Chapter 7 "Escape"

• Harriet's POV
• "Harriet!" Ethan's voice boomed through the garden.
• I rose from my seat and laid eyes on my stepbrother. His presence was enough to send my body on rattle.
• His piercing gaze peered downward, lingering on the box that I dropped onto the ground.
• Despite Ethan's strikingly handsome face, there was a darkness lurking beneath his facade. And right now, in front of our guest Lucas, he couldn't hide his true colors.
• "Good day, Ethan," Lucas greeted with a forced smile.
• "Good?" Ethan sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
• The exchange between the two lacked any warmth. The garden suddenly fell into an eerie silence, the tension thick in the air. It felt like an eternity before Ethan's voice finally shattered the stillness.
• Ethan sarcastically remarked, "Well, I can't exactly say that my morning has been 'good' now, can I?"
• Lucas then explained, "I simply asked Harriet to show me the garden."
• "We have maids for that purpose," Ethan replied. "Next time, kindly direct your inquiries towards them rather than bothering Harriet." He shot a piercing glare at me. "Isn't that right, sister?"
• I felt uneasy. It was unusual for Ethan to address me as his 'sister.' He really hates calling me in that way.
• Maybe he only did so because we had a guest.
• "There's something I need to discuss with you," Ethan announced. "Come with me. Right now." His anger was evident. I knew I had to address this issue immediately before it escalated further.
• "Sure, let's have a chat," I agreed. In an instant, Ethan's grip on my wrist tightened, and he forcefully dragged me along.
• As I was being pulled, I managed to steal a quick glance back at Lucas.
• Our eyes met. Something flashed in his gaze.
• Even from afar, I could sense the madness burning inside him. His gray eyes glowed with intense displeasure as if he would gladly rip Ethan apart with his bare hands.
• "Do you need my help?" Lucas silently mouthed to me.
• I tried to respond with my lips, but instead, I looked away and allowed myself to be pulled away by my stepbrother.
• 'This is for the better,' I reassured myself, though deep down, I yearned for Lucas's help. I yearned for someone to save me from this nightmare, someone who could take me away from this dreadful existence.
• At last, Ethan and I made it to the secluded part of the garden, hidden from view.
• "Ethan. Before, I... Ouch!" I was pushed against the wall with force. Then, Ethan pulled my hair, making my head tilt back. "Ouch! B-Brother... It's painful."
• "What were you thinking, being with that scum?" Ethan demanded.
• "P-Please, let me go first and... ouch!" I begged.
• Ethan shook my head and brought his mouth close to my ear. "Tell me, Harriet. What were you doing with that jerk?" His intense blue eyes flickered with madness. "Were you flirting with him? Huh? Did you let him touch you like that where no one could see?"
• Suddenly, his hand slid under my skirt, brushing against my legs. Disgust surged through me, prompting me to swiftly raise my hand and deliver a resounding slap across his face. "Stop it!"
• Ethan released my hair and held his cheek, his eyes narrowing in response. He pulled me closer, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "If you don't want me to do that again, then don't let me catch you with that jerk. Got it?"
• My anger flared, my face turning red as I straightened my posture and fixed my tousled hair. I stared back at him, my gaze filled with defiance.
• "Even if you don't say it, I will. I am an engaged woman, after all," I said.
• "Even if you don't say it, I will. I am an engaged woman, after all," I said.
• When my fiancé was brought up, my stepbrother's expression contorted into a scowl, his hold on me becoming firmer. I steeled myself, prepared for whatever his next move might be.
• "Okay. You know the limits," Ethan's delicate finger brushed against my chin, turning my face to meet his piercing stare. "If that jerk ever dares to speak words of love or desire to you, always remember where you stand in this messed up family - just a pawn sacrificed for the sake of your decrepit and disgusting fiancé."
• My eyes shook as I stared back at my stepbrother.
• Once upon a time, they were inseparable, bound by a deep bond.
• However, as we grew older, Ethan soon realized that I had a multitude of talents that surpassed his own. Slowly but surely, his admiration for me turned into a toxic envy.
• "Well, if you have nothing else to say," I muttered quietly, "then I'll just go."
• With a determined shove, I brushed past him, determined to create some distance between us.
• I walked away, my steps brisk and purposeful. However...
• "Harriet."
• My footsteps faltered, my body freezing in place. The way Ethan said my name so sweetly and innocently as if the chaotic events that had just unfolded were nothing but a figment of my imagination, stirred up an unsettling feeling deep within me.
• I clenched my fists, feeling the anger bubbling up inside me. All I wanted was to break free from his oppressive hold, to escape this never-ending cycle of control and manipulation.
• 'And the only way is to die.'
• Yes.
• Let's just die.
• Not changing my plan, I made my way back to my room.
• The image of Lucas's worried expression haunted me. The way he mouthed me, asking if I needed help, couldn't leave my mind.
• "What's the point? I will die anyway," I said, feeling oh so exhausted.
• Not wanting to think anymore, I closed my eyes and soon fell asleep.
• "Tap, tap, tap..."
• Suddenly, a sequence of rhythmic sounds broke the silence, startling me awake.
• "What was that noise?"
• I shifted my attention towards the window.