Chapter 009: Jervis Offers Sarah an Unexpected Escape.
In the peaceful sanctuary of the park, the chaos of my life was absent. The crisp air nipped at my skin as the bare branches of the trees stretched toward a gray sky, and tall shadows twisted darkly like veins along that frozen pond. The sound resembled the innocent laughter of children from the playground, and it seemed almost unrent.
I curled my fingers into my coat and pulled it tighter around me. The chill wasn’t enough to keep me out. Lilith's taunts and Rowan's suffocating control swirled in my mind, each memory digging more profound than the last, tearing me apart. The only reprieve I had was being here, away from the house. Still, even here, my mind was heavy, weighing me down.
A small part of me had hoped he would find me. I couldn’t help it; it was stupid and pathetic, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t help but recall the warmth of Jervis’s smile and how he looked at me like I meant something. No one had looked at me like that in so long.
“Sarah?” Softly, his voice came from behind, across the stillness.
I turned quickly, my heart pounding. He was standing a few feet away, his hands in his coat pockets. His breath clouded in the cold air, but his green eyes remained warm and steady, locked on mine.
I whispered, “Hey.” “What are you doing here?”
His boots crunched softly on the gravel as he took a step closer. I was walking by and saw you sitting here. "I thought I’d check on you. Are you okay?”
I nodded, but the lip weighted on my tongue. “Just needed some air.”
He didn’t press me or fill the silence with empty words. He sat down beside me on the bench instead. His presence was solid and grounding, and I didn't feel utterly alone for the first time all day.
After a moment, in a gentle yet firm tone, he said, "You don't look okay."
I laughed a shaky laugh and wrapped my arms around myself. “What gave it away?”
He smiled softly but knowingly. You possess an air of weightlessness. “That’s not a favorable look for you.”
I glanced down at my gloved hands, fiddling with the edge of one. “Maybe I am.”
He moved closer, just enough that I could feel his warmth through the layers of my coat. “And you don’t need to carry it alone.”
His words struck something—a place I’d buried for so long. My throat tightened around the words I wanted to spill out, and I hesitated. But he didn’t rush me. His patience wrapped around me like a blanket, and he just sat there.
Finally, I said, “I feel stuck.” My voice was barely audible. “I feel like I’m drowning, and no one even notices.”
The contact of his hand on mine—lightly, hesitantly—carefully sent a spark through me. I looked up, studying him, to see the concern in his eyes and almost couldn’t take it.
He said, his voice firm, “You don’t deserve that.” “You deserve better, Sarah. So much better.”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I shook my head. ‘It’s not that simple, Jervis.’ It’s... complicated.”
His tone was steady, unwavering: “Complicated doesn’t mean impossible.” You’re stronger than you think. You don’t see it yet.”
His voice was sincere, and it made my chest ache. Being near him was safe, but it was also dangerous, akin to being too close to a fire. I wanted to lean into his warmth, to let him pull me out of the cold, but fear kept me from doing so.
I said, my voice cracking, “Rowan wouldn’t let me leave.” “You don’t just walk away from a man like that.”
Jervis’s green eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened. Sarah, Rowan doesn’t own you. You’re not his possession.”
I whispered. He thinks I am. “I don’t know how to fight that,” I said.
His knee brushed against mine as Jervis turned toward me. He said softly, “You don’t have to fight alone.” “Let me help you.”
They were like a lifeline, a hand yelling into the darkness. But they also terrified me. His gaze was too intense; he leaned closer, and I couldn’t pull away.
“I can’t drag you into this,” I whispered.
He said firmly, “You’re not dragging me into anything.” “I’m choosing this. I’m choosing you.”
His voice was honest, and it cracked something inside me. I stared at him, really stared at him, and for a moment, everything else fell away. He had softer eyes, which I couldn't describe but made my heart race.
I said, my voice trembling, “Jervis.” “I don’t know if I can do this,” I said.
He said gently, “You don’t have to decide right now.” “Just... think about it. Imagine what life would be like if you weren’t tied to him.”
His words lingered in the atmosphere, brimming with potential. I wanted to believe in his lie and in a world where I was free, but I was too scared. My hands were trembling in my lap, so I looked down.
His fingers brushed against mine again, and Jeff reached out. It was barely a touch, almost hesitant, but the shiver it imparted to me... Yet I looked up at him, and then the sadness in his stare caught me breathless.
He said softly, his voice low, “Sarah.” You deserve to feel alive again. To feel... everything.”
