Chapter 5
Harriet's POV
"Harriet!" Ethan's voice boomed through the garden.
I rose from my seat and laid eyes on my stepbrother. His presence was enough to send my body on rattle.
His piercing gaze peered downward, lingering on the box that I dropped onto the ground.
Despite Ethan's strikingly handsome face, there was a darkness lurking beneath his facade. And right now, in front of our guest Lucas, he couldn't hide his true colors.
"Good day, Ethan," Lucas greeted with a forced smile.
"Good?" Ethan sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
The exchange between the two lacked any warmth. The garden suddenly fell into an eerie silence, the tension thick in the air. It felt like an eternity before Ethan's voice finally shattered the stillness.
Ethan sarcastically remarked, "Well, I can't exactly say that my morning has been 'good' now, can I?"
Lucas then explained, "I simply asked Harriet to show me the garden."
"We have maids for that purpose," Ethan replied. "Next time, kindly direct your inquiries towards them rather than bothering Harriet." He shot a piercing glare at me. "Isn't that right, sister?"
I felt uneasy. It was unusual for Ethan to address me as his 'sister.' He really hates calling me in that way.
Maybe he only did so because we had a guest.
"There's something I need to discuss with you," Ethan announced. "Come with me. Right now." His anger was evident. I knew I had to address this issue immediately before it escalated further.
"Sure, let's have a chat," I agreed. In an instant, Ethan's grip on my wrist tightened, and he forcefully dragged me along.
As I was being pulled, I managed to steal a quick glance back at Lucas.
Our eyes met. Something flashed in his gaze. Anger
Even from afar, I could sense the madness burning inside him. His gray eyes glowed with intense displeasure as if he would gladly rip Ethan apart with his bare hands.
"Do you need my help?" Lucas silently mouthed to me.
I tried to respond with my lips, but instead, I looked away and allowed myself to be pulled away by my stepbrother.
'This is for the better,' I reassured myself, though deep down, I yearned for Lucas's help. I yearned for someone to save me from this nightmare, someone who could take me away from this dreadful existence.
At last, Ethan and I made it to the secluded part of the garden, hidden from view.
"Ethan. Before, I... Ouch!" I was pushed against the wall with force. Then, Ethan pulled my hair, making my head tilt back. "Ouch! B-Brother... It's painful."
"What were you thinking, being with that scum?" Ethan demanded.
"P-Please, let me go first and... ouch!" I begged.
Ethan shook my head and brought his mouth close to my ear. "Tell me, Harriet. What were you doing with that jerk?" His intense blue eyes flickered with madness. "Were you flirting with him? Huh? Did you let him touch you like that where no one could see?"
Suddenly, his hand slid under my skirt, brushing against my legs. Disgust surged through me, prompting me to swiftly raise my hand and deliver a resounding slap across his face. "Stop it!"
Ethan released my hair and held his cheek, his eyes narrowing in response. He pulled me closer, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "If you don't want me to do that again, then don't let me catch you with that jerk. Got it?"
My anger flared, my face turning red as I straightened my posture and fixed my tousled hair. I stared back at him, my gaze filled with defiance.
"Even if you don't say it, I will. I am an engaged woman, after all," I said.
"Even if you don't say it, I will. I am an engaged woman, after all," I said.
When my fiancé was brought up, my stepbrother's expression contorted into a scowl, his hold on me becoming firmer. I steeled myself, prepared for whatever his next move might be.
"Okay. You know the limits," Ethan's delicate finger brushed against my chin, turning my face to meet his piercing stare. "If that jerk ever dares to speak words of love or desire to you, always remember where you stand in this messed up family - just a pawn sacrificed for the sake of your decrepit and disgusting fiancé."
My eyes shook as I stared back at my stepbrother.
Once upon a time, they were inseparable, bound by a deep bond.
However, as we grew older, Ethan soon realized that I had a multitude of talents that surpassed his own. Slowly but surely, his admiration for me turned into a toxic envy.
"Well, if you have nothing else to say," I muttered quietly, "then I'll just go."
With a determined shove, I brushed past him, determined to create some distance between us.
I walked away, my steps brisk and purposeful. However...
"Harriet."
My footsteps faltered, my body freezing in place. The way Ethan said my name so sweetly and innocently as if the chaotic events that had just unfolded were nothing but a figment of my imagination, stirred up an unsettling feeling deep within me.
I clenched my fists, feeling the anger bubbling up inside me. All I wanted was to break free from his oppressive hold, to escape this never-ending cycle of control and manipulation.
'And the only way is to die.'
Yes.
Let's just die.
Not changing my plan, I made my way back to my room.
The image of Lucas's worried expression haunted me. The way he mouthed me, asking if I needed help, couldn't leave my mind.
"What's the point? I will die anyway," I said, feeling oh so exhausted.
Not wanting to think anymore, I closed my eyes and soon fell asleep.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Suddenly, a sequence of rhythmic sounds broke the silence, startling me awake.
