Chapter 20

Lena’s POV

For the first time in months, I could finally breathe. Living under Mrs. Paxton’s protection felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest, even if just a little. The constant fear that had shadowed me in that house, under Richard’s control, was still there, lingering, but at least now I had space. Space to think, to plan, to figure out how I could escape this mess once and for all.

I sat in the quiet room, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all. Pregnant. I’d known for days now, but it still hadn’t sunk in fully. It wasn’t something I could ignore, though I wanted to, more than anything. The thought of having Richard’s child twisted everything inside me, a constant reminder that I might never truly escape him.

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, but the tightness in my chest didn’t go away. The days under Mrs. Paxton’s protection had been a strange relief—safe, secure, away from Richard. But now, knowing that this baby tied me to him forever, I wasn’t sure I could feel safe anywhere.

The knock on the door startled me from my thoughts. Tyler’s voice followed, soft and cautious. “Lena, can I come in?”

I hesitated for a second. I didn’t want him to see me like this—scared, defeated, unsure. But he’d already helped me so much, and if there was anyone I could trust, it was Tyler.

“Yeah,” I finally said, my voice shaky. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Tyler stepped inside, his expression concerned the moment he saw me. “You okay?” he asked gently, closing the door behind him.

I forced a small smile, though I knew it didn’t reach my eyes. “I don’t even know how to answer that anymore.”

He came over, sitting beside me on the bed. “What’s going on? You look... exhausted.”

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “I am. Exhausted, terrified, confused—pick one.”

Tyler’s brow furrowed, and he reached out to take my hand. His touch was warm, grounding, but it didn’t erase the weight pressing down on me. “Talk to me, Lena. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

“I’m pregnant, Tyler.” The words came out sharper than I meant them to, but there was no point in softening the truth. “And that means I’m stuck. Richard will never let me go, not now.”

He squeezed my hand, his eyes filled with concern. “You don’t have to stay with him, Lena. Mrs. Paxton can protect you. She’s already been planning for this. You can leave.”

“I wish it was that simple,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “But he’ll never let me go now that I’m carrying his child. Even if I manage to leave, he’ll track me down. He’ll use the baby as a reason to pull me back.”

Tyler was quiet for a moment, his jaw clenched in frustration. “You don’t know that for sure. There’s always a way out.”

“Is there?” I looked at him, my eyes filling with tears. “Because it doesn’t feel like it. I can’t just disappear, Tyler. He has connections. He’ll find me, and when he does, he’ll take everything from me. Including the baby.”

Tyler shook his head. “Lena, you’re stronger than you think. You’ve survived this long. You’ve stood up to him.”

I pulled my hand from his, my frustration bubbling up. “This is different. It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about the baby. I can’t risk everything now. I’m scared, Tyler. I’m scared that no matter what I do, I’ll end up right back where I started—with Richard controlling every part of my life.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know this is terrifying, but you don’t have to figure it all out today. Let’s take it one step at a time. You’re not alone in this.”

“But I am alone,” I muttered, barely able to keep the despair out of my voice. “This baby... it’s Richard’s. It’s always going to be tied to him. No matter how far I run, I’ll never be free.”

Tyler’s eyes softened, and he reached for my hand again. “I know it feels that way right now, but we’ll find a way. You have options, Lena. You always have options.”

I looked down at our joined hands, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine. It was comforting, but it didn’t erase the fear gnawing at my insides. “And what if he finds out I’m pregnant? He’ll use it against me.”

Tyler’s expression hardened. “He doesn’t know yet, and we’ll make sure he doesn’t find out until you’re ready. Mrs. Paxton can help keep him away.”

I wanted to believe that. I wanted to believe that I could hide this secret long enough to make a real escape. But deep down, I knew how ruthless Richard could be. He’d find out sooner or later, and when he did... I shuddered at the thought.

“I don’t know, Tyler,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”

He pulled me into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around me as I finally let the tears fall. “We’ll figure it out, Lena. I promise. You don’t have to do this alone.”

I leaned into him, feeling the warmth and comfort of his embrace, but the fear didn’t leave. It stayed, rooted deep inside me, a constant reminder that I was still trapped. No matter how much support I had from Tyler or Mrs. Paxton, the reality was that Richard had a hold on me that I couldn’t shake.

After a long silence, I pulled back, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “What am I supposed to do, Tyler? I can’t stay here forever, waiting for him to find out.”

Tyler hesitated, his eyes searching mine. “You could leave. Disappear before he has the chance to tighten his grip.”

“Run?” I asked, shaking my head. “He’d come after me. You know he would.”

“But it’s an option,” Tyler said, his voice firm. “It might be dangerous, but it’s still an option. And if you want to go, I’ll help you.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding. “Where would I go? How could I raise a child on the run, always looking over my shoulder?”

“We’ll figure that out,” Tyler said, his voice filled with determination. “You don’t have to make a decision now. But just know that I’m here, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you and the baby are safe.”

I wanted to believe him, but the fear still gnawed at me. Running felt like giving up everything, and staying felt like a death sentence. There were no easy choices, no clear way out.

As Tyler stood to leave, he gave me one last look, his voice soft. “You’re not alone in this, Lena. Remember that.”

I nodded, but the weight of it all still pressed down on me. Once he left, the room fell silent again, and I looked down at my stomach, the truth sinking in deeper.

I was carrying Richard’s child. And no matter what I did, this baby tied me to him forever.

The quiet of the room wrapped around me, but it wasn’t comforting. It felt heavy, oppressive, as I sat there, knowing that my time to decide was running out.

I sat there for what felt like hours, the silence pressing in on me from every corner of the room. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, and a shiver ran down my spine. This baby, this innocent life growing inside me, would always be connected to him. No matter how far I ran, or how much I tried to break free, Richard would always have a claim.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath, but the fear wouldn’t leave. What if Tyler was right? What if running was my only chance? I had no idea what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain—I couldn’t keep living in fear.

I stood up slowly, pacing the room as the weight of my reality settled deeper in my chest. Every decision felt impossible. Running meant a life of uncertainty, of hiding and looking over my shoulder forever. Staying meant living under Richard’s control, where every move I made would be dictated by him.

But for the baby’s sake—for my sake—I couldn’t sit in limbo any longer. I had to do something. I had to make a choice.

I walked to the window, staring out at the night sky. Could I really run? Could I leave everything behind and start over?

Only time would tell.