Stan's lips pursed into a thin line. He was walking down memory lane as he recalled their conversation the last time they met. He was mad; he felt betrayed. Sure, he had no right to feel that way and should not be concerned about Hope. But he was undoubtedly worried about the young lady. With no preamble, he picked up his jacket and stood up.

"I'm going now," he said. He strode through the double brass doors in quick, long agitated strides.

"Where to?" Ashton curiously asked. "We're just getting started. Come on, don't spoil the mood."

Rolling his knuckles into balls, he answered, "I'm sorry, but I really have to go. There is something I need to work on with."

"Is that so? Okay, go fuck yourself somewhere. I'm gonna swim in these liquors until the moon falls and the sun rises."

Stan shot Ashton with a glare and left him in a flash. He dialed Hope's number and immediately hit the call button.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Sybarite, Hope rested her back against the cold wall. She was damn exhausted from that stupid game of Tom. Pulling a deep breath, she closed her eyes, soothing and pacifying herself. Her phone kept ringing since earlier, but she was beaten to the nth level to even pick it up. Several dings and rings continuously passed before she dazedly answered the call.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Where are you?"

It was as if she woke up from a bad dream and a cold water was splashed into her face.

"Answer me, Hope. Tell me where you are right now?"

She was startled by his authoritative voice.

"I'm staying in one of the VIP rooms."

"Which one?"

"I'm still celebrating my classmate's birthday in the club. What's wrong?" She needed to divert the topic.

Silence enveloped them. All she could hear was a static mumble and his deep breaths brushing through her ears. Then, she heard the sound of a flicking lighter. She thought he was smoking while talking to her.

After a while, Stan spoke again. "I'm asking which room you were in. Tell me, and I'll be there in a few."

Hope contemplated all the possible reasons for his motives. But because she recently encountered the god of death, her head was currently a complete mess, making it difficult for her to even speak, let alone think. For wherever it may lead, she decided to be honest with him.

"I'm here at the entrance hall," she informed him.

"Don't go anywhere and wait for me there. This won't take long."

Stan ended the call and hollered down to the lower ground of the parking area. All the while, she waited for him to arrive. She had no idea why he was acting up like a concerned and protective Uncle at the moment.

Hope dropped her gaze onto the ground and anxiously waited for him to come over. As he was getting nearer, her heart beat rapidly inside her chest. Once she decided to look away, a pair of expensive loafers showed up before her. Although she was in deep apprehension, she managed to tilt her head and met his dark, luminous and seductive eyes. He was towering over her with his six flat height.

"I told you to ask for my help whenever you need to, didn't I?"

"Of course, I remember what you said. It's just that I don't want to disturb you with all my troubles."

Hope looked away and fixated her gaze on his footwear. She was sure her face was as bland and pale as vinegar now. She busied herself by screening his well-designed trousers. The fabric was hugging his legs. It was perfectly ironed without an ounce of wrinkles, but even this made her stressed. Stan could only breathe out a frazzled sigh. Then he walked to his car only to realize that the pesky girl didn't follow him.

"Are you gonna stand there all night? Come here, Hope. Ride with me."

Hope averted her attention to him, but she was too shy to obey. "It's alright. I can go home on my own. Actually, I'm waiting for my friend to come over."

Stan gritted his teeth. Why was the little imp kept on resisting him? In the end, he collected her from where she stood and purposefully dragged her to his body.

"Get in the car, Hope. Don't make me repeat myself."

She stood there for a while before she got into the car. Hope kept a distance, at least an inch between them. She didn't want to make small talk, so she decided to ignore him. Instead, she busied herself looking at the city lights twinkling along the road. To be honest, she would want to crash the window glass and jump out of there.

Good thing Stan didn't interrogate her and just focused on driving. Out of nowhere, she felt the twinge of pain on her wounded neck. She was sweating profusely throughout the way.

She was disoriented as the pain heightened in full blast. Her eyes went heavy. She wanted to recline the chair and sleep. Her whole body was aching from where it shook. If not for Stan's presence, she would probably lose consciousness on the spot. She shook her head and stifled a sob. But then hot tears streamed from the corners of her eyes.

This time, she couldn't hold back her tears, and they fell against her lap one by one. She was trembling in pain and fatigue. Soon, she lost it. She fell into the darkness and dozed off.

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!"

Hearing this, Hope paced, almost ready to leave, but someone barged in and mentioned her name.

"Hope? Is that you?"

She was aware it was Auntie Jade—the head nanny of the Lancaster Family. Hope turned around and smiled at her. She then sprinted toward her, wrapping her in a gentle and warm embrace.

"Where have you been in the past days? I can't contact you on the phone. You got us worried."

"I'm sorry for making you worried. I'm not that important, so there's no need to fuss."

Hope pulled out from her arms and awkwardly made a sideways glance. She was itching to leave because she wouldn't want Stan to see her in this state. She was not in shape to explain or create idle conversations. She wanted to lay against the sheets and rest.

