Chapter 178: Last mistake

The rejection hit harder. Lucas flexed his sore wrists, refusing to look at him.

“I said I’m fine,” he added. The response was colder.

Silence settled over the room. It was heavy and awkward.

Alex swallowed hard, his chest tightening as he watched Lucas pull further away, not physically, but in every other way that mattered.

And for the first time since finding him, relief wasn’t the strongest emotion in his chest. It was fear, because Lucas wasn’t just hurt.

He was done with him.

The ride to the hospital was quiet.

Lucas sat in the back of the police vehicle, his arms resting stiffly on his lap, wrists throbbing with every slight movement. He didn’t look out the window. Didn’t speak.

Behind them, Alex followed.

His car trailed at a distance, never too close, never too far. Like he was afraid that if he lost sight of Lucas for even a second, he’d lose him completely.

At the hospital, everything moved quickly. The questions and the forms.

The lights were too bright for a morning that already felt too heavy.

An officer sat across from Lucas, notebook in hand. “We’ll need your statement.”

Lucas nodded once, voice steady despite the exhaustion. He recounted everything, the kidnapping, the threats, the ransom.

When they got to the masked man, the officer leaned forward slightly. “Did you recognize him?”

Lucas hesitated. Just for a second.

His mind flashed back to the confusing voice, then the harassment and the way he called him, Luc.

His jaw tightened slightly.

“I didn’t see his face,” he said finally. “But he was taller, careful with his movements. He kept his distance most of the time. When others left for the ransom collection, he was harassing me. Suddenly he disappeared before you guys came in.”

The officer scribbled it down. “Anything else?”

Lucas shook his head. He said nothing about his suspicion that it was Zenith.

At least not yet.

A nurse stepped in shortly after, gently examining his wrists.

“These are strained,” she said softly. “You’re lucky it’s not worse.”

Lucas winced as she cleaned the marks, applying ointment before wrapping them carefully.

“You’ll need to rest them,” she added, handing him pain relief. “Take this.”

He nodded, swallowing the pills without argument.

Across the room, Alex stood near the wall silently but watching.

Every time Lucas winced, his chest tightened.

Every time Lucas avoided looking at him, it hurt more.

When the nurse stepped away, Alex finally moved closer.

“Baby…” he started carefully. “Let’s go home, please.”

Lucas didn’t even look at him.

“I’m not going with you.”

The words were flat and final.

Alex swallowed hard. “At least let me take you somewhere safe.”

“I said no.” Lucas stood up slowly, ignoring the slight pull in his wrists.

The officer nearby glanced between them, sensing the tension.

Alex stepped forward again, desperation creeping in. “Please… just listen to me. I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I misjudged you. I'm very sorry. Baby, I promise you, I will never…”

Lucas turned sharply this time, his eyes cold.

“If you don’t stop following me,” he said, voice low but deadly serious, “I will call the police and report you for harassment.”

The words landed like a slap.

The officer straightened slightly, now fully attentive.

Alex froze completely.

“I mean it,” Lucas added, holding his gaze without a hint of hesitation.

Silence stretched.

Then, Alex stepped back, slowly.

The fight drained out of him in that moment, replaced by something heavier.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “Baby, I will give you sometime but just know that I can’t stop loving you. I will wait for you until you forgive me.

It wasn’t acceptance, it was defeat.

He watched as Lucas turned and walked away without another word.

And this time, he didn’t follow.

Lucas stepped out into the open air, breathing in deeply as he had just escaped something all over again.

He hailed a taxi and headed to Nathan’s place.

When he got there, the building manager barely looked at him before shaking his head. “The rent expired last week. The room is already cleared out.”

Lucas stood still for a moment, the words sinking in. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple.

“Alright, thank you.”

He needed a good sleep but he didn't want to go home or go to Alex’s place. He didn't want his family to know that he was kidnapped because of Alex. So he checked into a hotel.

At the hotel, he dropped his bag by the door and sat on the edge of the bed, staring ahead.

The room felt too still and too empty. His wrists ached. His body felt heavy. But it wasn’t the pain that lingered most. It was everything else. Alex’s voice, his apology, and that one moment of talking to him like he meant something to me.

He shook his head to shake off the thought.

He ate well and slept off. He didn't wake up until later in the evening.

Then the thought of Zenith as a possible culprit came again.

Lucas’s eyes slowly narrowed.

“Zenith,” he whispered under his breath.

The name lingered in the silence.

Because now, He was almost sure.

He checked the local police news to see if they had arrested the masked man. Unfortunately, there was nothing about him.

“Damn it, can't others tell the police who he fucking is?”

Gradually, nightṭ set in. He decided to call his sister. Emily.

Lucas stared at his phone for a long second before finally dialing.

The line barely rang once and she picked up.

“Lucas!”

Emily’s voice burst through, breathless, panicked. “Are you alright?!”

He closed his eyes briefly, steadying himself. “Yes, Em. I’m fine.”

“Then why was your phone off?” she pressed immediately. “I’ve been calling nonstop. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Lucas forced a small exhale, softening his tone. “I’m okay. There’s nothing to worry about.”

There was a long pause.

“Why do I feel like something’s wrong?” Emily said quietly now, suspicion lacing her voice.

Lucas’s grip tightened slightly on the phone.

“I said I’m fine,” he repeated, firmer this time. “Don’t overthink it.”

Another pause followed.

“Okay,” she said slowly, though the worry didn’t leave her voice.

Lucas glanced at the wall, his expression tightening for a split second before he spoke again.    “Tell Dad I’m fine, alright?”

“I will, but…”

“I’ll call later.”

He ended the call before she could continue. Lucas let the phone drop beside him on the bed.

For the first time since everything, he exhaled, long and tired.

At least Emily wouldn’t panic now and they wouldn’t worry. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, letting the silence settle around him.

Unaware that it was already too late to hide it from them.

At the police station, Lucas’s father stood rigid, anger barely contained as he faced the officer across the desk.

“My son left for work two days ago,” he said, voice tight with frustration. “He hasn’t come home. His phone has been switched off. I called his company and they said he left the office early. And you’re telling me not to worry. What exactly is going on? Do you know something?”

The officer exchanged a glance with his colleague before responding carefully.

“Sir, your son was involved in a kidnapping incident earlier today.”

Silence followed as if waiting for the words to settle.

“What?”

The word came out sharp and dangerous.

“He’s safe now,” the officer added quickly. “He was rescued this morning. He’s already been treated at the hospital and the culprits have been arrested.”

Lucas’s father stared at him, the words processing slowly. Then his anger exploded.