Chapter 246

Chapter 246
Lily's POV

I stared at the ceiling, a hollow ache spreading through my chest as Jake guided me back to the bedroom after that horrific breakfast. The image of that poor maid, the sound of the gunshot, the blood—it all kept replaying in my mind like a nightmare I couldn't wake from.

"What did I do? What was I thinking?" I whispered to myself as Jake locked the door behind us.

He didn't respond, just walked over to the bed and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Before I could protest, he'd secured one end to the bed frame and the other around my wrist.

"This is all my fault," I said, my voice breaking. Jake's father Zane was clearly insane, and his vendetta against the Sullivan family was because of me. If I hadn't gotten involved with Nathan, none of this would have happened.

I tugged uselessly at the handcuff, metal biting into my skin. The fear that had been simmering inside me since I'd arrived bubbled closer to the surface. What if Zane decided to kill me anyway? What about my baby? What about Eleanor, who I'd left behind?

Jake didn't even look at me. He just dropped into a chair in the corner of the room, pulled out his phone, and started scrolling through it as if I weren't even there.

I tried to calm my breathing, to think rationally. There had to be a way out of this. Nathan would be looking for me by now. He'd be furious, worried—probably both. And Tyler... God, I couldn't imagine what my twin brother was feeling right now.

After what felt like hours but was probably only twenty minutes, Jake finally looked up from his phone.

"What do you want for lunch?" he asked, his voice unnervingly casual.

I stared at him in disbelief. "Lunch?"

"Yeah. Is there anything specific you want to eat?"

The normalcy of the question after witnessing a murder made me feel sick. "I'm not hungry."

Jake sighed, looking annoyed. "You have to eat something."

"I don't have to do anything," I snapped, then immediately regretted it. Who knew what he was capable of? Who knew if he was just like his father? The thought sent a chill down my spine.

"Is there anything special you want?" he tried again.

"Special?" I let out a bitter laugh. "I'm not hungry."

Jake's jaw tightened. He returned to his phone, ignoring me again. The silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable.

"If you really want to help," I finally said, my voice rising with each word, "get me a doctor!"

The words came out louder than I intended, almost a shout. I held my breath, watching Jake for a reaction. Fear gripped me as he set his phone down and stood up. Who knew what he would do? Who knew if he was as crazy as his father?

He walked toward me slowly, and I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the worst.

But then I heard a click and felt the pressure around my wrist release. My eyes flew open in shock.

"I told you I wouldn't hurt you," Jake said, his voice low. "So I don't understand why you keep challenging me."

I rubbed my wrist, staring at him in confusion.

"You're pregnant," he continued, stepping back. "I understand you not wanting to eat after seeing those things, but you need to think about your health." His eyes flicked down to my stomach. "You need to think about the baby."

I felt the fight drain out of me, replaced by a hollow desperation. I couldn't take this anymore. The emotional whiplash of Jake's behavior—threatening one moment, almost caring the next—was too much.

Maybe I should try to escape? The thought came unbidden. If I could get away from Nathan, surely I could get away from his uncle too. By now, Zane had probably returned Eleanor's money and the C2 warehouse. But I knew escaping would only further enrage him.

"I'll have lunch with you!" I blurted out. "For the baby!"

Jake studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Good."

I pushed myself up from the bed, running a hand through my hair, trying to straighten it out of habit.

"You're not filming a movie. Don't worry so much about your hair," Jake said with a roll of his eyes. "We should eat in the garden."

Garden? The prospect of being outdoors, even for a little while, lifted my spirits slightly. "What about... your father?"

"He won't bother us," Jake replied, and I felt a small relief wash over me. But I still worried about what Zane might be planning, what he might be doing while we weren't around.

When we reached the garden, Jake had already arranged for lunch to be served—pasta, which under normal circumstances I would have loved. But watching him act as if everything was normal, as if we were just two friends having a casual meal, made my stomach turn.

"I know you like pasta," Jake said, settling into his chair. "I don't know if you remember, but I made it for you once and you loved it—"

"Yes—I'm not an idiot," I cut him off, unable to hide my disgust at his attempt at normalcy.

As I watched him, though, I began to realize that Jake wasn't completely insane like his father. He seemed... lonely. The Sullivan family had always favored Michael, and Alex had abandoned Jake and his father for Nathan. Jake had been left with nothing.

"This actually looks really good!" I said, forcing enthusiasm into my voice. "You should stop what you're doing and open a restaurant!" I playfully tapped his knee, trying to appeal to whatever humanity he had left.

Jake flinched at the touch, his face contorting with pain.

"We did have one. They gave everything to Michael," he said bitterly.

"Are you in pain?" I asked, noticing his reaction. "Did your father do this to you?"

Jake looked offended. "My father? It was Nathan who did this."

We ate in silence after that, and I decided to be more careful with my words and actions. Jake was clearly volatile, and I needed to stay on his good side if I was going to survive this.

"You don't want to be here, do you?" Jake suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

"Of course not," I replied honestly. "I'm here because I couldn't find any other way to protect Nathan and my daughter."

Jake's face darkened. "He's lost control," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "My father. It's only a matter of time before he kills you and the baby."

My blood ran cold. I'd suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed made it real. I was terrified, not so much for myself but for my unborn child.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady. "Do you hate me that much?"

"Until you showed up, there weren't too many problems within our family," Jake said, his eyes not meeting mine. "I always felt overlooked, and then you and that baby just had to force your way into this family..."

"That baby's name is Eleanor," I corrected him sharply. "She's your family."

Jake scoffed and muttered something under his breath that I couldn't quite catch, but it sounded like an insult.

"Remember when you were willing to die for me?" I said softly, trying a different approach. "I wish we could go back to those days."

Jake cleared his throat and looked away. I could tell I'd struck a nerve.

"You know," he said after a moment, "it's not too late to change sides and join Nathan."

"I can't," I replied.

"Can't or won't? Alex did."

"And he did it for you!" Jake's voice rose. "That idiot was so desperately in love with you that he couldn't work against you. Don't think I've forgotten how you manipulated him, made him believe he had a chance."

I thought of Alex, how he'd chosen to stand with Nathan not just because of any feelings for me, but because he couldn't stand being on the wrong side anymore.

"That seems to be your effect on people," Jake continued bitterly, "but it won't work on me. Never."

I reached out, trying to express sympathy for his situation. "The Sullivan family owes you," I said. "Nathan told me how kind you used to be. Richard is waiting for you, Jake."

I tried to take his hand, but he pulled away.

For a moment, Jake's eyes softened, and I thought I might be getting through to him. But then his expression hardened again.

"Richard and Nathan are the reason—"

"Jake," I interrupted, sensing an opening. "I could help you. If we work together, maybe—"

"No," he cut me off, his voice cold. "You're here for one reason only. Don't try to change that."