Raya sat strapped to the chair, her skin pale and clammy, her wrists bound tightly with thick ropes that bit into her flesh. Her wide, terror-filled eyes flicked around the dimly lit room, desperately seeking an escape. Towering over her was her father, his face contorted in a twisted mask of fury, veins bulging as he glared down at her.
"You left," he spat, pacing back and forth. "I didn't care that you left home; that was your first mistake, but not your last." His voice was low, menacing, like a snake ready to strike. "I told you it was a waste of time, but you just had to defy me. You even quit your job—my only instruction! And what did you do? You threw it all away. Do you think I'm some kind of joke?" His eyes gleamed with a dangerous fire.
Raya trembled, her heart hammering in her chest. Every breath felt heavy, her mind racing to anticipate his next move.
"I gave you one simple rule—one!" he continued, his voice rising. "You're just like your mother, defiant to the end. Well, you're going to join her sooner than I planned if you don't start showing respect."
He stopped pacing and leaned in close, his breath hot against her face. "For weeks, I've been plotting how to deal with your insolence. And now, I've found the perfect solution. How about I give you something you'll never forget? A scar, a mark to remind you of your place." He grinned maliciously, the dim light casting shadows over his face, giving him an even more monstrous appearance.
Turning to the two men standing in the corner, he barked, "Heat the iron. Let's make this quick. Maggie's bound to find us soon enough."
Raya's pulse quickened, panic surging through her veins. Her father's words echoed in her mind, but she could barely comprehend them. The men moved to the fireplace, pulling a long iron rod from the flames, its tip glowing red-hot.
"This'll leave my mark on you forever," her father sneered, lifting the iron closer to her skin. "And when Maggie and your little friend Cassie see you, they'll know I've won. I should've done this long ago. It would've stopped Maggie from ever thinking she had a chance."
Just as he raised the iron, the door crashed open, and in a blur of motion, Cassie barreled into the room. Without hesitation, she lunged at Raya's father, striking the iron out of his hand with a powerful blow. The searing metal clattered to the ground, and Cassie wasted no time throwing herself between Raya and her father.
"Back off!" Cassie snarled, standing in front of Raya protectively. Raya's father groaned in pain, clutching his side where Cassie had hit him. Before he could react, Cassie snatched up the fallen iron, ignoring the pain as it seared her hands, and swung it toward the men.
"Get away from her!" Cassie shouted, using the iron to ward them off as Aunt Maggie rushed forward to untie Raya. The heat from the iron hissed in the air, and the men hesitated, unsure of how to approach Cassie. Their hesitation gave Aunt Maggie just enough time to free Raya from the restraints.
The moment she was untied, Raya collapsed into her aunt's arms, her body weak and trembling. Cassie kept the men at bay, waving the iron toward them, forcing them to retreat. They backed out of the room, eyes locked on Cassie's weapon. Once she was sure they wouldn't follow, Cassie dropped the iron and bolted for the door, guiding Aunt Maggie and Raya toward the exit.
They ran, their hearts pounding as the sound of footsteps echoed behind them. Mr. White and his men were giving chase, their shouts growing louder as they fled through the maze of hallways. By the time they reached Luke's car, Cassie flung the iron into the street and dove into the back seat with Raya and Aunt Maggie.
"Go, go, go!" Cassie shouted, slamming the door shut.
Luke didn't need to be told twice. He hit the gas, and the car sped away, tires screeching as they left Raya's father and his men behind. Through the rearview mirror, Luke could see them standing in the distance, their forms growing smaller and smaller as the car gained speed. But his gut told him this wasn't over—not yet.
In the backseat, Raya was shaking violently, her breaths coming in shallow, panicked gasps. Aunt Maggie held her tightly, whispering soft words of comfort, though her own face was drained of color, her body tense.
They drove in silence until they reached Luke's penthouse in the Upper East Side. The towering building stood as a symbol of safety—at least, for now.
"Why here?" Aunt Maggie asked Luke quietly as they pulled into the driveway. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were full of questions.
Luke parked and turned to face them. "It's the safest place for now," he said firmly. "Whoever was after Raya won't stop. Not after this. They'll come again, and this time, they'll make sure there are no loose ends. You're not safe at home."
Aunt Maggie exhaled, not arguing. Cassie nodded, still rubbing her burnt hands absentmindedly. "He's right. We can't go back."
"I'll have my men get your things from your house," Luke said, stepping out of the car. "I guarantee they're waiting for you there."
Once inside, Luke showed them to their rooms, but Raya didn't wait. She detached herself from her aunt's hold and, without a word, made her way to a specific room. It wasn't just any room—it was the one she had stayed in while working for Luke.
She ignored their confused stares and closed the door behind her, locking it.
Aunt Maggie and Cassie exchanged glances. "How does she know about that room?" Cassie asked, suspicion lacing her voice.
Luke, noticing the tension, explained quickly. "She stayed here during work. It's nothing."
Aunt Maggie nodded but walked up to Raya's door and tried the handle. Locked. She rested her forehead against the wood and sighed.
"Raya," she called softly. "I'll give you space to rest, but please… don't do anything foolish."
Inside, there was only silence.
As the night settled in, the exhaustion of the day caught up to them. The housekeeper brought food, but none of them had any appetite. They sat quietly, knowing this was just the beginning of a much darker chapter.
