Let Me Go, Mr.Lancaster!

By the time she woke up, she was in a very familiar place. She looked at the surroundings that were painted in white and sighed. It didn't need a genius for her to realize that she was in a hospital. She realized she was not alone because someone with a not-so-approachable aura was standing at the end of her bed.

"Finally, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Better than last night. I'm more than okay now that I fully regained my strength." Her voice was soft and slightly brittle at the end. "Thank you, uncle. And I'm sorry, too, if I troubled you last night."

Stan answered her with a nod.

He threw the cigarette butt in the bin before walking toward her. Hope went a little nervous as she watched him getting closer to her.

Instantly, he framed her small face in his palm, forcing her to stare at him. Her eyes mirrored his deep-set hazel brown ones. Next, he skimmed his thumb over her plump lips, rubbing them forcefully from one corner to another.

Hope held her breath. She didn't know what to do, the proper words to say, but her body reacted to his every touch.

"Uncle Stan?" She called him softly and confused.

His fingers sank deeper, holding her firmly into place. She could feel the pain burning against her skin, but she was under his control to even react. Stan squeezed her tighter, making the hollows of her cheeks droop.

"How could you be so irresponsible? Do you know you almost died in their hands last night?"

Her eyes grew wide. How did he know about that stupid charade with Tom? She didn't know how to react, just staring at him like a frightened bunny.

Luckily, somebody knocked on the door, saving her from this suffocating awkwardness. It was the doctor who was going to have her do some tests.

After some tests, the doctor let her rest. She closed her eyes, dozed off for a while and didn't notice when Uncle Stan left. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital, but she had not seen her Uncle Stan since then.

On the same day, she called the school and was welcomed with good news. They informed her that she could continue her studies there. She was totally relieved and indulging herself in the beauty of her imagination when her phone dinged. Sydney was calling her.

"Finally, you answered the phone! Where have you been these past few days? I'd been looking for you since that day but to no avail." Sydney sat on the edge of her bed and huffed. "I heard your Uncle helped you while you're away. Tell me, did something bad happen to you?"

"How do you know that I was taken away by my uncle?"

"I kept calling you that day, but you weren't answering any of my calls. Then I received a message stating that he was your Uncle. But then I got scared and thought of him as a scammer or a sex predator who only wants to lurk."

"Silly you." Hope bantered from the other line.

"I'm not kidding, babe. If you only knew how scared I was, thinking that the person who took you was not your Uncle. I almost called the police!"

To cut it short and precise, she told her that her Uncle had sent her home that night. She pondered for a while and didn't say anything about her hospitalization.

"By the way, I got good news for you, for me as well."

"What is that?

"Well, I'm going back to school in two days."

"Wow! That's great." She took her hand and trapped it with hers. "But wait, was it really your Uncle who brought you back that day?"

There was a short pause before Hope answered yes. Sydney breathed a sigh of relief. Over the past three days, she had been contemplating about it more and more, which made her more terrified.

After the chat with Sydney, Hope got on the bus and was ready to go back to the house, yes, she wouldn't call it a "home". It didn't belong to her at all.

**

The bus station was a little far from the house, and Hope walked for a while before seeing the security dome perched just outside the house. She strolled past them and walked through the corridors that led to the villa. Hope hesitated for a second. But then she was already there, so she might as well force herself to get in.

As she was getting closer to her destination, a familiar voice chimed in her ears. Her heart blissfully throbbed as her steps slowed down. His mere voice made her thrilled and frightened at the same time.

It wasn't her intention to eavesdrop, but from where she was, the conversation was too clear to be heard.

"How long do you have to go back this time?" It was his grandfather.

"About ten days."

"What kept you that busy?"

Stan kept quiet. The old tyrant felt defeated as he couldn't get additional information from Stan.

"Son, when will you settle down?" The fondness in the latter's voice was evident.

Stan went still; he didn't say anything.

"You and Angel had been together for years. You guys are inseparable, so I don't get why you haven't tied the knot until now?" The old man frantically shook his head and went on. "This will be the last time I'm gonna say this; you have to choose a date and get engaged!"