Raya sat at the small café table, stirring her coffee absentmindedly as her aunt, Maggie, sat across from her with an expectant look on her face. The café was cozy, warm lights casting a soft glow on the tables, but despite the inviting atmosphere, there was a deep tension hanging between them.
Maggie had noticed it the moment she found out Raya had moved out of the house without saying a word. Her heart had sunk when the workplace confirmed that Raya hadn't quit her job, but instead had been going back and forth, hiding something beneath the surface. Now, sitting across from her, Maggie couldn't shake the feeling that her niece was in deep trouble.
"Raya," Maggie began, her voice gentle but firm, "Why did you leave without telling me? And don't give me that 'I didn't want to worry you' line. You know that's not how family works."
Raya looked down at her cup, avoiding her aunt's piercing gaze. She had rehearsed her excuses a thousand times, but now, under the weight of Maggie's concern, the words felt hollow. Still, she took a deep breath and spoke.
"I just… I didn't want to be a burden, Aunt Maggie. You've already done so much for me and Cassie. I couldn't stay and have you worrying about me all the time," she said, her voice quiet but controlled.
Maggie narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "That's not it, is it?" she asked, leaning forward. "Something's wrong, Raya. I can see it in your eyes. You've been distant, both with me and at work. Even when you talk about work, it's like you're barely there. What is it? What are you not telling me?"
Raya felt her heart racing. She wanted to tell her aunt the truth—to spill everything about her father's threats, the constant fear she lived under, and the sickening weight of his control. But every time she tried to form the words, something stopped her. The fear of dragging her aunt into the dangerous mess, the shame of being manipulated by her father, the feeling of helplessness—it all choked her, leaving her speechless.
"I'm just having a hard time at work," she muttered, forcing a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It's been… stressful. Mr. Heistens is demanding, and I guess it's getting to me more than I thought."
Maggie frowned, clearly not buying the explanation. "Work stress doesn't explain why you're avoiding me, or why you're living in some place you won't even tell me about. You're hiding something, Raya. Please, talk to me."
Raya's grip tightened around her cup. She wanted to scream, to break down and tell her aunt everything. The nights spent crying herself to sleep, the constant anxiety of her father's looming threats, the feeling of suffocation from trying to hold it all together. But she couldn't. She just couldn't.
She swallowed hard, her throat tightening with emotion, but before she could respond, a man from a nearby table stood up and walked past them, leaving a tip on the counter as he left. His departure barely registered with her, but the noise of the door closing seemed to break something inside her.
Without warning, tears began streaming down her face. She tried to stop them, but the dam had broken, and there was no holding back now. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs as Maggie reached out, gently holding her hand across the table.
"Raya, honey, please, talk to me," Maggie whispered, her voice filled with concern. "What's going on?"
But all Raya could do was cry. The weight of everything she had been holding in for weeks, months, was too much. Her father's threats, the pressure at work, the fear of failure, of being dragged back into her past—all of it came crashing down.
"I-I'm sorry," Raya choked out between sobs. "I'm so sorry, Aunt Maggie. I just… I don't know what to do. I'm scared."
Maggie's face softened with sympathy as she squeezed Raya's hand. "Scared of what, Raya? Whatever it is, we can figure it out together. You don't have to carry this by yourself."
Raya shook her head, trying to compose herself. "It's my father," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He's… he's making me do things, controlling me. I didn't want to tell you because… because I didn't want you and Cassie to get hurt again."
Maggie's eyes widened in shock, but she didn't let go of Raya's hand. "What is he making you do? Has he threatened you?"
Raya nodded, her tears falling harder now. "He's been threatening me, using you and Cassie to control me. I've been trying to keep up appearances at work, but it's getting harder. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."
Maggie sat back, processing what she had just heard. Her face hardened with resolve. "We'll figure this out, Raya. He's not going to keep controlling you like this. You don't have to face him alone."
But even as Maggie spoke, Raya felt a familiar pang of dread settle in her stomach. Could they really escape her father's reach? Would he ever let them go?
The comforting warmth of Maggie's words helped, but the fear remained, gnawing at the edges of Raya's mind.
For now, she would hold on to her aunt's promise—but deep down, she knew this battle was far from over.
After meeting her aunt, Raya returned home, her heart still pounding in her chest. She barely made it through the door before her father's voice rang out, thick with venomous mockery.
"You really thought leaving the house would change anything?" he sneered, sitting comfortably in his usual spot. "Do you think I would just leave your aunt and Cassey alone? They're already involved, Raya. Just by coming into contact with you, they've sealed their fate. And as for that boss of yours," his voice darkened with cruel amusement, "he's been creeping into your life more and more, hasn't he?"
