[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-26031368DDE4-14":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},14,4,"Chapter 4: A Desperate Escape and a Dark Demand","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Julien was out, for now.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before he bolted, he snarled, \"Hand over the dowry and pay me for the emotional damage!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The doctor just shook his head and peaced out. After all that drama, a sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, followed by a coughing fit that nearly broke my ribs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A few days later, the doc’s orders were clear: transfer to a bigger hospital. The cancer, my unwelcome guest, had started to spread.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I hauled my aching body out of the hospital's main entrance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The sun was brutal, stabbing at my eyes, a harsh reminder that I was officially homeless.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">At least Drake hadn't been a thorn in my side lately.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Besides the few hundred grand chilling in my bank account, I had nothing. In this messed-up world, nobody gave a damn about me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But I wanted to live… I needed to see if the people who ghosted me would get what’s coming to them. For the rest of my life, I owed myself some self-care.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Bitch! How dare you play Mr. Alexander?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before I could even process what was happening, a water bottle smacked me near my eye. Then, a pack of women descended, yanking and kicking.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Slaps rained down like confetti. I crumpled to the ground, defenseless. Amid the cacophony of shouts and curses, Drake’s voice cut through.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He scared them off and hustled me into his whip.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Turns out, they were his exes, acting on his behalf after seeing some bogus reports.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Drake zoomed to a convenience store, snagged an ice pack and a hard-boiled egg, and went to town on my bruises.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In my daze, it felt like a throwback to our younger days. Whenever I got jumped, he was always my knight in shining armor.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Back when we were grinding through part-time jobs, he’d blow his savings on gifts and take me out for fancy dinners.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then he discovered his rich-kid status, and it was all shopping sprees and designer threads.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He’d whisper sweet nothings every day, promising to marry me, legit and out in the open, once his big project took off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He didn't want to be seen as a trust fund baby, and I was there, cheering him on.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But the pressure from his elite circle turned him into a volatile, insecure mess. I swallowed a ton of his unreasonable demands and his foul temper.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Still, the plush interior of the car and Drake, looking sharp in his custom suit, snapped me back to reality. He wasn't the kid in the white tee on the playground anymore.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a beat, he spoke. \"Why are you ditching the hospital solo? Where's your ride-or-die husband?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I stayed mum. He pressed on, \"Let me take you home.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I nodded. I still needed to grab my stuff from the hospital, after all.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The car glided to a stop in front of Julien's place. As I stepped out of Drake’s ride, Julien’s mom was chilling on the porch.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She gave me the stink-eye, muttering about why I was back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But then she clocked Drake, and her whole vibe shifted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I bolted upstairs to pack, hoping to bounce before Julien returned. The thought of him losing it again had me shook.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Bags packed, I cracked open the door, ready to head downstairs. Julien’s mom was there, blocking my escape, a smirk playing on her lips. \"Well, well. Made up with Mr. Alexander?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I shrugged off her hand and made a dash for the street, only to run smack into a looking-rough Julien.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing the luggage, he ignored the nosy neighbors and started dragging me back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Damn it, you got me fired, and now you think you can just dip? Get back inside!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I fought his grip, begging, \"I'll give you the dowry, just let me go!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">We hit the porch, and his mom swooped in, putting herself between us. \"You can't hit her, you hear me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mom! Why are you protecting this deadbeat?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She sidled up to him and whispered something. I caught a snatch of it – something about Drake bringing me home.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The fire in Julien’s eyes flickered out. He hauled me up, saying, \"Looks like you've still got some use.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I had no clue what he was on about. He continued, \"Head upstairs, slap on something clean. You're going to see him. Get pregnant again.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I shrieked, \"You’re a psycho!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He raised his hand, about to swing, but then he saw the sheer terror in my eyes and smirked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Can't mess up that pretty face. It's your cash cow.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He turned to his mom. \"Mom, I'm taking her upstairs for… some business. Don't come up just yet.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then he dragged me upstairs. I latched onto the bedroom door like a barnacle, but he kicked me, sending me crashing to the floor. He pinned me down, tearing at my clothes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His hand tightened around my throat. \"I didn't touch you before 'cause I thought you were carrying Drake's kid.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I shook my head like a bobblehead, pleading. I offered him every cent in my account, begging him not to do this.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He let out a vicious sneer. \"Always wondered what Drake's girl tasted like. I'll take the money, and I'll take you too!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My blouse ripped open, and I squeezed my eyes shut in despair. The next second, Drake's furious roar filled the air.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272931055]