Chapter 21

Chapter 21
Tyler’s POV

I stood outside Lena’s door for a moment, my hand hovering over the handle, unsure if I should knock or just walk in. I’d been here so many times over the past few weeks that it was starting to feel like a second home. But something about tonight felt different. Lena was pulling away, retreating into her thoughts, and I could see the fear eating her up inside.

I wanted to help her, to make everything go away, but there was only so much I could do. Richard still had his claws in her, and now with the baby... things had only gotten more complicated.

Taking a breath, I knocked gently.

“Lena? It’s me.”

There was a pause, and then I heard her voice, soft but steady. “Come in.”

I opened the door and stepped inside, my eyes immediately landing on her. She was sitting on the bed, her hands resting on her stomach, that faraway look in her eyes again.

“Hey,” I said, closing the door behind me and walking over to her. “How are you holding up?”

She shrugged, giving me a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “As well as can be expected, I guess.”

I sat down beside her, careful not to crowd her. “You’ve been through hell, Lena. No one expects you to be okay overnight.”

“I know,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “But sometimes it feels like... I’ll never be okay again.”

I hated hearing her like this—so broken, so unsure of herself. She didn’t deserve any of this. “You will be,” I said softly. “It’s just going to take time. You’re stronger than you realize.”

She shook her head, looking down. “I don’t feel strong. I feel... trapped.”

“I get that,” I replied, trying to keep my frustration with Richard out of my voice. “But you’re not alone. I’m here. Mrs. Paxton is here. We’re going to make sure you and the baby are safe.”

Lena looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and fear. “I know you mean well, Tyler, but Richard... he’s not going to let this go. He’s going to come after me.”

I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger rising in my chest. “He doesn’t control you, Lena. Not anymore.”

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “It’s not that simple. I’m carrying his child. He’ll use that against me. He’ll use the baby to keep me under his thumb.”

I shook my head, leaning forward. “He won’t get the chance. We’re working on a plan. Mrs. Paxton has connections, ways to keep you protected.”

Lena raised an eyebrow. “Mrs. Paxton? Really?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “She’s more involved than you think. She’s been pulling strings behind the scenes to protect you. She’s not going to let Richard get away with this.”

Lena looked surprised, like she hadn’t considered Mrs. Paxton an ally before. “I guess I didn’t expect her to care.”

“She does,” I assured her. “She feels guilty for not stepping in sooner. She’s the reason Richard hasn’t been able to come near you these last few days.”

Lena nodded slowly, absorbing the information. “I didn’t realize.”

“She’s a lot smarter than Richard gives her credit for,” I added, leaning back in my chair. “She’s been playing this game longer than either of us.”

Lena looked down at her hands, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on the bedspread. “I just don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t even know if I can run. I’m terrified, Tyler.”

I reached out, gently placing a hand on her arm. “You don’t have to make a decision right now. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

“I don’t want to drag you into this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re not dragging me into anything,” I replied firmly. “I’m here because I care about you. You know that, right?”

She looked up at me, her eyes soft and filled with something I couldn’t quite place. “I do.”

For a moment, we just sat there in silence, the weight of everything hanging between us. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the urge to protect her overwhelming. Richard had done so much damage, and now with the baby, it felt like she was sinking further into the quicksand. But I wasn’t going to let her drown.

“I’ve been doing some things,” I said after a while, breaking the silence.

“What things?” Lena asked, frowning.

“Little things,” I explained, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve been talking to some people at the office, making sure Richard’s influence isn’t as strong as he thinks it is. Mrs. Paxton’s been helping too, without him realizing it.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re... you’re working against him?”

“I’m doing whatever I can to make sure you’re safe,” I said, my voice serious. “That includes making sure Richard’s power isn’t as ironclad as he believes. He’s got his claws in deep, but we’re working to loosen his grip.”

Lena looked at me, her expression a mix of shock and gratitude. “I... I didn’t know you were doing all that.”

I shrugged, trying to downplay it. “It’s nothing major. Just subtle moves, trying to weaken his control without drawing too much attention.”

She was quiet for a moment, and then she smiled—an actual smile, the first one I’d seen in days. “Thank you, Tyler. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I felt a warmth spread through me, but I didn’t want her to see how much those words affected me. “You don’t have to thank me,” I said, giving her a small grin. “Just doing my job as the resident pain in Richard’s ass.”

She laughed softly, and it felt like a victory, even if just a small one. But then her expression grew serious again, and she looked down at her stomach.

“What happens if he finds out?” she whispered.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “We’ll deal with it when the time comes. But for now, the focus is on keeping you safe and giving you options. You’re not stuck here, Lena. You’re not powerless.”

Lena nodded, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. She had been under Richard’s control for so long that it was hard for her to imagine life without his influence. But I wasn’t going to let her fall back into that trap.

“I mean it,” I said, my voice firm. “We’re not letting him get to you. I won’t let that happen.”

Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was there, and that was enough to keep me going.

As I stood up to leave, I glanced back at her. “I’ll check in with Mrs. Paxton tomorrow. See what else we can do.”

“Thank you,” she said again, her voice soft.

“Get some rest,” I told her, giving her a small smile. “We’ll figure this out.”

As I left the room, my mind was already racing with plans. Richard was losing his grip on her, and I was going to make sure he never got it back. Lena didn’t deserve to live in fear anymore, and I was going to protect her and the baby at all costs.

But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over. Richard wasn’t the type to back down easily, and when he found out about the baby... things would only get worse.

I made my way down the hallway, my fists clenched as the thought of him twisted in my chest. I hated that man more than I could ever put into words. The way he had broken Lena, the way he had manipulated her—he didn’t deserve her. He didn’t deserve anything.

And if it was the last thing I did, I’d make sure he never got the chance to hurt her again.

As I turned the corner, I caught sight of Mrs. Paxton in the distance, talking quietly to one of the staff. She glanced up, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment, and I could see the same determination there that I felt in my own chest. She knew what was at stake.

We were on the same side.

I gave her a small nod, and she returned it before turning back to her conversation.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

As I left the house that night, the air felt heavy with the weight of what was coming. I knew Richard wasn’t going to go down without a fight, but I was ready. Whatever it took, I was going to protect Lena—and I wasn’t going to lose.