Raya woke up to the all familiar sterile scent of antiseptic, the beeping of monitors, and the soft murmur of voices beyond the door. She blinked against the bright white light overhead, disoriented, her body heavy and weak. It took her a moment to remember where she was—or rather, to figure out *how* she got there. The last thing she recalled was fainting at the restaurant, Voices of people and someone desperately calling out her name, and then… nothing.
Her first instinct was panic. She had to leave. She couldn't stay here. Her father, Mr. White, had his eyes everywhere. She was never safe, especially in such an open, vulnerable place like a hospital. Her mind raced with thoughts of him finding her, of the threats he'd made, the way he manipulated and tormented her. Her heart pounded, and she threw the thin blanket off her legs, attempting to get out of bed.
The floor felt cold under her bare feet, and as she stood, her legs wobbled, weak from the ordeal. She tried to steady herself, clutching the IV stand for support, her body still shaky from exhaustion. She reached for the curtain demacting her from other beds in the Emergency room her mind set on escape. But just as her hand touched the it, the curtain was swung open, revealing none other than Luke Heistens.
He stood there, tall and imposing, his expression a mixture of frustration and concern. His suit jacket was missing, his shirt sleeves rolled up, making him look a little less put together than usual. He gave her a pointed look and crossed his arms.
"Are you trying to run again?" Luke's voice was low, but there was a bite to it. His words froze her in place, as did the realization that he was the one who had brought her to the hospital. The memory flashed before her—she'd fainted in front of his car while crossing the street in the rain. She had been so out of it she hadn't even realized.
Raya swallowed hard, backing away from the door, trying to find her voice. "I—I didn't want to be here," she stammered, her hand still trembling on the door handle.
Luke sighed, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. "You fainted in the restaurant of course I had to bring you here. You could've been seriously hurt, Raya."
She blinked, unsure of how to respond, her head spinning not just from the situation but from the medication coursing through her system.
"If you don't finish your treatment and medication, I'll sack you," Luke said bluntly, eyes narrowing in a way that made it clear he meant every word. "And don't think I won't know. I've made sure you're well looked after. The security men outside your door are there for your protection. Don't make me regret it."
Raya's breath caught. Of course, Luke wasn't dense—he'd clearly figured out something was wrong. Maybe he didn't know about her father's threats in full detail, but it was obvious he had some inkling that she was in danger. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Luke gave her a sharp look.
"Rest, Raya. You're no good to anyone half-dead," he muttered before turning to leave the room.
Just as he stepped out, her father walked in, like a dark shadow creeping into her fragile sense of safety. Mr. White stood in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room before landing on her. The familiar sneer curled his lips as he sauntered closer, the door closing ominously behind him.
"Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Look at you, playing the victim again."
Raya's heart sank. She tried to muster the strength to stand her ground, but her body was still weak, and her mind, filled with the fear of him, was even weaker.
"You know," he said, his tone suddenly turning mocking, "I saw you with that boss of yours. A little cozy, weren't you?" He chuckled darkly. "You're nothing but a little whore, trying to seduce him, huh? What did you think? That he'd save you?"
Raya's throat tightened. "It's not like that," she whispered, but her words felt small and useless.
Her father's face twisted into rage. "Don't lie to me," he spat. "You'll do whatever it takes to please him because that's the only way you're getting out of this mess. You think I don't know? You think I don't have eyes on you?. Well, you're going to get close to him. Closer than ever. Seduce him. Get him to pay more. More money for you which is more for me too."He said with a sneaky smile
Raya's eyes widened in horror. "I won't do that," she said, her voice firmer now, even though her hands were trembling.
He slapped her hard across the face, the sound echoing in the room. Her cheek stung, tears welling in her eyes as she held her face in shock.
"You don't have a choice," he hissed. "You'll do it, or else."
He turned to leave, and with one last venomous glare, he walked out, leaving her shaking, a deep sense of dread sinking into her bones. She collapsed onto the bed, her mind reeling. She couldn't pull Luke into this mess. She couldn't let her father's twisted plan take hold. But what choice did she have?Raya sat silently on the edge of the hospital bed, her mind still reeling from her father's recent visit. The sting from his slap had long faded, but the emotional scars ran deep. His cruel words echoed in her mind, threatening to engulf her in the darkness she had tried so hard to escape. She stared out the window, watching the rain trickle down in steady streams, mirroring the heaviness she felt inside.
A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. It opened slowly, and to her surprise, it was Mrs. Ruby, the head secretary. She walked in with a kind but serious expression, followed by two nurses who began preparing to move Raya.
"You're being transferred to a VIP single room," Mrs. Ruby said quietly, as though it was something not to be discussed further.
"VIP room? But why? I don't need—" Raya began, confused and wary of any change, especially when it involved more attention.
Mrs. Ruby gave her a small smile. "On Mr. Heistens' orders. He wants you comfortable and well-rested."
