Chapter 4 – A Door That Closes

My heart lurched.

"Dad?"

The word escaped before I could stop it.

Lucian didn't react. He simply looked at Adrian with the same calm expression he'd worn since I arrived.

"Is he alone?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"And security?"

"They've stopped him at the front gate."

Lucian nodded once.

"Keep him there."

"Yes, sir."

Adrian left, quietly closing the office door behind him. Silence settled between us again. I couldn't stop staring at the door.

"He came for me," I whispered.

Lucian's eyes rested on me for a moment.

"Do you believe that?"

His question caught me off guard.

"I..."

Did I?

A few hours ago, I would have said yes without thinking.

Now...

I wasn't sure.

Lucian stood and walked toward the window.

"The first thing people do when they're afraid of losing control is try to reclaim it."

He looked out over the gardens.

"Your father has lost control."

I lowered my gaze to my hands.

"They're all I have."

The words felt hollow the moment they left my mouth.

Were they even true anymore?

I had no mother.

No siblings or relatives nearby.

Obviously no friends as I've been home schooled all my life.

For years, my world had been the tiny house I grew up in and the café where I worked.

That was it.

Lucian turned back to face me.

"Having family and having people who love you are not always the same thing."

His voice wasn't unkind. It was simply honest. I felt tears sting my eyes.

"I keep wondering if I did something wrong."

His brow furrowed slightly.

"When I was little, he wasn't like this."

The memories came rushing back.

"He used to make pancakes for me every Saturday."

A sad smile tugged at my lips.

"He taught me how to ride a bicycle."

I laughed softly through my tears.

"I crashed into our neighbor's fence."

For the first time, Lucian's expression softened.

"He laughed so hard he nearly fell over."

The smile disappeared.

"Then Mom died."

The room became painfully quiet.

"Everything changed after that."

I wrapped my arms around myself.

"He started drinking."

"He stopped coming home."

"And one day..."

My voice cracked.

"...he hit me."

I swallowed hard.

"I told myself it was because he was grieving."

Another tear slipped down my cheek.

"Then it happened again."

"And again."

"And after a while..."

I looked up at Lucian.

"...I stopped believing I deserved better."

He didn't interrupt. He simply listened. No one had ever done that before. Finally, he spoke.

"You were a child."

I blinked.

"You weren't responsible for his grief."

His words settled somewhere deep inside me. To a place I'd buried years ago. Another knock sounded on the door. Adrian stepped back into the office.

"Sir."

Lucian looked at him. "What now?"

Adrian hesitated.

"Mr. Carter refuses to leave."

"He says..." Adrian glanced at me with visible concern. "...he's brought the police."

The color drained from my face.

Lucian, however, didn't even flinch.

Instead...

He said calmly, "Then it's time to tell them the truth."

My stomach dropped.

"The police?" I whispered.

For a split second, I panicked.

What if they believed my father?

What if they thought I'd been kidnapped?

Lucian picked up the phone on his desk but didn't dial immediately. Instead, he looked at me.

"Ava."

His voice was calm.

"I need you to answer one question honestly."

I nodded.

"Do you want to leave with your father?"

The question hung in the air.

My mind raced.

I thought about the bruises hidden beneath my sleeves. The sleepless nights. The shouting. The fear that greeted me every morning.

I thought about the little girl I used to be, always waiting for her father to become the man he once was.

That man was gone.

I slowly shook my head.

"No."

The answer surprised even me. Lucian gave a small nod.

"Then no one will force you to."

Something in my chest loosened.

For the first time in years, someone had asked what I wanted and...agreed to it.

A few minutes later, Adrian returned.

"The officers are waiting in the reception hall."

Lucian stood.

"Come with me."

My legs felt heavy as I followed him downstairs.

The grand staircase led into a spacious reception room.

Two police officers stood near the entrance, speaking quietly with my father.

The moment he saw me, he rushed forward.

"Ava!"

He reached for my arm.

I instinctively stepped back. His hand froze in mid air.

"Ava, thank God you're alright," he said loudly, turning to the officers. "These people manipulated my daughter. She isn't thinking clearly."

One of the officers looked at me kindly.

"Miss Carter, are you injured?"

I swallowed.

Lucian remained silent beside me, allowing me to answer for myself.

"Yes."

The room became still. The officer frowned.

"Did anyone here hurt you?"

I shook my head.

"No."

He glanced at my father.

"What about at home?"

My father interrupted before I could speak.

"She's confused."

"She doesn't know she is saying."

"I'm asking your daughter," the officer replied firmly.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

This was it.

The truth.

I took a deep breath.

"My father has been physically abusive for years."

My father's face turned pale.

"She's lying!" He yelled immediately.

"I've never scolded her, let alone hit her." He gave me a threaten look.