My heart pounded, warmth rising in my chest and spreading like a fire. The manner in which he gazed at me was intoxicating, and for a moment, I forgot about Rowan and everything else, focusing solely on Jervis. His hand was near mine, and he leaned in slightly, and I felt myself sway closer.
The moment was shattered when my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a jarring sound, pulling me back to reality. I pulled it out, my stomach sinking as I saw Rowan’s name on the screen. The message was short and cold: *Come home. Now.*
Reality slammed back down on me as I gazed at the screen. Jervis observed my reaction, a frown appearing on his brows.
“What is it?” he asked.
I whispered “It’s Rowan.” “He wants me to come home.”
Jervis’s green eyes flickered with anger; his jaw tightened. He didn’t say anything for a moment. He reached out, his hand covering mine.
'You don't have to go back,' he said, his voice steady and firm. “You have a choice.”
I shook my head, and tears welled up in my eyes. “It’s not that simple.”
“Perhaps so,” he said to me gently but insistently. “Perhaps you’re just too accustomed to believing it’s not.”
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to say yes, to take his hand and run. But the fear was intense. I pulled my hand away and stood. “I should go.”
There was an understanding pain in Jervis's features as he stood. He said softly, “I am here, Sarah.” “Whenever you’re ready.”
And he walked me to my car with the silence between us heavy with unspoken words. He put a hand on my arm as I opened the door, stopping me.
His voice was low and intense: ‘You deserve better.’ “And you know it.”
I couldn’t respond, didn’t respond. I hopped into the car, the car started, and my hands shook on the wheel. In my mind, his words rang, each a pronouncement against my entire understanding.
What if he was right? What if I did deserve better? What if I finally decided to reach for it?
CHAPTER 010: Sarah Discovers Rowan’s Sinister Connection The house was unnaturally quiet—the quiet that pressed on my chest and made my breathing hard. My fingers curled into the fabric of my skirt, my mind racing, and I sat on the edge of the bed. Lilith’s words for days had haunted me. ‘You have no idea what he’s done for you.’ Her smugness in her tone and the curl of her lips into that infuriating smirk was like a needle in my brain.I couldn’t shake it. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I glanced at the hallway, where Rowan’s study stood, like a forbidden gate. Maybe the answers I needed were hidden with the secrets he wouldn’t tell me. I stood, legs shaky but resolved. I couldn’t spend a moment longer living this life filled with lies and half-truths. I pushed the door to his study open, and it creaked softly. It was heavy inside air thickened with the smell of leather and wood. In the centre sat Rowan’s desk, a monument to his authority. It was perfectly organized, and everything
CHAPTER 011The light was dim, and the dim light cast long shadows on the walls. I gripped the edge of the desk with my trembling hands. Rowan’s footsteps echoed down the hall, every one of them slowly tightening the knot in my stomach. I didn’t have much time. The polished surface held the photo I had found, its torn edges taunting me with answers I'd never get. Who was she, and why did Rowan keep her from me?His voice, near silence, sliced through. “Sarah.”I froze. I turned to face him; the air grew heavier, suffocating. In the doorway he stood, his tall figure blocking the faint light falling from the hallway. His eyes were glacial, sharp enough to cut. They homed in on the desk where the photo and papers were. “What are you doing in here?” His voice was calm—too calm. That made it worse. It was a moment of tranquility before the impending chaos.I forced the words out, my throat tight, ‘I was looking for answers.’ "These are the answers I found, and they don't align with what y
CHAPTER 012The elegance of the setting was akin to a battlefield in disguise. The soft glow of the chandelier illuminated the crystal glasses, while the silverware stood off to the side, untouched, and tension simmered between us. Across from me, Lilith sat with a weaponized smirk of cruelty. The light illuminated her blonde hair, casting a shimmering halo around the devilish light in her eyes.He sat at the head of the table, his face distant as Rowan took a sip from his glass. Despite the torment, he remained silent and unfazed. The oppressive atmosphere had destroyed my appetite so that every bite of food felt like swallowing stones.Lilith’s voice rang out syrupy sweet.”Sarah.” That sent a shiver down my spine. Tonight you’ve been so quiet. You’re not even here, almost.”I tightened my grip on the fork until the metal dug into my palm. “I have nothing to say.”Her gentle laughter resonated like a hammer on a chalkboard. “Well, you should. It must be exhausting to act like the per
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