Raya's heart sank. She wasn't sure what to think. Did Luke know what was going on? Did he suspect something? Or was this just another display of power, showing her how he could control everything, even where she stayed? But as she looked at Mrs. Ruby, she sensed there was no ulterior motive—just genuine concern.
The move happened swiftly, and soon Raya found herself in a large, luxurious hospital room. It was more like a hotel suite than a typical hospital room. The bed was large and comfortable, the walls painted a soft, calming color, and the windows offered a stunning view of the city skyline. There were no other patients, no constant buzzing of nurses or machines. It was quiet. Peaceful. For the first time in what felt like ages, she could breathe.
Over the next few weeks, Raya healed both physically and emotionally. Luke, in his usual distant and cold manner, ensured her recovery went smoothly, but always from afar. He never visited her directly, though she often caught glimpses of him checking in with the doctors or passing by her room when he thought she wasn't looking. It was strange—this man, who had been so harsh with her in the past, now seemed to care about her wellbeing, even if he was too proud to show it openly.
Every morning, Mrs. Ruby would visit with updates from the office, as well as medication schedules that, to Raya's surprise, were all meticulously tracked by Mr. Luke himself. Even from a distance, he ensured that she took her pills, rested, and stayed out of work until she was fully recovered.
One day, while going through her medication schedule, Mrs. Ruby let it slip.
"Mr. Heistens has been very adamant that you follow the doctor's orders," she said, smiling softly. "He's keeping a close eye on you."
Raya blinked. "Why would he do that? He doesn't even like me."
Mrs. Ruby chuckled. "He has his ways of showing concern, even if they're... unconventional. He may not say it, but I've worked with him long enough to know when he's worried."
Worried? Luke Heistens worried about her? Raya found it hard to believe, but there was a small, nagging voice in the back of her mind that wondered if there was more to him than the cold, hard businessman he projected.
Finally, after weeks of rest, Raya was discharged from the hospital. Her body had regained its strength, and while the emotional wounds left by her father's abuse still lingered, she felt more determined than ever to face her reality.
Back at work, things were different. The environment was as busy as ever, but Luke Heistens seemed to have softened toward her, though only slightly. He never directly addressed her in a caring manner, but his actions spoke volumes. He made sure her workload was manageable, often instructing her to go home on time even when the office was buzzing with activity. And though he maintained his stoic, no-nonsense persona, there were moments where Raya could sense he was watching her, making sure she wasn't overexerting herself.
One Friday afternoon, when the office was particularly hectic, Luke called Raya into his office. She entered, hands sweaty, unsure of what to expect. His face was, as always, unreadable.
"Miss White," he said, his voice as steady as ever, "I assume you're taking your medication as prescribed."
Raya hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, sir."
He raised an eyebrow, as if skeptical. "Good. Because if I find out you're not, you're out. Understood?"
She blinked, taken aback. His threats were always so blunt, but this one carried an odd weight. It didn't feel like just a threat—it felt like concern, though buried under layers of his usual coldness.
"Yes, sir," she replied, her voice firmer this time.
Luke nodded, then turned his attention back to his tablet. "You're dismissed."
As she walked out, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of gratitude, even if his mannerisms were abrasive. He had been there, silently helping her recover, giving her the space and time she needed, and somehow ensuring her father's influence didn't creep into her work life.
The days that followed were a blur. Raya became more withdrawn, sinking into a depression that she hid behind a mask of professionalism. She avoided Luke as much as possible, refusing to let him see the darkness that had taken over her life. She didn't want to drag him into her personal hell. But her body was deteriorating, and she could feel the weight of her situation pressing down on her every day.
Finally, the day of her paycheck came. With it came the release of her aunt Maggie and Cassey. The moment they were reunited, Raya broke down, hugging them both as if she'd never let go. They held each other tightly, their sobs mingling together, their tears a release of the fear and agony they'd all endured.
But even in that moment of relief, her father's words still hung over her like a dark cloud. He was never going to let her go, not fully. And as he'd threatened, he was now pushing her to get close to Luke, to seduce him for more money.
When she had tried to resist, her father had slapped her again, the force of his hand sending her reeling. The sting of the slap wasn't as bad as the sting of his words, though.
"You'll do as I say, or I'll make sure you never see your precious Aunt again," he had threatened.
After their reunion, Raya took Maggie and Cassey to the hospital to ensure they were okay. They were shaken but physically unharmed. When they finally returned home, they ate together quietly, the weight of their shared trauma pressing down on them.
Later that night, as they sat in the living room, her aunt Maggie finally opened up, telling Raya everything that had happened while they were held captive. Cassey's small voice joined in, and soon, the three of them were crying together, clinging to one another as they tried to piece themselves back together.
But even in that moment of familial love and relief, Raya knew her nightmare was far from ove