"What was that noise?"
I shifted my attention towards the window.
The soft glow of the early evening sun filled the room as I got out of bed, having skipped my meal, and headed towards the origin of the enigmatic sound.
Eventually, I arrived at the window. I grasped the latch, and with a gentle push, the windowpane swung open, unveiling a sight that took my breath away.
"What the…!" I exclaimed, hastily muffling my mouth.
Before me, on a branch of a nearby tree, Lucas sat. His nimble fingers effortlessly juggled little pebbles, most likely the very objects he had used to tap on my window.
How did he climb up that tree so easily?
"What are you doing up there? Why are you perched on that branch?" I bombarded him with questions. "Are you out of your mind? If someone sees you, they'll think you're insane!"
Lucas, however, seemed completely unfazed by my concerns. With a nonchalant smile, he responded, "I am already crazy. You're just a bit late to the news."
Instantly, he gracefully leaped from the branch and effortlessly infiltrated my room through the window. It seemed as though he had executed this act countless times before as if entering rooms in this unconventional manner was second nature to him.
My breath caught in my throat, my eyes widening in disbelief as I witnessed him audaciously trespassing into my room without my consent.
"I never gave you permission to enter my room," I objected.
With a mischievous demeanor, Lucas retorted, "Should I retreat, perch myself on the branch outside, and formally request your permission?" he teased, pointing towards the window with a smirk.
My response was immediate, "That is not amusing."
"Well, I am not trying to amuse you, for your information."
My lower lip was trapped between my teeth as I observed him unabashedly surveying my room.
"Your room is quite impressive," Lucas said while looking around. t's so spacious and clean." After our impromptu tour, he turned to me with a warm smile. "And your dress, it's absolutely charming."
At that moment, I suddenly became aware of myself.
I realized that I had chosen to wear a thin gown for its comfort, but the downside was that it was quite see-through, revealing my delicate undergarments for everyone to see!
"Oh my goodness!" I exclaimed, quickly using my arms to cover my upper body.
Lucas chuckled and said, "Why bother hiding that? I've already seen every inch of you."
I shot him a withering glare and demanded, "WHAT BUSINESS HAVE YOU HERE? ANSWER ME."
"I am very curious," Lucas replied, "When your crazy stepbrother treated you so badly earlier, why didn't you ask for my help?"
Lucas's POV
When that f*cking Ethan grabbed my mate's wrist, I was on the verge of losing control and killing that man.
My mate wasn't just thin. Her family seemed to be treated her like an object. So, if ever she just asks for my help, I will hesitate to do so. But she did not. Nonetheless, I couldn't stay still after seeing everything.
Thus, I knocked on her window.
Harriet slid the curtain, and what I witnessed next tested my self-control.
"She's only wearing a thin nightgown; it took everything in me not to pounce," my wolf, Isha, growled restlessly.
But we were in her family's house, so I had to tread carefully.
"WHAT BUSINESS DO HAVE YOU HERE? ANSWER ME," My cute mate glared at me and demanded.
I have a lot of business. However, I will start with the first damn thing that kept on bugging me ever since I arrived in this house.
"When your crazy stepbrother treated you so badly earlier, why didn't you ask for my help?" I asked.
Her eyes grew wider while her quivering lips formed a tight line.
She averted her gaze and tightly clenched her fists.
Sensing her desire to conceal the reason, I persisted, "Do you really hate the idea of receiving help from me?"
"No. It's not like that," she replied, still avoiding eye contact. "It's complicated."
"Ahh, complicated," I murmured, nodding. "For me, it's simple. If you hate it, say no. If you like it, then say yes."
My mate peered out of the window, leaving me curious about what was happening in her mind. However, her stare remained as vacant as the first time I saw it.
She crossed her arms and commanded, "Just go. Leave my room."
I squinted my eyes. Her voice had a chilly tone, but it was clear she didn't intend it to be that way. She told everyone to leave her alone, yet she appeared like the most isolated person in the world, silently yearning for some warmth.
Whoever caused my mate to become like this will pay for it.
"Leave," she commanded firmly, finally meeting my gaze. She gestured towards the exit.
I flashed a smile and responded, "Your wish is my command, Master."
She let out a sigh of relief, probably believing it was all over. However...
"Hey! What do you think you're doing...! Put me down!" She yelled in panic as I effortlessly lifted her onto my shoulder. "Stop this insanity and put me down!"
Smiling at her, I replied, "You asked me to leave. So, I will take what I need and then leave. And what I need is you. It's that simple."
I had a firm hold on her, ensuring she couldn't escape my grasp. Without hesitation, we took a leap off the railing and landed flawlessly on the ground below.
“…!”
Swoosh.
Silence ensued.
I glanced back at her and saw the surprise in her eyes. It was clear that she was amazed by our daring jump from the second floor, yet we emerged unharmed. That's why she stared at me in silence.
With a smile, I softly said, "Hold on tight and stay quiet. Tonight, we'll make our escape from this prison."