Raya stood frozen, her heart racing with fear. She had tried to distance herself from the suffocating hold her father had on her life, but every step she took only seemed to tighten the chains.
"Don't even think of quitting your job," he said, chuckling darkly. "You know exactly what will happen if you do. I'm dead serious."
Terror washed over her in waves, leaving her trembling as she stared at her father's cold, mocking face. That night, she couldn't stop crying. She wept until exhaustion overtook her, falling into a restless sleep, haunted by nightmares of her father's threats. Meanwhile, her aunt continued to call, desperately trying to understand what hold her father had over her, but Raya couldn't bear to explain. Every day, the men her father sent to watch her only intensified her fear, their silent, ever-present gazes a constant reminder that she was trapped.
---
One afternoon, Mr. Luke called her. He was ill and unable to come to work, but the office was still flooded with tasks that couldn't be delayed. His mother had insisted he stay home, so he asked Raya to come to his house to help him work from there.
When his driver picked her up and they arrived at the house, Raya couldn't help but be stunned. The mansion was even more magnificent than she'd imagined—grand and opulent, yet somehow inviting. The interior was luxurious, with rich furniture, cozy corners, and an air of elegance that left her momentarily speechless. A kind, older woman, the housekeeper, led her to Mr. Luke's study, where he sat at his desk, pale but determined to get some work done.
"Thanks for coming," he said with a weak smile.
They worked together for hours, quietly focused on the tasks at hand. Evening came quickly, and Mr. Luke suggested they have dinner. They sat down at the dining table, and though Raya instinctively kept her distance, Mr. Luke noticed her hesitation.
"Come closer," he said softly, motioning to a seat nearer to him. She hesitated for a moment but eventually shifted closer.
After a few moments of quiet, he looked at her, his expression thoughtful. "Why have you been avoiding me these past few days, Raya?" he asked, his tone gentle but direct. "Did I do something that made you uncomfortable? Are you afraid of me?"
Raya's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected such a question, and her mind scrambled for an answer. "No, sir, I haven't been avoiding you," she stammered, trying to keep her voice steady. "We've just been really busy, and I guess we've just missed each other."
Mr. Luke didn't seem convinced. He studied her closely, his eyes searching her face for something more. But instead of pushing, he let out a small sigh and spoke in a softer voice.
"I've been watching you these past months, Raya," he said. "And every time I see you, there's something in your eyes—like you're carrying a weight that's too heavy for one person. It feels like you're hurting, like you're slowly giving up."
Raya felt her chest tighten, her throat closing up as he continued.
"I didn't want to say anything before because I know it's personal. But you're my secretary, and that makes you part of my life. Whatever's going on in your world, don't give up, Raya. You've come too far for that."
She could feel the tears threatening to spill over, but she held them back as he spoke.
"You're one of the strongest people I know," he added, his voice filled with quiet sincerity. "But even the strongest need help sometimes. Let your guard down. Don't carry this alone. There are people who love you, and it's not a burden to let them help. In fact, it hurts more when someone you care about is suffering in silence."
The words hit her hard, and Raya could feel herself starting to break. She quickly excused herself and fled to the bathroom, her emotions boiling just beneath the surface.
She looked at herself in the mirror, and the sight made her heart ache. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. The once vibrant face had become pale and gaunt, her eyes dull and hollow, framed by dark circles. She had lost so much weight, and the toll of her father's control had worn her down to the bone. Her aunt's worried face flashed in her mind, and suddenly the tears she'd been holding back came pouring out uncontrollably.
As she sobbed, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, and her stomach dropped when she saw the message.
**"You're at his house right now, huh? Wow, you're doing well. Let's keep this money flowing. Make me proud, darling."**
It was from her father. The words cut through her like a knife, and before she knew it, a scream escaped her lips.
Moments later, the bathroom door burst open. Mr. Luke rushed in, looking panicked. He found Raya on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Without hesitation, he knelt beside her, not saying a word. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in a protective embrace.
Raya stiffened at first, the sudden contact startling her. But as she felt the warmth and strength of his embrace, something inside her broke. She clung to him, her arms wrapping tightly around him, as if he was the only thing anchoring her to the earth. The tears flowed freely, her sobs wracking her body as she finally let go of everything she had been holding inside.
Mr. Luke didn't ask any questions. He didn't push for explanations. He simply held her, offering the comfort and security she so desperately needed. His steady presence allowed her to cry out all the fear, pain, and exhaustion that had built up inside her for so long.
"I've got you," he whispered softly, his voice gentle in her ear. "You're not alone, Raya. I've got you."
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Raya believed him.