Tyler's POV
I stared at them as they stood in the doorway like a couple of deer caught in the headlights. Anne's face was a mess of guilt, and Eric just looked... uncomfortable. I couldn't deal with their fucking awkwardness right now. Not after everything.
"Where were you guys?" My voice cracked. I hated how weak it sounded, but I couldn't stop it. "I thought you were here for emotional support, huh? Guess that was a lie too."
The words stung, but the anger bubbling up inside me was stronger than anything else. They had been the ones who told me I wasn't alone. That they'd help. That they'd be there. But where were they when I needed them the most?
I could feel the heat building in my chest, creeping up my neck, taking over. I stood up, fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms. My head spun. My whole body was trembling, and it wasn't from weakness, it was from the pressure that was finally spilling over.
I threw my hands in the air, the contract papers scattered around me like they meant nothing anymore. "Where the hell were you when I was signing my life away? When I was crying like a fucking idiot and Han was telling me I belong to him now? Where were you?"
Anne flinched, and I hated that it felt like I was hurting her, but I couldn't stop. I was done holding back.
"Tyler, stop," she whispered, but I barely heard her over the pounding in my head.
"Stop?" I laughed, but it wasn't funny. "No. I'm done with stopping. I'm done with pretending like I'm not completely fucking trapped in this mess. You both left me. Just like that. What now?"
I looked at Eric. He didn't say a word. He just stood there, awkward, unsure of what to do. Typical.
And Anne? She looked like she wanted to disappear, but she wasn't saying anything that mattered.
So, I let the silence scream for a while.
LATER THAT DAY
The doctor had come by earlier, bringing me some vegetables to eat. And of course, they were the blandest, most lifeless things on the planet. But I wasn't about to argue. After everything that had happened, I wasn't in the mood for complaining. I just ate them, even though my stomach rumbled like it wasn't sure if it should be eating or rebelling.
Anne, ever the dutiful one, had rolled up beside me, gently feeding me the salad like I was a child. I didn't mind it—at least not this time. Maybe it was because she wasn't scolding me or looking at me like I was some sort of problem. It was different now. The way she was treating me felt softer, maybe even… a little caring.
I caught myself staring at her for a moment longer than I meant to. Not with the usual annoyance or anger, but something… weird. Not hate, but maybe something else I didn't have a name for. Her hand brushed mine, and I realized I was still glaring, just like I always did. Maybe it was because the food was too bland for my tastes, or maybe it was because everything felt wrong. But I couldn't exactly stop myself from feeling this weird knot in my chest whenever I looked at her.
I wasn't sure where I stood anymore—hell, I didn't know where anyone stood anymore, especially with what was about to happen.
The day had gone by in a blur. I barely noticed the time passing. Eventually, I found myself standing outside the hospital, the cool evening air prickling against my skin. Anne was beside me, her hand clutching mine, and I could feel the subtle tremble of her fingers. I didn't need to look at her face to know she was holding back tears. It was in the way her eyes were glassy and the way her shoulders tensed whenever she thought I wasn't looking.
She wasn't one for showing emotions. I knew that. But this was different. She was scared. And that scared the hell out of me.
The car—the one that belonged to that bastard Han—was supposed to pick me up. The thought of getting into it made my stomach twist in knots. What kind of hell awaited me there? What kind of trap was I walking into?
But what could I do? I had already signed my life away. There was no going back now.
I turned to look at Eric, who had been standing beside us, his face as unreadable as always. Despite everything, Eric was still here. The guy who had stuck around even when I'd hit rock bottom. I had nothing left but the knowledge that Eric was one of the few people who could still be trusted.
One of the few. I had to swallow that bitter truth.
"Eric..." I started, my voice quieter than I wanted it to be, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I glanced at Anne, then back to him. "Take care of her, alright?"
Eric's brow furrowed for a split second, but then he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck like he was exhausted from even hearing my request. But when his eyes met mine, there was no hesitation. No reluctance.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll take care of her. I promised, didn't I?" He muttered, but there was something in his tone—something more than just his usual sarcastic bravado. I could hear it, even if he didn't say it out loud.
But then, as if remembering something, he groaned. "I swear to god, if you two make a habit out of being so damn dramatic, I'm going to lose it." He shook his head, but there was a small smirk on his lips. It was his way of trying to lighten the tension, but we both knew the stakes were higher than usual.
"Thanks, man," I said, the words coming out rougher than I meant. I could feel the lump in my throat threatening to choke me, but I fought it back.
Eric's face softened for a second, before it was gone again. He glanced at Anne briefly, his eyes flicking to her in that awkward way he always did. But his expression hardened again as he turned back to me.
"Just don't get yourself killed, alright? We've been through enough shit together. Don't make it worse by getting mixed up with these freaks."
I nodded, though I wasn't sure how much it was worth. What was left of me was already tangled up in that dark, twisted world of Han's. No matter how hard I tried, I wasn't getting out of it.
But there was something more. There always was.
I turned to Anne, who had gone quiet, staring down at our hands intertwined. Her lips parted as if she was about to say something, but the words never came.
Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, full of the raw emotion I didn't want to face. She was terrified. I could see it in her expression, in the way her hands shook slightly in mine. She hated seeing me like this, hated seeing me about to walk into whatever hell Han had planned for me.
"Tyler..." she whispered, her voice barely audible in the still air. "Please be careful. I... I don't know what I'll do if—"
I cut her off before she could finish. "I know, Anne. I know. But you have to promise me something."
She frowned, confused. "What?"
"Promise me... promise me you'll stay safe." I pressed, locking eyes with her. "And look after each other, alright? Look after Eric, too. I know you two don't get along, but you're both all I've got left now."
I just hope these two will not kill each other before everything is settled
There was a long pause, and I saw her throat tighten. It felt like everything was suddenly on her shoulders. But then, she nodded, tears threatening to spill over.
"I will. I promise," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
I knew the promise meant everything to her. To both of us.
Because when I left, the world was going to be a different place. For all of us.