CHAPTER 014The air in my room was suffocating—the kind of weight that clung to your chest and wouldn’t let go. It was dark; the only light from my laptop, and the only sound was he faint hum of the laptop fan. Megan’s email was open, and her message was brief and to the point. She never asked questions, never had. That’s why I trusted her.My finger hesitated momentarily, and I clicked the first link. A news article popped up, its bold headline sending a chill through me: “The Missing Whistleblower and Pharma Giant.”I scanned the text, and my heart sank. Robert Gaines. I didn’t know his name, but I knew his story. At one point, Gaines was a former employee of Flint Pharmaceuticals who had filed complaints about unethical business practices. He vanished just weeks later. No trace. No leads. The article said the case had gone cold, but his family had desperately pleaded for answers. Rowan’s name was barely mentioned, just a shadow at the story's edge, and the company denied involvemen
CHAPTER 015The hallway outside of Jervis’s apartment smelled like old carpet and cleaning solution, the kind that barely covered up the years of wear and tear. My hand trembled slightly as I raised my fist to knock on the door, and I hesitated. Everything felt heavier tonight—my breath, my heartbeat, even the air seemed to press against my chest.The door swung open before I could make contact, and there he was. Jervis. His blonde hair was a tousled mess, as he’d just been running his fingers through it before turning his fists and anger over something in frustration. His glasses were crooked on his nose, but his eyes softened when they landed on me. His familiar presence loosened the knot in my stomach for a moment.He stepped aside to let me in, saying, "Sarah." "I was wondering when you'd come."I walked past him, but I couldn’t find the words. His apartment was warm compared to the icy knot of tension coiled inside my chest. He went through the door leading into his dorm—all of w
CHAPTER 001The only thing you could hear was the espresso machine humming to itself and the slight scrape of a chair against the wooden floor. The streets of New York were blanketed in a pristine layer of white snow that fell steadily outside. I leaned slightly against the window, pretending to clean a stubborn smudge that didn’t actually exist, and my breath fogged the glass.People my age walked down the street out there, their laughter muted by the thick panes of glass. Outside they stopped in a group, bundled into scarves and coats and carrying armsful of paper bags from the bakery next door. Another girl pressed a muffin to her face; her eyes widened, announcing the muffin to her friend in a way that may or may not have been a joke. Their voices filled with warmth and joy; they laughed.I didn’t know I was staring until one of them looked up and made eye contact. I embarrassed myself quickly, turning away and concentrating hard on the counter that I was wiping down. Regret gnawe
CHAPTER 015The hallway outside of Jervis’s apartment smelled like old carpet and cleaning solution, the kind that barely covered up the years of wear and tear. My hand trembled slightly as I raised my fist to knock on the door, and I hesitated. Everything felt heavier tonight—my breath, my heartbeat, even the air seemed to press against my chest.The door swung open before I could make contact, and there he was. Jervis. His blonde hair was a tousled mess, as he’d just been running his fingers through it before turning his fists and anger over something in frustration. His glasses were crooked on his nose, but his eyes softened when they landed on me. His familiar presence loosened the knot in my stomach for a moment.He stepped aside to let me in, saying, "Sarah." "I was wondering when you'd come."I walked past him, but I couldn’t find the words. His apartment was warm compared to the icy knot of tension coiled inside my chest. He went through the door leading into his dorm—all of w
CHAPTER 014The air in my room was suffocating—the kind of weight that clung to your chest and wouldn’t let go. It was dark; the only light from my laptop, and the only sound was he faint hum of the laptop fan. Megan’s email was open, and her message was brief and to the point. She never asked questions, never had. That’s why I trusted her.My finger hesitated momentarily, and I clicked the first link. A news article popped up, its bold headline sending a chill through me: “The Missing Whistleblower and Pharma Giant.”I scanned the text, and my heart sank. Robert Gaines. I didn’t know his name, but I knew his story. At one point, Gaines was a former employee of Flint Pharmaceuticals who had filed complaints about unethical business practices. He vanished just weeks later. No trace. No leads. The article said the case had gone cold, but his family had desperately pleaded for answers. Rowan’s name was barely mentioned, just a shadow at the story's edge, and the company denied involvemen
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
CHAPTER 013I stepped inside the house, which was muted but not the peaceful calm. It was heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. I walked towards the living room, my heart pounding. Sprawled like a queen on her throne was Lilith on the couch. She had her legs crossed, a phone in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. When she heard me, she looked up, and that infuriating smirk spread across her face.She snorted, her voice rasping with mockery and filling up with surprise. “Back so soon?” “I thought you’d finally grown a spine and left for good.”I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame so hard my knuckles went white. “We need to talk.”Her smirk never wavered as she tilted her head. “Oh? ‘What could we possibly have to talk about?’”Moving into the room, each movement was deliberate, accomplished with a weight and a heaviness, as if I were preparing to fight. The simple words I wanted to hear came tumbling out of me. “I want to know the truth, Lilith.”A sharp, cru