"I'm not."

My voice was quiet but steady.

"The bruises on my arms..."

I slowly rolled up my sleeve.

Dark marks were still visible against my skin. The officers exchanged a look. One of them stepped closer.

"Miss Carter, are those recent?"

I nodded.

"From yesterday."

My father backed away.

"I...I didn't mean—"

"You admitted it," the officer said.

"I was angry!"

"That doesn't excuse assault."

The second officer turned to me.

"Miss Carter, you're an adult. If you don't wish to leave with your father, no one can force you to."

Tears threatened to fall from my eyes.

"I don't want to go back."

The officer nodded gently.

"Understood."

He turned towards my father.

"Sir, we'd like you to come with us to answer a few questions."

My father stared at me in disbelief.

"You'd do this to your own father?"

The words pierced my heart.

I loved the man he used to be.

But I couldn't keep protecting the man he had become.

Without another word, the officers escorted him toward the door.

Just before he stepped outside, he looked back at me and there was anger in his eyes.

But beneath it...

There was something else.

Fear.

As the door closed behind him, I released a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

After a long time, in so many years.. I was finally free. Or at least...

I hoped I was.

....

The front door closed with a soft click.

I stood frozen in the middle of the foyer, unable to move.

He was gone.

After years of living in fear...he was finally gone and I was finally free.

The house that had once felt like a prison was now suddenly miles away.

Empty, and free from unwanted residence.

I should be relieved. But instead, I felt strangely empty.

"I thought this was what I wanted," I whispered.

Lucian stood a few feet away, giving me space.

"Sometimes freedom feels unfamiliar."

I let out a shaky breath.

"I don't even know what to do now."

"You don't have to decide today."

His words were simple, but they eased the knot in my chest. A moment later, Evelyn entered carrying a tray with two steaming cups of tea.

"I thought you might need this."

"Thank you," I said quietly.

She smiled kindly before leaving us alone again.

I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, grateful for something to steady them.

After a long silence, Lucian spoke.

"You can't return to your father's house."

"I know."

"And your café?"

I looked down.

"I'll probably lose my job if I don't show up."

Lucian shook his head.

"I've already spoken with your manager."

I looked up in surprise.

"You did?"

"I explained that you had a family emergency. Your position is secure for now."

I blinked.

"You... did that for me?"

"It seemed practical." He said calmly.

Practical.

That was the word he chose.

Like it's a common thing but no one had ever gone that far for me so maybe I was over reasoning it.

I smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

He gave a small nod.

"You'll stay here tonight."

I hesitated.

"I don't want to be a burden."

"You aren't."

His answer came so quickly that it caught me off guard.

"Evelyn has already prepared a guest room."

I wanted to protest but simply nodded.

One thing I know about men,is that once they decide on something it's hard to change their mind.

And plus he's being so kind to me so I shouldn't be unreasonable especially when he's of high ranking and prestige.

I don't want to make it look like I'm wasting his time with my family matters, even more than it already is.

A few minutes later, Evelyn led me upstairs.The guest room was larger than the entire downstairs of my father's house.

A neatly made bed sat beneath a large window overlooking the gardens. Fresh flowers rested on the bedside table, filling the room with a soft scent.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

"I'm glad you like it," Evelyn replied. "Dinner will be served at seven. If you need anything, just let me know."

After she left, I slowly walked around the room. Everything felt unreal.

I placed my small bag on the bed and wandered toward the window. Outside, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

I closed my eyes and let the silence wash over me A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

"It's open," I called.

The door creaked open. Adrian stepped inside.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, miss."

"It's alright."

He held out a small velvet box.

"Mr. Ashford asked me to give you this."

Confused, I accepted it.

Inside was a simple silver key.

I frowned.

"A key?"

Adrian nodded.

"To your room."

I looked at him, puzzled.

He smiled slightly.

"Mr. Ashford wanted you to know one thing."

"What?"

"This door locks from the inside."

Flustered, I looked at the key again and then at the door. I looked at Adrian.

"So that means I can lock my door and hold my key?" I said in wonder.

He's face softened.

"Yes, the key becomes to you and you can lock your door and have your own privacy."

I allowed it sink in before smiling softly.

"Please tell Mr. Ashford I'm very grateful."

He nodded.

"Of course Miss Carter, tell him."

"Thank you." I looked at the key again.

After Adrian left, I walked to the door and slowly turned the key.

Click.

The sound echoed through the quiet room. No one could come in unless I wanted them to. I leaned against the door, tears slipping silently down my cheeks.

For a very long time....I felt safe.

Little did I know, that feeling wouldn't last. Downstairs, Lucian received a phone call that wiped the calm expression from his face.

"There was another attack, sir," a voice said through the phone.

"And this time..."

"They know Miss Carter is with you."