Pregnant for My School Enemy

CHAPTER 5: Escape

I didn’t sleep.

Not even for a second.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face. Heard his voice.

“You’re safer here.”

What did that even mean?

Safer from what?

Or… from who?

By morning, I had made up my mind.

I was leaving.

I didn’t care how big this mansion was or how many guards stood outside. I wasn’t staying here like some trapped bird.

I got out of bed quietly, my heart already racing.

The room was silent.

Too silent.

I walked to the door and slowly opened it, peeking into the hallway.

Empty.

Good.

I stepped out, my bare feet moving softly against the cold floor. Every step felt louder than it should, like the walls were listening.

“Just find the exit,” I whispered to myself.

I moved quickly down the hallway, taking turns at random, hoping something—anything—would lead outside.

Then I saw it.

A large staircase.

And beyond it…

The front doors.

Freedom.

My heart jumped.

I rushed down the stairs, gripping the railing tightly.

Almost there.

Almost—

“Going somewhere?”

I froze.

My entire body went still.

Slowly… I turned around.

Ethan.

He stood at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in black, like he had been waiting.

Like he knew.

My chest tightened. “Move.”

His eyebrow lifted slightly. “You think it’s that easy?”

“I’m not asking,” I snapped, forcing confidence into my voice. “I’m leaving.”

I stepped forward.

One step.

Two.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t even blink.

“You won’t make it past the gate,” he said calmly.

“Watch me.”

I tried to walk past him.

But the moment I did—

His hand caught mine.

Firm.

Unyielding.

“Let go of me!” I struggled, trying to pull away, but his grip tightened just enough to stop me.

“Stop,” he said.

“I said let go!” My voice broke this time, frustration spilling over. “You can’t keep me here!”

His expression changed.

Not anger.

Not control.

Something else.

Something heavier.

“I’m not keeping you here to hurt you,” he said quietly.

“Then why?!” I shouted.

“Because if you walk out of that gate…” His voice dropped, serious now. “You won’t be coming back.”

My breath caught.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

He hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then—

“It means someone is looking for you.”

My heart skipped.

“What?”

“They know who you are,” he continued. “And now… they know you’re connected to me.”

“That doesn’t make any sense!” I shook my head. “I don’t even know you!”

“But they think you do.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Confusing.

Fear slowly crept into my chest.

“You’re lying,” I whispered.

“I wish I was.”

His grip softened slightly, but he didn’t let go.

“If you leave, I can’t protect you.”

Protect.

That word again.

I swallowed hard. “From who?”

This time… he didn’t answer.

Instead, he looked toward the door.

And for the first time…

I noticed something I hadn’t before.

Two guards.

Standing outside.

Armed.

Watching.

My stomach dropped.

This wasn’t just a house.

It was a fortress.

And suddenly…

Leaving didn’t feel as simple as I thought.

I slowly looked back at him.

“You planned this,” I said quietly.

“No,” he replied. “But I’m the only reason you’re still safe.”

Safe.

The word echoed again.

But now…

It didn’t feel like a lie.

It felt like a warning.

My shoulders slowly dropped.

Not because I trusted him.

But because…

For the first time—

I was scared of what was outside more than what was inside.

And that scared me even more.

Ethan finally released my hand.

“You can hate me,” he said.

“I already do,” I muttered.

A small, almost invisible smile touched his lips.

“I know.”

He stepped aside.

Not blocking me anymore.

The door was right there.

Open.

Free.

I could run.

Right now.

But my feet didn’t move.

And that was the moment I realized…

Something had changed.

Not him.

Me.