CHAPTER 012The elegance of the setting was akin to a battlefield in disguise. The soft glow of the chandelier illuminated the crystal glasses, while the silverware stood off to the side, untouched, and tension simmered between us. Across from me, Lilith sat with a weaponized smirk of cruelty. The light illuminated her blonde hair, casting a shimmering halo around the devilish light in her eyes.He sat at the head of the table, his face distant as Rowan took a sip from his glass. Despite the torment, he remained silent and unfazed. The oppressive atmosphere had destroyed my appetite so that every bite of food felt like swallowing stones.Lilith’s voice rang out syrupy sweet.”Sarah.” That sent a shiver down my spine. Tonight you’ve been so quiet. You’re not even here, almost.”I tightened my grip on the fork until the metal dug into my palm. “I have nothing to say.”Her gentle laughter resonated like a hammer on a chalkboard. “Well, you should. It must be exhausting to act like the per
CHAPTER 011The light was dim, and the dim light cast long shadows on the walls. I gripped the edge of the desk with my trembling hands. Rowan’s footsteps echoed down the hall, every one of them slowly tightening the knot in my stomach. I didn’t have much time. The polished surface held the photo I had found, its torn edges taunting me with answers I'd never get. Who was she, and why did Rowan keep her from me?His voice, near silence, sliced through. “Sarah.”I froze. I turned to face him; the air grew heavier, suffocating. In the doorway he stood, his tall figure blocking the faint light falling from the hallway. His eyes were glacial, sharp enough to cut. They homed in on the desk where the photo and papers were. “What are you doing in here?” His voice was calm—too calm. That made it worse. It was a moment of tranquility before the impending chaos.I forced the words out, my throat tight, ‘I was looking for answers.’ "These are the answers I found, and they don't align with what y
CHAPTER 010: Sarah Discovers Rowan’s Sinister Connection The house was unnaturally quiet—the quiet that pressed on my chest and made my breathing hard. My fingers curled into the fabric of my skirt, my mind racing, and I sat on the edge of the bed. Lilith’s words for days had haunted me. ‘You have no idea what he’s done for you.’ Her smugness in her tone and the curl of her lips into that infuriating smirk was like a needle in my brain.I couldn’t shake it. I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I glanced at the hallway, where Rowan’s study stood, like a forbidden gate. Maybe the answers I needed were hidden with the secrets he wouldn’t tell me. I stood, legs shaky but resolved. I couldn’t spend a moment longer living this life filled with lies and half-truths. I pushed the door to his study open, and it creaked softly. It was heavy inside air thickened with the smell of leather and wood. In the centre sat Rowan’s desk, a monument to his authority. It was perfectly organized, and everything
Chapter 009: Jervis Offers Sarah an Unexpected Escape. In the peaceful sanctuary of the park, the chaos of my life was absent. The crisp air nipped at my skin as the bare branches of the trees stretched toward a gray sky, and tall shadows twisted darkly like veins along that frozen pond. The sound resembled the innocent laughter of children from the playground, and it seemed almost unrent.I curled my fingers into my coat and pulled it tighter around me. The chill wasn’t enough to keep me out. Lilith's taunts and Rowan's suffocating control swirled in my mind, each memory digging more profound than the last, tearing me apart. The only reprieve I had was being here, away from the house. Still, even here, my mind was heavy, weighing me down.A small part of me had hoped he would find me. I couldn’t help it; it was stupid and pathetic, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t help but recall the warmth of Jervis’s smile and how he looked at me like I meant something. No one had looked at me li
Chapter 008: Lilith’s Dangerous Game and a Shocking Revelation!Dinner had been unbearable. Rowan had barely spoken to me, his eyes darting between his phone and Lilith’s too loud laughter from the other side of the table. I stood at the sink, scrubbing plates that weren’t even mine, as my mind turned over with frustration. The maid installed a water tank on the flat roof and positioned a ladder inside the house to access the water. She then pumped it into a bucket, which she dragged into the house every morning and night for me to wash with, if I remembered to ask for it.I turned off the faucet and stacked the last plate on the drying rack, but I didn’t go upstairs. Voices. The voices in Rowan's study were low and sharp. I froze, straining to listen. It was Rowan and Lilith.Lilith hissed, slowly through the thick wooden door, ‘You’re losing your grip.’ “She’s starting to notice things,” he said.Rowan’s voice was tense. “She doesn’t know anything.” “It wouldn’t matter even if she di