Chapter 3: No Way Out
1170 Words
"Take me back home" Leah said calmly as she pulled out of his grip, wiping her tears. She turned around to get back in the car but Daniel pulled her back.
"We haven't even gotten to our destination yet and you...."
"I know. Just take me back home. I have to face my fate" Tears drop. She walked back to the car.
Daniel let out a heavy breath hoping to feel a bit relieved instead, his heart ached even more.
The drive was a quiet one. A lot of thoughts wandering through both of their minds.
"I'll call you." He said as Leah stepped out of the car.
No response.
He could the pain in her eyes as she looked at him for the last time before walking into the house.
Leah barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Daniel standing in the rain, looking at her like she had already shattered his heart.
By morning, she felt worse than she did last night.
She sat at the dining table in silence, staring blanking at the untouched cup of tea in front of her~ she had no appetite ~ while her mother moved nervously around the kitchen.
The atmosphere in the house had changed overnight. Everything felt fragile. Like one word could destroy what little stability they had left.
Her father finally entered the room looking years older than he had just days ago. His tie hung loosely around his neck and the dark circles beneath his eyes made Leah's chest ache.
"Dad" she said softly, standing immediately.
"Did you sleep at all?"
"A little"
It was an obvious lie.
He sat down slowly, rubbing his temples.
Leah hesitated before asking the question she feared the most.
"How bad is it really?"
Her father went silent.
That silence alone terrified her.
"Dad..."
He finally looked up.
"The company accounts were frozen this morning."
Leah's stomach dropped.
"What?!"
"We tried contacting the investors again", he continued tiredly. "No one's willing to help. They're pulling out completely."
Her mother turned away quickly, pretending to wipe an already clean counter. Leah noticed her hands trembling.
"No...." Leah whispered. "There has to be something we can do"
"There isn't enough time."
The hopelessness in her father's voice made panic rise inside her.
"How much do we owe exactly?"
He reached into his briefcase and slid a document to her.
Leah scanned the numbers.
And her breathing stopped.
It was worse than she imagined. Far worse.
"How is this possible?" she whispered.
Her father was ashamed.
"One failed partnership led to another", he admitted. "Then someone leaked damaging information about the company. Investors panicked.
" Who leaked it?"
" I don't know yet"
But the way he avoided her eyes made her suspicious.
Leah lowered the papers slowly.
"And if we don't fix this?"
Her mother finally spoke, her voice trembling.
"We lose the company." Her father continued quietly.
"The house too."
Leah froze.
The house? The home she grew up in?
Every childhood memory suddenly felt painfully temporary.
"We've already received warnings from the bank", her father admitted. "If we don't settle part of the debt immediately......."
He couldn't finish.
Leah felt sick.
Everything was collapsing too fast.
And suddenly, Steve's calm voice echoed in her mind.
You don't have many options left.
Her fingers tightened around the documents. No, it can't be.
She refused to believe marriage was the only option.
"There has to be another investor", she said desperately. "Another loan...."
"We tried."
"What about selling assets?"
"It won't cover enough."
"What about....."
"Leah" Her father's exhausted voice stopped her.
He looked at her with something close to defeat.
"For once in my life... I don't know how to protect this family."
The words broke something inside her.
Because her father had always strong.
Always certain.
Seeing him like this made the situation horrifyingly real.
Her mother quietly sat beside him, tears gathering in her eyes.
"We're sorry", she whispered. "We never wanted this burden to fall on you".
Leah looked between them, her chest tightening painfully.
This wasn't just about money anymore. It was about watching the people she loved fall apart.
Then the doorbell rang. Everyone stiffened.
Her father frowned slightly before standing.
"I'll get it."
Leah watched him walk toward the entrance. A few seconds later, he father's posture visibly tensed.
And Leah already knew.
Steve Gross.
He entered the house looking composed as ever, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that made him seem even more untouchable.
His sharp eyes landed briefly on Leah.
"Miss Chang"
Something about his calmness irritated her instantly.
"How do you keep showing up at the perfect moment?", she asked coldly.
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"I value timing."
Leah crossed her arms.
"Well, this isn't a good time."
"I disagree."
Her father looked deeply uncomfortable.
"Mr. Gross", he began carefully. "Perhaps we should discuss this later...."
"There may not be a later", Steve interrupted smoothly.
The room fell silent.
Leah hated how effortlessly he controlled every conversation.
Steve calmly placed a file on the table.
"The bank has accelerated your payment deadline."
Her father's face drained of color.
"How do you know that?"
"I make it my business to know things."
Leah narrowed her eyes immediately.
Again, that unsettling feeling returned.
Why did he know so much about their situation?
Steve glanced at Leah slowly.
"You now have seventy-two hours before legal actions begin."
Her mother gasped softly.
Leah's pulse quickened.
"Seventy-two hours?“, she repeated.
Steve nodded once.
"After that, recovering the company becomes significantly tougher than it already is."
Her father sank back into his seat heavily.
Leah looked at Steve with growing anger.
"You sound very informed for someone who claims he's only trying to help."
His expression didn't change.
"Successful men stay informed."
The answer felt calculated. Like, everything about him.
Leah stepped closer.
"Why us?"
For the first time, Steve went silent. The air between them felt strangely tense.
"You're asking the wrong question" he said finally.
"Then what's the right one?"
His gaze held hers steadily.
"Why did I choose you?"
Leah's breath caught slightly. Something about the way he said it made her uneasy.
Before she could respond, Steve turned toward her father again.
"My offer still stands."
Leah's chest tightened.
Marriage.
Her father looked conflicted.
"I can't ask my daughter to do this."
"You're not asking", Steve replied evenly. "She'll decide for herself."
Leah stared at him in disbelief.
How could he possibly speak about marriage like some business merger? Did he even have feelings?
"Why me?" she asked again quietly.
Steve's eyes shifted back to her.
And for a second..... Something unreadable flickered there.
"You'll understand eventually."
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
But before leaving, he paused.
Without looking back, he said calmly, "ticking clocks make difficult decisions easier, Miss Chang."
And then he was gone, leaving silence behind him.
Leah stood frozen. Because deep down.......
She was beginning to fear he was right.
- Writer