"Why are you here? It's not that I don't want to see you, but your grandpa won't allow you to come in."

"I am very much aware of that, Auntie Jade. So, yeah, I'm heading out now. Goodbye."

"Wait! Do you know that Ella and Robert are back?"

Auntie Jade was referring to her half-siblings. Truth be told, she was shocked to hear about their comeback.

Sure, she understood what the old lady meant. They were a harmonious family, and as an illegitimate child, it was best for her to hide in their shadows. She had no intention of ruining their happiness.

Eventually, she politely excused herself and trudged back to her room in the east wing of the villa. She lay on the bed but couldn't fall asleep. She was sulking when her stomach crumbled. Without hesitation, she walked out of her room and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. She reached the dining room, wherein she found the brat Ella having tantrums.

"I don't understand why you let her set foot here again! Dad, we're already here, me and my brother, so there's no use for that outsider to stay here. Can't we celebrate Mom's birthday in peace?"

In a stern voice, Richard replied, "Hope had nowhere to go. Let her stay for a while."

Ella snorted with a laugh. "And you think Mom would be glad on her big day having that bitch around? Or maybe you also wanted to invite her mother to celebrate with us?"

"Watch your mouth, lady," her father warned.

But Ella wouldn't stop. "Oh, I almost forgot, her mother who made my mom depressed before, had already died."

"Ella!" Elizabeth's voice wafted in the air. She's Richard's wife and Ella and Robert's mother. She turned her head and noticed Hope was there. Her expression changed that instant.

"Hope?" Her voice sounded gentle and serene.

Hope acknowledged Elizabeth's presence with a polite nod. "My classmate is celebrating her birthday this week, so I'd be staying at her house for a while."

Richard's forehead hunkered but didn't comment.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, followed her.

'Hope, don't go. Please stay with us for another day. You don't have to leave at this hour."

"It's okay, Auntie."

Hope readied her things and went out, only to realize that it was too late to travel back. It was not safe for her age to roam the streets at that ungodly hour. With her backpack on, she filled her lungs with air and hopped on. She wanted to call Sydney, however, Sydney was also not in a good state, she had a violent father and a sick mother. So it was not ok for her to sleep at Sydney's house.

She wandered around that wealthy road for almost an hour. It's an exclusive village for prominent people, and taxis were very random to pass by. Aside from that, she doesn't have much money with her. Over the years, the Lancaster family seldom gave her money, that was also why she needed to work as a

Waitress to earn some money.

Hope felt hapless. She looked up at the dark sky and smiled bitterly. How many times would she have to experience this nightmare? She waited for hours, yet there was no cab passing by. Then out of nowhere, a familiar vehicle suddenly appeared. The auto was black and fast like a phantom in the night.

It drifted, tires screeching against the road before halting in front of her. The window in the driver's seat rolled down, giving her a good view of his gorgeous aura. With the help of lights from the lamp posts, Hope saw his grim and serious face.

"Uncle Stan," she mumbled.

“Where are you going at this hour?”

Hope swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke, “I’ll just visit a classmate.”

“Tell me the truth,” Stan uttered in a strong and demanding voice.

“I’m telling you the truth,” she answered despite feeling constricted and oppressed with her uncle’s mad aura encircled around her.

“What are you going to do there, then?”

Hope stood still as she kept her mouth shut.

Stan looked intently at Hope before speaking, “Which classmate’s house are you going to? I’ll take you there.”

“I already called a taxi. The driver’s on his way here.”

“Get in the car.” Stan’s tone remained calm and steady, but Hope knew the opposite was underneath his facade. “You can’t get a taxi so late.”

Hope gripped her backpack tightly, refusing to obey her uncle.

“Get in the car, Hope,” Stan repeated with finality in his voice.

Feeling defeated, Hope walked towards the passenger seat and opened its door. She stood there momentarily, staring at the parked black cheetah with the phone in one hand and the backpack draped over her shoulders.

Hope finally climbed into the passenger seat. As they drove silently, Hope waited for him to vocalize his question about where she was going, but none came.

To break the deafening silence, Hope spoke softly, “Uncle, I’ll go to my classmate’s house. You can just drop me off Sycamore Way.”

Hope’s plead met a deaf ear as Stan ignored her. The car’s interior was eerily silent, but Hope’s eyes traveled between her uncle and the road as she saw Stan was deep in his thoughts as if he was contemplating something.

She wanted to ask whether Stan had informed her grandfather about her trip to Sybarite, but nothing came out of her lips.

She could see her uncle’s side profile as she thought about asking her question or not. His face was sharp and sleek, like a chisel that could cut fingers. His right hand clutched the steering wheel while he stretched the other out of the window.

The silence ended when they reached the crossroads where Stan suddenly whispered, “I was drunk that night….”