TERESA’S P.O.V.
The city of Redfield was just as I rembered—vibrant, chaotic, and perpetually slling of fresh bread and car exhaust. It was the kind of place that had its own personality—like a quirky old uncle who was always too loud but deeply lovable. My hands tightened around the steering wheel as I navigated through the familiar streets. Every stoplight felt like a judgntal pause, as if the city itself was questioning . Two years. Two years and so months since I had vanished like a magician pulling a final trick, leaving behind everything I loved. Chief among them? My sweet, Luke, the one person I had always counted on.
The closer I got to Luke’s house, the more my heart thudded against my ribs like a prisoner rattling his cell bars. His ho, a cozy, modest affair with a wide porch that scread family gatherings and lemonade sumrs, ca into view. My stomach churned.
From the backseat, Mai and Ollie, were baby talking and giggling. Clearly, they weren’t feeling the weight of the mont. Must be nice to be one and half and oblivious. I wished they could be this innocent for life.
"Alright, guys, wish luck," I said, glancing in the rearview mirror. Mai gave her trademark tilted-head smile, clutching her slightly bedraggled stuffed rabbit, Sir Flopsalot. Ollie, my stoic little man, nodded gravely as if he understood what I just said, like a pint-sized general sending into battle. His seriousness cracked a smile on my face despite the nerves threatening to eat alive.
The car rolled to a stop in Luke’s driveway, and there it was—the house that hadn’t changed a bit. Warm yellow lights glowed behind familiar curtains, and faint laughter spilled out like a welco mat. My hands trembled as I unbuckled the twins, hoisting Mai on one hip and Ollie on the other.
Deep breath. One step. Two steps. Knock, knock.
The door opened so fast I was startled. And there he was—Luke.
For a split second, he looked like he’d seen a ghost. His jaw dropped, his eyes darting between and the twins as if he was trying to piece together a puzzle with too many missing pieces.
"Teresa?" His voice was a mash of disbelief, relief, and a pinch of are-you-serious-right-now?
"Hi, Luke," I squeaked, my voice embarrassingly wobbly.
He didn’t say anything—just stared like I’d walked out of a telenovela plot twist. Then, suddenly, he lunged forward and wrapped in a bear hug so tight I thought I’d drop the twins. The trembling in his arms hit like a freight train.
"Two years, Teresa? Two years? Do you have any idea what that did to ? I thought—" His voice broke, and I could hear the unspoken words: I thought you were dead.
Tears stread down my face. "I’m so sorry, Luke," I sobbed into his shoulder. "I thought... I thought I had no choice. I was scared he’d take them away from . I didn’t know what else to do. I’m sorry."
Luke pulled back just enough to glare at —well, half-glare, half-heartbreak. "And you didn’t think I would help? Teresa, I’m your brother! You ran away, leaving to think you were dead in a ditch sowhere! How could you—" He stopped mid-rant, his eyes softening as he looked at the twins, who were now clinging to my blouse like nervous barnacles.
"And who are these little people?" he asked, his tone shifting to sothing softer.
"This is Mai and Ollie," I said, wiping at my face as the twins buried their faces in my shoulder.
Luke crouched down, his face breaking into a grin. "Hey there, Ollie. I’m Uncle Luke. Nice to et you." He extended a hand, which Ollie eyed suspiciously causing Luke to laugh. Turning to Mai, Luke gave her a little tickle under the chin. "And you must be Mai. You’re just as cute as your mom."
Mai giggled, and Luke’s expression lted completely. I don’t think I’d ever seen him look so smitten.
Before I could process the emotional rollercoaster, Grace appeared at the doorway, arms crossed, a smirk on her face. "Well, well, look who the wind blew back," she said, pulling into a warm hug.
"Hi, Grace," I murmured, feeling overwheld by the mix of love and teasing.
Grace stepped back, her smile widening. "You’ve got so explaining to do, Teresa. But first, let look at those adorable kiddos."
