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….”

Hope's entire body became rigid, and her heart beat rapidly.

Stan didn't even say which night he was talking about, but Hope knew he wasn't referring to the night he saw her with Tom Blackford. It was the night when he had returned to Oakwood.

Hope interrupted her uncle's speech without waiting for him to finish. "I'm not the one who took you upstairs that night."

Stan grimaced. His face was obscured by darkness. The cigarette in his mouth oozed with smoke as he leaned back and turned his dark gaze toward Hope.

Hope tried to calm her fastening heartbeat. She was undoubtedly terrified, especially with Stan fondling his cigarettes and staring at her as if he were measuring the situation carefully.

She released a heavy breath when Stan diverted his gaze back to the road.

Hope, worried about her uncle's reaction, spoke, "Uncle, I heard you're getting married."

Stan's thin lips rose slightly, but his tone remained the same. "You care about my affairs?"

The question seemed innocent to Hope, but she felt his words contained a hidden meaning that only he could decipher.

"I'm sorry. I just happened to overhear it. I'm not interested in your relationship," she mumbled in a low voice.

Stan rhythmically tapped the steering wheel with his delicate fingers, but he said nothing, which made Hope sigh a relief.

"Uncle, you can drop me off at the Belldown Road," Hope stated when they passed Sycamore Way, where she first intended to be dropped off.

Stan ignored her. "Stay at my place for tonight."

"Don't bother, Uncle," she immediately uttered. "My friend and I are supposed to meet here. You can just drop me off at Belldown Road."

Stan steered his car to the side of the road, taking control of the wheel. He locked it with a faint 'pop' and then turned to face Hope.

"Do you think you can lie to my face?"

All the blood on Hope's face drained.

Hope cleared her throat and reasoned, "I'm not lying, Uncle! I did set up a meeting with my classmates on this road."

She handed the phone to Stan as she talked. The screen showed the chat logs between her and Sydney, the words' Meet in Belldown Road' scrawled across the top. She told Sydney to act with her on the chat in advance.

Hope wished her uncle would not notice that she deleted some of their messages and only left the important ones.

Stan could not help but stare at Hope and notice how she acted like an obedient student. No trace of rebelliousness was evident. Her eyes were so pure, like a child who made all of her family proud because of her goodness.

Hope held out her phone for a long time; Stan didn't say anything, but she did see his eyes roaming around the screen, reading. Feeling embarrassed, Hope placed the phone back in her pocket; her palms were drenched in sweat.

As their drive resumed, Hope had a hunch that Stan did not inform their family about her trip to Sybarite. Hope was certain that Elizabeth would've said something about it if he had.

Still worried, Hope turned to her uncle. "Uncle, what happened last time was my fault. Please, I beg you, don't tell Grandpa about Sybarite," she pleaded with her shaking voice.

Stan remained silent. She could not get an answer or explanation out of him, which made her frustrated.

Eventually, the two of them arrived at Stan's house in the city. Stan went out of the car, and Hope followed, wanting to see more of the house, which looked more like an apartment complex. Its size made it look like it was a house for wealthy people.

"I purchased this property several years ago. I've never lived here, but housekeepers regularly come and go for maintenance," Stan stated as he watched Hope get her bag in the backseat.

Hope swung around and replied, "Thank you, Uncle," she murmured.

The two of them made their way toward the house, with Stan in the lead and Hope following.

"Is there anything else you need?" he asked as they both took a few more steps.

Hope shook her head. "No, I've got everything I need."

Stan nodded slowly. "Let me know if you need anything."

The two of them stepped into the elevator, and silence immediately filled the room when the door slammed shut. Stan stood tall and straight. His years in the army helped him maintain an explicit stance.

He glanced at Hope, standing still, and then the situation returned to him.

"Why did you leave your house so late at night?" he asked.

Stan's words may have expressed elderly care for her, but Hope could not help but feel touched.

However, the realization that her father, Richard, did not even consider letting her stay in their house dawned on her. It was already late in the evening, and there was also no cab service nearby. The closest was the bus stop, which would roughly take forty minutes. Another thing was she was afraid of the dark.

Besides, she had no idea where to go, after all. It was apparent that Richard sided with his legitimate children. He believed everything they said to him.

Hope suddenly felt sad because of her thoughts of what happened with her so-called father.

***

Hope bit her bottom lip as Stan opened the door using a key from his pocket. She watched him turn the light on and open the door wider for her to come through.

With hesitation, Hope entered and discovered that it was a one-bedroom house. The room only had one bed, a large television area, a table, and a soft-looking couch.

It didn't occur to her that she would share one bed with her uncle. The thought only made her chest fill with dread, and her heart beat faster.

"Make yourself comfortable," Stan stated as he removed his coat and slid the keys down the table. "Did you eat dinner already?"

Hope nodded sheepishly, asking, "Uncle, if you're lending me your bed, where will you sleep?"

Stan froze in the middle of him, removing his cufflinks. He originally intended to watch over Hope by sleeping on the couch. But seeing her scared expression, he decided otherwise.

"I am staying somewhere else." Stan smiled at Hope to make her feel relieved.

He grabbed his business card from his pocket and gave it to Hope. "Call me if you need anything."

"Okay…." Hope uttered while staring at Stan's name on the paper.

Hope didn't breathe a sigh of relief until Stan left. She was anxious about sharing a bed or room with her uncle, but thankfully, she didn't have to.

She stared at the paper and started saving her uncle's number. She would need it in case of emergency.