The sun began to set as Lucas sat in the back seat of his car.
He stared out the window while Gabriel drove him ho.
The day had been long, exhausting, and filled with uncertainty.
After his eting with the doctor, Lucas had gone to the office to clear his head, but nothing had felt right.
Now, as they made their way back to the mansion, Lucas found himself slipping deeper into his thoughts, the hum of the engine barely registering in his ears.
His legs, as usual, lay motionless, a constant reminder of what he had lost.
Suddenly, the car jerked violently to the side as a motorcyclist crossed dangerously close.
The screech of tires filled the air as Gabriel slamd on the brakes, sending Lucas’s body lurching forward, straining against the seatbelt.
His mind spun for a brief second, and then—
A flash.
In his mind, Lucas saw himself tossing a stack of docunts onto a bed.
The image was blurry, but the motion was clear—papers flying through the air, landing haphazardly across the bedspread.
Then, just as quickly as it had co, the vision disappeared, and Lucas found himself back in the car.
His head whipped back against the headrest, and he blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the sudden disorientation.
"Sir, are you okay?" Gabriel’s voice broke through the fog, his words tinged with concern.
Lucas inhaled sharply and nodded, his heart still racing from the abrupt stop. "I’m fine. I’m fine."
Gabriel glanced at him through the rearview mirror, his face still etched with worry.
Without another word, Gabriel quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car, hurrying to assess the motorcyclist’s condition.
The rider was already standing, a young man who looked shaken but otherwise unhard.
Gabriel approached him, his voice laced with genuine concern. "Are you alright?"
The motorcyclist brushed himself off and nodded. "Yeah, I’m fine. I’m really sorry about that. I didn’t see your car in ti."
Gabriel examined the motorcycle and the man himself, checking for any signs of injury or damage.
"Are you sure? Nothing feels off?" Gabriel pressed, still assessing the situation carefully.
"No, I’m good," the motorcyclist insisted, giving an apologetic smile. "It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have crossed like that."
Gabriel sighed, visibly relieved, and nodded. "Alright. Just be careful next ti."
The motorcyclist apologized once more before speeding off, driving into the distance.
Gabriel stood by the car for a mont, running a hand through his hair before returning to the driver’s seat.
Once inside, he glanced at Lucas again. "I’m really sorry, sir. I didn’t see him coming. Are you sure you’re okay?"
Lucas waved him off, still feeling the lingering effects of the strange flashback, though he kept his voice steady. "I said it’s fine. No harm done."
But Gabriel noticed sothing off.
Lucas’s expression had changed since the accident—there was a distant look in his eyes, like his thoughts were sowhere else entirely.
In fact, Gabriel had noticed sothing strange about Lucas’s deanor ever since they’d left the hospital earlier that day.
After the initial checkup, Lucas had requested to see the doctor privately.
Gabriel hadn’t thought much of it at first, but when Lucas returned a few minutes later, he had been a different man.
Angry. Furious, even.
Lucas’s usual calm had been replaced with a stormy, almost vengeful look.
Gabriel had sensed that whatever had happened during that private conversation with the doctor had deeply upset Lucas, though Lucas hadn’t offered any explanation.
At the office, it had only gotten worse.
Lucas had barely looked at the reports Gabriel had carefully reviewed, tossing the docunts aside as though they were worthless.
But now, in the car, Lucas’s anger seed to have lessened.
He wasn’t calm, but he no longer radiated that sa fury.
Gabriel shrugged it off, deciding not to push the issue.
He focused on driving instead, guiding them toward Lucas’s mansion.
---
When they reached the mansion, Gabriel pulled up the car in front of the large, ornate gates.
The sun had set completely, casting a soft, dim light across the property.
Lucas, unbothered by the day’s events, wheeled himself out of the car, moving toward the entrance.
Mrs. Hayden, the housekeeper, was already waiting at the front door.
Her face lit up as soon as she saw Lucas, though she still maintained her usual professional deanor.
"Good evening, sir," she said, her voice warm but formal.
She stepped forward, her hands folded neatly in front of her. "How was your day?"
Lucas smiled, a bit of the day’s frustration lting away in the familiar comfort of ho.
"Busy, as usual," he replied, his tone friendly.
He glanced at her, noticing the slight weariness in her eyes. "You’ve been working hard all day. Thank you."
Mrs. Hayden nodded politely.
"It’s no trouble at all, sir," she said, though her smile suggested she appreciated the acknowledgnt.
After a brief pause, she added, "Would you like to wheel you inside, Mr. Lucas?"
Lucas shook his head gently, his smile soft but polite. "There’s no need. I can manage. Thank you."
Mrs. Hayden didn’t press further, but before stepping aside, she hesitated for a mont. "Caleb is in his room, sir. He’s asleep now."
Lucas’s face softened at the ntion of his son.
He had been thinking about Caleb all day, wondering how he was doing.
"Good," he said, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Thank you for keeping an eye on him."
Mrs. Hayden smiled again, her posture relaxing slightly. "Of course, Mr. Lucas. If there’s anything else you need, please let know. I’ll be here."
Lucas glanced at the clock, noticing how late it was. "You should get so rest too, Mrs. Hayden. It’s been a long day."
She nodded in appreciation. "I will. Thank you, sir."
Afterwards, she stepped back, watching as Lucas wheeled himself toward his room.
---
As Lucas approached his bedroom, sothing imdiately felt off.
The door was open, just slightly ajar.
His brows furrowed in confusion.
He had always been clear with Mrs. Hayden about locking his room after cleaning.
He preferred his privacy, and this small oversight felt unusual.
He rolled closer to the door, his mind turning over the possibilities.
Why is it open?
Had Mrs. Hayden forgotten?
She was always so ticulous. Or was it sothing else?
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