The clock ticked past one in the morning, and the rain came down in sheets. Alex pushed through the hotel’s spinning doors and spotted Ellie, huddled in the corner of the portico, trying to dodge the rain’s relentless assault.
Even there, she was getting soaked, clutching a tattered umbrella, her big, damp eyes tracking him with an intensity that made his chest tighten.
The doorman rushed over, shielding Alex with an umbrella as he declined into his fancy car.
“Alex,” Ellie’s voice called out, but he pretended not to hear, quickening his stride.
Not deterred, Ellie dashed to the car as Alex slid in, her umbrella battling the wind in a losing fight. She tugged at his arm, desperate.
“I messed up, and I’m sorry,” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper. Her head bowed, the same way she used to when she was little, even when she hadn’t done anything wrong.
Alex glanced at the sad umbrella and then at her. “What exactly did you mess up?” he snapped, though he was the one who should be apologizing.
The wind yanked the umbrella from Ellie’s hand, and she let go of Alex’s arm to wrestle it back. After a few deep breaths, she found her voice, soft but steady. “I’ll help you… with her,” she said, her words an offer wrapped in quiet resolve.
Alex, already behind the wheel, paused with the seatbelt in hand, his eyes locked on Ellie.
She stood there, eyes downcast, weighed down by the shadow of a lifetime. She had tried to escape it all, running off to college far away, but here she was, right back in the thick of it.
His face was still a thundercloud, but his voice carried a trace of curiosity. “You gonna talk back to me now?” he asked, a challenge in his tone.
Ellie shook her head, her compliance as automatic as it was unnecessary. “No,” she whispered.
Alex’s stern look softened, just a bit. “Get in,” he said, opening the door for her, a reluctant truce forming.
Ellie hesitated for a moment before climbing into the car.
Alex didn’t waste time, tossing her a towel. “Dry off,” he said, getting straight to the point.
She didn’t have time for his games. Clutching the towel with urgency, she spoke, her voice edged with desperation. “I’ve kept my end of the bargain. Can you let my brother go now?”
Alex stared at her, a dismissive snort escaping that Ellie interpreted as pure sarcasm. His gaze held hers, and she fidgeted with the towel, the silence between them thickening.
“First, give me all of Haley’s contact info,” Alex said, his hands resting easily on the steering wheel, his mood lighter. “If you play your cards right, your brother could be out tomorrow.”
Ellie looked up, her eyes meeting his. It was clear he was in control of her brother’s situation, and she felt powerless. Jaslands was Alex’s world—he could find out anything about anyone. Yet, here he was, making her jump through hoops.
“Why do you need me to give you her contact info when you could get it a million other ways?” Ellie asked, frustration seeping into her voice.
“Because you’re making this harder than it has to be,” Alex replied, pausing for effect. “The more you resist, the more I want you to do it.”
Ellie frowned at his taunting words.
Alex shot her a playful glance. “And since I’m serious about Haley… I’m planning on marrying her, so I need to be well-prepared.”
His casual mention of marriage sent Ellie’s emotions into a whirlwind. She lowered her head, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her feelings for Alex were a one-sided struggle she couldn’t control, and the pain was of her own making.
She couldn’t imagine how Haley would feel if she knew Ellie was helping Alex pursue her, or how her brother would react if he found out. But Ellie was out of options. With a heavy heart, she handed over Haley’s contact information to Alex.
“Alright, let’s hit the road,” Alex said, tucking his phone away with a pleased grin.
Ellie looked at him, puzzled. “Where exactly are we headed?”
“Back to the old homestead,” Alex answered, his voice leaving no room for debate.
She crossed her arms, determination in her eyes. “I’m not going back there,” she said, the words heavy with finality. She had left that life behind a long time ago. She’d only come to him as a last resort to help her brother.
Instead of arguing, Alex simply stepped on the gas, and the car leapt forward. Ellie’s breath hitched, but she managed to keep her scream in check.
The rain poured down, and even with the wipers on full blast, it was hard to see the road ahead. Ellie knew Alex’s temper; she wasn’t about to test his limits again. When he got mad, things could get intense.
As they raced toward the Warren Manor, Ellie kept to herself. Maybe it wasn’t all bad—she’d get to see his grandfather and parents.
Lost in her thoughts about the mess she’d have to clean up once her brother was out, Ellie was snapped back to reality by her phone buzzing in her pocket. Seeing Haley’s name flash on the screen, she quickly answered.
Haley’s voice came through frantic. “Ellie, I’m in a mess. I had to get out of the house, and now my bank cards are frozen. Can you come pick me up? I’m really in a pinch here.”
The night air was sliced by a sharp screech as Alex slammed on the brakes. Before Ellie could process the sound, Alex was already out in the downpour, pulling open her door. Without hesitation, he yanked her out and led her to the awning.
“It’s a monsoon out here, no cabs in sight. Haley can’t be out alone—it’s not safe. I’m going to get her,” he said, his tone all business. “Ellie, you stay right here. I’ll have Evan come for you. Remember him? The butler.”
Alex was back in the car and peeling out before Ellie could get a word in, leaving her standing there without even a tattered umbrella to fend off the rain.
Ellie stood there, watching the car’s red lights vanish into the night. Her eyes brimmed with tears as a familiar sadness washed over her.
His car—a two-seater—always had to make room for the one he cared about, and she was the one who had to step aside. She wrapped her arms around herself, the night and the rain masking her sobs as she let the emotions flood out.
It had been forty minutes, and there was still no sign of Evan. The darkness around her felt suffocating, and a shiver of fear ran down her spine.
She fumbled with her phone, the glow of the screen offering small comfort as she checked her location. Luckily, her apartment was a manageable walk, just over an hour away.
Drenched and without an umbrella, Ellie resorted to an old trick—raising her bag above her head—and made a beeline for her apartment. No point in waiting around; it was clear she was on her own.
The streets were a mess, with water pooling on the sidewalks and swirling around the open manholes. It felt like a ghost town, with hardly any cars passing by, and Ellie’s heart raced with each step.
Then, out of nowhere, her world tipped. “Whoa!” she exclaimed as her foot slipped, and she felt herself plummeting. The last thing she remembered was the sensation of falling before everything went dark.
