards watching, ready to catch me, but I walked carefully, trying to be quiet.
• As I walked, all I saw were fancy vases, paintings, and nice furniture. Everything looked expensive, like something from a different world.
• Then, I heard voices.
• "You need to find out who got her pregnant."
• I froze, my heart beating fast. I looked around quickly, trying to find a place to hide. Not far away, I saw a door that was open a little—that's where the voices were coming from. I went closer and hid outside, trying to listen.
• My eyes widened when I looked inside. It was Lucian, Damon, and Xander. Rafael wasn't there, and I didn't know where he was. But in the room, sitting in a wheelchair, was an older man, with nurses and doctors around him.
• “Yes, Father,” Damon said. “We’ll figure this out.”
• The old man moved a little in his chair, and I couldn't help but look at him. Who was this man? Why were there doctors around him? The room looked like a small office—with books, papers everywhere, and a big desk near the window. The old man looked weak, like he was having trouble staying upright.
• “Please,” the man’s voice was weak. “You need to make her like you. Or else none of you… none of you will get what you want from me.”
• “Yes, Father,” they all said together.
• I blinked a lot, thinking fast. Father? Did they just call him their father? Does that mean… they’re all brothers?
• “You are all dismissed now.”
• The three brothers turned toward the door where I was hiding, and I was scared. I quickly looked for a place to hide before they saw me. I saw a big vase, large enough to hide behind. I squeezed myself against it and looked out, watching the brothers leave the room and close the door.
• “This is going to be harder than it seems.” Damon said.
• “We have no idea who the father is, especially since Leah can’t remember who got her pregnant,” Xander added.
• “And worst of all, we still need to make her like us,” Lucian grumbled.
• Two of the brothers left, but I was surprised when Lucian stayed in the hallway. My heart beat fast as I watched him take something out of his pocket—a phone. It seemed the other two brothers didn't notice Lucian staying behind. He started calling someone, and after a few rings, someone answered.
• “Joseph, I have a favor to ask you,” Lucian said, his voice quiet but clear.
• “What is it, sir?” The deep voice on the other line came through, because Lucian had the call on speakerphone. He put one hand in his pocket and started walking toward where I was. My eyes widened, and I was scared, worried he might find me. But he kept looking ahead, thinking.
• “Don’t tell my father or my brothers about this. Understand?”
• “Yes, sir. What do you need?” Joseph replied.
• “I need you to find a woman.”
• “Do you have any clues about who this woman might be?”
• “No, I don’t. To be honest, I don’t remember much. I need you to find out who she is, and everything about her. I’ll send you the details.”
• “Yes, sir,” the man responded. “But may I ask, why are you looking for her?”
• Lucian paused for a moment, like he was thinking carefully. Then, he took a deep breath. “Something happened between us... and I need to know who she is.”
• My eyes widened even more, and I quickly covered my mouth to stop myself from making a sound. My heart raced when I heard Lucian’s words.
• “Understood, sir. I’ll make sure not to tell your father or brothers. We can talk in secret codes and emails so no one can find us.”
• “Good. Tell me when you find anything.”
• Lucian ended the call before Joseph could say anything. I bit my lip, feeling anxious. What did Lucian mean by all of this? I didn't understand. First, I was taken away against my will. And then there was their father, who had power over them, telling them to do what he wanted or lose everything. What could that possibly mean?
• And to make things even more confusing, Lucian had hired someone to find a woman he met—someone he got pregnant. Yet, I need to choose one of them to marry? It didn't make sense. What's going on here?
• Many questions were in my mind, and I didn't know how to find the answers. Suddenly, an alarm went off in the house. Lucian and I both jumped. Moments later, Rafael, Xander, and Damon came running down the hall toward Lucian.
• “What’s happening?” Lucian asked them.
• “Dude, Leah just escaped again! Who closed the door?!” Rafael asked, worried.
• “Wasn’t it locked?” Lucian said, looking confused.
• Damon pointed at Xander. “You were the one who closed it, right?!”
• “Yeah, I did,” Xander replied, like he was being blamed. “I’m sure I locked it!”
• Lucian put his hand on his forehead, clearly stressed.
• “We need to find her, now!”