His collateral

Chapter 12

"It's this way." Sara's voice rang out, cutting through the air. "You're going the wrong way."

Elena stopped. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her hand curling slowly into a fist at her side before she turned. "Really." Her voice was flat, disinterested. "I thought the flowers meant I was on the right path."

"No." Sara caught up with her, slightly breathless. "That path leads to the estate gates. The flowers are just decoration." She explained, her voice carrying that same warmth Elena had noticed earlier.

Unbothered. Unaware. Or pretending to be.

"Lead the way then." Elena said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. She folded her arms. "I'll be right behind you."

"Sure." Sara tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and turned ahead. "So what's your name? You still haven't told me."

"Elena." She replied quietly.

Her eyes drifted sideways toward the black gates at the far end of the grounds, tall and solid. She had been so close. A few more minutes and she would have reached them. Not escaped — she wasn't foolish enough to believe that anymore. The security alone would have stopped her, but she would have at least tried.

She exhaled slowly, eyes dropping to the path beneath her feet. No phone. No contacts outside these walls. No plan that had any real chance of working. Two weeks inside that room and she was no closer to leaving than the night she arrived.

"Elena." Sara repeated softly beside her. "That was the name of my best friend in middle school." She sighed sadly. "Her family relocated and we lost contact."

"It's a pity." Elena said, eyes still searching. She spotted sunflowers poking through a wooden fence. "I guess that's the garden." She said, quickening her pace.

"Wait for me." Sara said, matching her stride.

At the entrance Elena pulled the latch of the wooden gate open and its old hinges let out a soft creak. She stepped inside, eyes widening at the sight before her. A small fountain stood at the center, clusters of colorful flowers spread across every corner. The air carried a freshness that only nature could produce. It was exactly the kind of garden she had always dreamed of.

"Beautiful, right?" Sara said, appearing beside her. "I planted those hibiscus flowers over there." She pointed proudly. "And the daisies too."

"What about the roses?" Elena asked, drifting toward them. "They're breathtaking." She reached carefully past a thorn and plucked a single white rose, drawing it close and inhaling its sweet scent.

Sara joined her, doing the same. "Lu planted these. I dragged him into helping me one day when he had nothing better to do."

Elena's mood soured instantly. She dropped the rose as though it had burned her fingers and moved away without a word, turning her attention to a cluster of orange marigolds still in bloom.

"Why did Lu bring you here by force? Do you owe him money?"

"No. I have never taken a loan in my life, let alone borrowed from a dubious loan shark like him." Elena answered, plucking a marigold. "Sorry you had to hear me call your brother names. But the truth is the truth."

"It's fine." Sara laughed. "I've heard worse." She paused. "So what did you do? He definitely wouldn't bring someone here for no reason."

"It's a long and shocking story. I'm still struggling to believe it happened, especially in this day and age." Elena sighed, shaking her head. "I'm being held as collateral for my ex-husband's debt."

"Collateral?"

"Shocking, right? Your brother is a heartless devil."

"That's strange." Sara's brows drew together. "Lu doesn't take people as collateral anymore. He stopped that a long time ago."

Elena froze. "What do you mean?"

Sara moved closer, glancing around as though someone might be listening. "Promise you won't tell anyone." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "A few years ago someone Lu took in as collateral almost died from a severe food allergy. After that he refused to ever take a person again."

Elena stared at her. "Then why am I here?”

"I wouldn't know." Sara shrugged. "My brother's just hard to read sometimes."

The words tugged at Elena's chest as she picked more flowers. She needed answers, reasons. And she would make sure to get them whenever she saw him.

"Would you mind if I take some of these flowers? They're too tempting to resist."

"Sure. Take as many as you want. I'll have Mrs. Anne send a vase to your room."

"Thank you." Elena smiled, resuming her activity as silence settled between them.

Moments later the sound of the gate opening caught their attention, causing both of them to turn.

Anne stepped in, a troubled expression written across her face, wiping her hands dry on her apron.

"Thank God you're here, Miss Sara. I've looked everywhere for you." Her eyes widened when they landed on Elena. "She isn't allowed outside her room." She informed Sara, her voice dropping low.

"I know, Mrs. Anne. But she isn't an animal to be locked up." Sara said firmly. "Why are you here?"

"I almost forgot myself." Anne exhaled sharply. "You need to return to the house now, Miss Sara. An emergency has occurred."

"What emergency?"

"Mr. Black is back."

"That's the emergency? Tell him I'm busy in the garden."

"He's unconscious." Anne's voice dropped. "He's been shot.”