LE

ng so pissed and then

ining table and exhaled, rubbing my temples. The day had been exhausting, my mind clou

my apartment door swung open li

y

ding a brown pape

doing here?" I snapped,

d." He placed the bag on the counter and pulled out a bottle of prenat

e items, my st

onversation, didn't y

pretend to deny i

dn't bother

ld I? You had some very...

w. "Ryan, if you

ffing his hands into his pockets. "Unless, of

down my spine. "

r, watching me with that smug

s laugh. "You're out

alone, and without protection. Your father will destroy you if

t even the father. What kin

both of us. I get what I want-you. And you get

y patience thinning

ourself, stop being stubborn, you can never win against your father."

od ran

ecording.

and let you get rid

llowe

al clear. "Do what I ask, and no one hears this

ad in disbelief. "You ar

ove you, Celeste. I've always loved you. And I w

hit,"

ther will take everything from you. Do

No. You're the one

me, C

ssed, pointing

Then, with a slow smirk, he nodded. "Alright.

walked out, shuttin

ce this nightmare bega

EK L

ldn't

t I knew it was only a matter of time. My father wasn't stupid-he

eave before t

s. I booked a ticket to a town far from the city, a place no o

n my chest. The city lights faded in the rearview m

finall

I th

ded. I rented a modest house at the edge of town

finally

he winding roads, I noticed a fi

nd. That was

. A presence I

mi

the steering wheel, my

arview mirror, but

he s

he k

rd, pushing th

hrough the car's speakers. My fath

eering wheel, my

want to

etter than t

th, I pressed the

e other end. Then his voice, l

small talk. Just a co

ed. "Out

Then, "When are

know when I am coming back and besides you shouldn't be bothered

nd controlled. "You're ma

nger. No threats.

ran down

t reached for the scr

er, my phone

or

er to pick up. But ignor

red. "W

eakers, dripping with amusement and disbeli

me by my name if

ould it be