As if on cue, their three kids—Emma, Jake, and little Lila—barreled out of the house like a stampede of caffeinated kittens. "Cousins!" they shrieked, swarming around the twins, who were now giggling despite their earlier nerves.
For the first ti in what felt like forever, a small part of relaxed. The chaos, the warmth, the love—it was all here. Maybe, just maybe, I would be safe in the comfort of ho.
*********
Later that evening, the house was finally quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old floorboards and the soft hum of the refrigerator. The kids were tucked in, dreaming about who-knows-what, and I was on Luke’s balcony, wrapped in a borrowed blanket and sipping tea that was just the right amount of too sweet.
Luke sat beside , leaning back in his chair with that big-brother look of his—half curious, half about-to-interrogate-you-like-a-cop. The cool night breeze ruffled his hair, and for a mont, we sat in companionable silence, letting the stars do the talking.
"So," he said at last, breaking the quiet with his trademark bluntness. "You’re ho. Why now? What happened?"
I stared into my teacup like it held all the answers, my fingers trembling slightly as mories ca rushing back. "I t soone," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "Soone who changed everything."
Luke raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "This better not be one of those ’changed everything’ in a bad way stories, Teresa."
I tried to smile but failed miserably. "His na is Adrian."
"Yup. Definitely bad," Luke muttered under his breath, crossing his arms like he was bracing himself. "Go on."
I swallowed hard. "He was... charming at first. Wealthy, kind, generous, handso. He always seed to like hanging around , and after I lost my ho in a fire," Luke raise a surprised eyebrow, "he offered a place to stay. I didn’t want to, but he insisted it was for the babies. He said he just wanted to help."
Luke’s jaw clenched, his teeth practically grinding together. "Of course he did. Let guess—he didn’t stay charming for long."
"No," I admitted, my voice cracking as I relived the nightmare. "At first, he was wonderful. Supportive. Everything I thought I needed from a friend. But after I gave birth... everything changed. He beca controlling, possessive. He was still kind and gentle with the twins and but he wouldn’t let leave. He said it was for my safety, but Luke..." I looked up, my eyes brimming with tears. "I felt like a prisoner. He had people watching all the ti. I couldn’t breathe without him knowing."
I purposefully left out the part of Adrian not exactly being human for my sanity and that of Luke’s.
Luke reached over, his strong hand covering mine. "You’re not there anymore," he said firmly, his voice softening. "You’re safe now, Teresa. You’re ho."
"But I’m scared," I admitted, my voice trembling. "Adrian doesn’t take no for an answer. If he finds ..."
"He won’t," Luke said, his tone dark and dangerous. His grip on my hand tightened. "If he tries anything, he’ll have to go through first."
I let out a bitter laugh. "That’s sweet, Luke, but I don’t think fists are going to cut it this ti. I need more than that. I sadly need Lucian. I need him to protect his children."
At the ntion of the na, Luke stiffened like I’d just dropped a grenade between us. "Lucian?"
"Yes," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the night breeze.
Luke let out a long, frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair in that way he always did when he was annoyed. "You know, he’s been looking for you. For almost two years now. He wouldn’t stop coming around, asking where you were. I didn’t tell him because I didn’t know, but he never gave up. And I think he has people watching to see if you’ll contact soday."
My heart lurched at his words. "Why?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief. "Why would he look for ? He made it very clear he didn’t want anywhere near him."
Luke shrugged, his expression unreadable. "You’ll have to ask him yourself. But Teresa..." He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto mine. "I’m coming with you. I’m not letting you face him alone."
I hesitated, torn between wanting to shield Luke from the ss that was my life and knowing I couldn’t handle it all on my own. Finally, I nodded. "Okay."
Luke nodded back, his determination clear. For once, I wasn’t going to fight him. Tomorrow, I’d face Lucian. Whatever happened, I wouldn’t run again. Not this ti.
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