For days, Raya had kept herself locked away, only emerging briefly to take sips of water or grab small bits of food she barely ate. The rest of the time, she would retreat back into her room, shutting out the world. Aunt Maggie tried, time and again, to coax her out, but it was like battling gravity—an impossible task. Raya remained in her self-imposed isolation, her pain wrapped tightly around her like a shield.
Cassie, despite Aunt Maggie's protests, decided to return to work, promising she'd be back early every day. Luke, too, had returned to his job, overwhelmed by responsibilities but still checking in regularly. Yet it was Aunt Maggie who stayed, persistently trying to break through to Raya, even though it seemed hopeless. Luke reassured her, telling her to give it time. "She'll come around," he said.
One night, as Luke worked late in his study, he stepped out to the kitchen to make himself some coffee. He needed something to keep himself awake. As he passed by the balcony, he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Moving to close it, he paused, seeing someone curled up in one of the chairs.
Quietly, Luke stepped outside, approaching the figure. It was Raya, her knees drawn up to her chest, her eyes distant and heavy with thought. She was so lost in her mind that she hadn't even noticed him. He gently tapped her shoulder, and she jumped, startled. Her eyes met his, and she quickly tried to stand, out of courtesy, but Luke waved her down.
"Don't worry," he said softly, sitting beside her.
The night was still around them, the city below glittering in the dark. They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the unspoken words heavy between them. Finally, Luke broke the quiet.
"You know, when I was younger, my mom and I were abused by my father." His voice was calm but laced with pain. Raya turned to him, her face a mixture of shock and confusion. "It started with little things—his anger, his manipulation—but it escalated. He was violent, controlling. My mother tried to leave him multiple times, but he always found a way to drag her back. He was...obsessed. A full-blown narcissist."
Raya's expression shifted from confusion to understanding. She never imagined Luke had lived through something like that. To her, he was always so composed, so strong and always had everything.
"He didn't stop until he was arrested for trying to kill my mom's first boyfriend after their divorce. It wasn't until he went to prison that we could finally escape from he's control over us . We moved from California to New York, where my mom met my stepdad. He was the complete opposite of my father—kind, steady, patient. He saved us, in a way."
Raya's eyes widened in surprise. This story was so far from anything she had ever imagined about Luke's life.
"I know people say they understand how you feel, but they don't. Most don't have a clue. But I do. I know what it's like to live in that constant state of fear, of trying to survive someone else's control. It messes you up, Raya. Even years later, it haunts you. But you—" Luke looked at her intensely. "You have your aunt, and you have Cassey . You have people who are here for you. And that's something I never had.Then, I had to be strong enough for my mum to lean on me because I was all she's got but deeply I wanted somewhere I could rest too and find comfort " he smiles with he's eyes filled with pain.
Raya dropped her gaze, embarrassed by how distant she had been to the very people who loved her. Luke's voice softened further. "Cassie... I know she feels hurt that you won't trust her enough to let her in. You're her 'ride or die.' Imagine how it feels for her to see you like this, and you won't lean on her."
Raya blinked back tears, the wall around her heart beginning to crack. Luke reached out, brushing a tear from her cheek, and offered a small smile. "I know it feels impossible, but don't carry this alone. It will consume you. You may feel numb now, but one trigger, and it all comes crashing back. Trust me.Things are going to work out sincerely we will find a way to get you away from your Father's shackles "
The silence hung between them again, but this time, it felt different. There was a shift in the air, something unspoken yet understood.
Luke, sensing the need to lighten the mood, threw in a joke. "You know, if I had a dollar for every time my stepdad saved me from a bad situation, I'd probably still only have enough to buy a land . But I think I'd use it on you instead of buying gummy bears."
Raya's lips twitched, and then, unexpectedly, she smiled—a genuine, bright smile because she knew how obsessed Luke was with gummy bears. Luke was momentarily starstruck by it. Her smile was so rare these days that he almost forgot how radiant it was.
"You should smile like that more often," he said, grinning. "It looks good on you."
Raya's smile faded, and the tension between them grew thick. They locked eyes in a wordless exchange, a silent contest of emotions neither was willing to fully express. Luke stood up first, trying to ease the tension. "I should get back to work," he said, stepping toward the balcony railing. He gazed out at the city.
Just as he began to turn back, he felt something—someone—leaning against his back. He stilled, surprised, then heard Raya's voice, soft but firm.
"Don't turn around," she whispered. "You said I should lean on someone, right? Your back looked strong enough. I thought maybe I could just...lean for a while."
Luke's heart clenched. He felt her tears soaking through his shirt, but he didn't move. After a moment, he turned slowly and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. Raya buried her face in his chest, and for the first time in a long time, she let herself sob freely. Luke held her as her body trembled with the release of all she had been holding in. For the first time she found someone who could sincerely relate to how she felt, this made her cry even more.
"Do you want some hot milk?" Luke whispered gently after a while, his voice soothing. "I hear it helps when you can't sleep."
Raya pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes, and nodded. Luke smiled, took her hand, and led her toward the kitchen. She sat on the counter, watching as he moved around the room, preparing the milk.
As she watched him—this man who had been through so much but still stood tall—she realized that maybe, just maybe, she could find her way out of the darkness too.