TWO WEEKS LATER
It had been two weeks since he’d escaped being killed, but he still hadn’t found himself. Once again it was a bright morning — one that began with a nice breakfast made by Michael himself.
If only he wasn’t depressed. If only he wasn’t angry at everything: Nicole, Mateo, Ricardo, and that bitch parading around as Daniel Lancaster. If only Draven were still with him, or Xylander hadn’t been dragged into a huge scandal, and Alexander hadn’t gone—maybe then he would have enjoyed the breakfast and Michael’s steady care. But none of that was the case.
Everything tasted sour now. He couldn’t smile; it worsened every day. At night his dreams grew more vivid, dragging him deeper into a burning, malicious intent.
He wanted to leave. He wanted to burn them all to the ground, butcher them piece by piece. Prison didn’t matter as long as he could satisfy the craving in his heart.
"Good morning, Dan. Another beautiful day, isn’t it?" Michael’s angelic voice pulled him out of the dark tangle of thoughts.
Beautiful, my foot. Nothing felt beautiful. He knew that too well.
No response. Michael sighed, set plates of toast and tea on the table, and dragged a chair close. He sat facing him.
"You’re trying to hold yourself up and I respect that — and thanks for thinking about the baby — but this attitude won’t help you get healthy. Not at all." Michael teased, but Daniel didn’t answer. He was like a statue.
"Daniel, can you eat, please? Since yesterday morning I noticed you haven’t been eating much. It’s bad for you." Michael’s voice softened, pleading, but Daniel still didn’t give in.
Michael’s frustration rose. Work these days couldn’t be harder — he was afraid to leave Daniel alone after that afternoon when he’d returned to find him holding a knife and walking toward God knew where. If Michael hadn’t co back in ti to grab a docunt, he wouldn’t have known where Daniel was going. Daniel had refused to say anything.
"Daniel, the world isn’t ending yet. You’re living proof of that. If you don’t eat, you’ll die — and so will your baby. Do you want that?" Michael finally snapped, slamming his hand on the table.
Daniel’s erald eyes locked onto him. Those once-bright eyes were dim now; his vibrant blonde hair seed to have lost its luster. Daniel Lancaster was a shadow of himself, and Michael’s heart ached watching him fade — especially when he was pregnant.
"The world isn’t ending, is it?" Daniel’s voice rose. The soft timbre was gone; it cracked and sounded like soone else speaking.
"It’s ending," Daniel spat. "It’s ending because I want to snap them in two — drive a dagger into each of their hearts. I want them to die miserable and horrible deaths, Mike, and you’re keeping from making that happen." He stood up, voice raw.
His heavy, pregnant belly stood as testant to the life inside him.
"I’m tired of this. All my happiness was snatched away. Soone is out there living my life, parading like a whore, ruining my reputation. I’m being tagged a prostitute, Michael — can you believe that? And you’re supposed to be helping get revenge, not keeping locked up like so caged bird." The pain in his voice was obvious.
Michael gave a pained smile. "Keeping you here like a caged bird? When have I ever done that? I’m keeping you safe because the world wants you dead." He stood now, eting Daniel eye to eye. "You’re a mutation to them — a male Oga. To the world, you’re ant to be hung. Step out of this village and they’ll put your head on a platter. You and your baby are gone. Your legacy will fade. So play smart — is that too much to ask?"
Daniel stopped, shaking, and began to cry again. He couldn’t take it. He was so close to giving up, but his will held firm — he wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of watching him fall apart.
"That’s life, Daniel. Life isn’t all glamour. Those things don’t last. It’s about making the most of the ti you have — that’s what I’m doing for you." Michael tried to steady him.
"The baby wants you to fight," Michael continued. "To live. To get your husband out of jail, free your loved ones, and put yourself on a better path. But for that change to happen, the urge has to co from you first." Daniel’s sobs grew louder, full and cleansing.
Pregnancy had unlocked a side of him he’d never known. He wasn’t the type to share his feelings easily — sothing inside had shifted, and his baby was at the center of it all.
Maybe it wasn’t the end. Maybe things could be sorted.
"My husband has to have faith in ," Daniel whispered. "I don’t want him to think I’m gone." Then his eyes glinted dangerously. "I have a plan, Michael. If you want back to myself, you have to help ."
Michael’s brow creased. "If it’s about killing, I might be able to—" he began, then stopped.
"That’s not it," Daniel said, a small, venomous laugh escaping him. "Just get a phone. There’s soone I need to contact. After that, you’ll go to the prison. I heard Xylander Wolfe has been transferred. Give him my letter and update him on my whereabouts. That’s all."
Michael studied him, shaking his head. "That’s not all. From where I’m standing, you’re up to sothing big and dangerous. I have a feeling soone’s going to get hurt."
Daniel’s laughter chilled Michael. "Oh yeah? That’s a cute way to put it. Soone is definitely getting killed. But you don’t want to know how. One thing’s clear: I want to fake my death — make the whole world believe I’m dead. My fans, the press, everyone. Then we start again. A new beginning for , my husband, and my baby."
Michael exhaled, then spoke hesitantly. "Also — Xylander’s case. It’s getting worse. They added sexual assault to the murder charge. And it’s a minor."
Daniel rolled his eyes. Murder? He didn’t care. He’d committed worse — murders swept under the rug. The sexual assault claim sounded fabricated to him; Xylander had been focused on Daniel for weeks. How could it be true?
But none of that mattered right now.
"Michael Lewis," Daniel said, glaring, "what I can tell you is this: I love Xylander Wolfe, and I trust him. No way could he have done that. Are you still in?"
Michael grinned. "Definitely. I can’t wait to see how this works out. But be careful. Don’t make the case worse than it already is."
Daniel shrugged, his smile turning more baffling by each seconds.
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