The Hero Appears

The door stayed closed all afternoon.

Lara tried pacing. Tried eating. Tried convincing herself this wasn’t real. But every inch of Ethan’s mansion whispered danger—and control. She was trapped in silk and shadows, guarded by a man who looked at her like he owned her, even while pretending he didn’t care.

By evening, she couldn't take it anymore.

She cracked the door open and peeked into the hallway.

Empty.

Heart pounding, she slipped out.

One footstep at a time, she moved through the corridor, past guards who didn’t even glance her way. Maybe Ethan hadn’t told everyone she was forbidden to touch.

“Just find the front door,” she whispered.

Down a wide staircase. Past a sitting room. Through a hallway of mirrors.

She turned the corner—

And collided with a chest.

Strong arms grabbed her before she could fall. “Whoa, easy—are you okay?”

Her breath caught in her throat.

Alex.

Messy brown hair. Concerned green eyes. Police badge clipped to his belt. He looked exactly like he had on the pages—gentle, protective, real.

Lara blinked. “You’re… you’re him.”

He tilted his head. “Do I know you?”

“I—I was reading about you. And now I’m here. I think—no, I know I fell into the book.”

His expression shifted to alarm. “You shouldn’t be here. This place is—wait, did Ethan bring you?”

“Not exactly,” she said, stepping back. “More like… I landed in his pool.”

Alex scanned the hallway, then leaned in close. “Listen. You need to get out of here. Ethan’s dangerous.”

“You think I don’t know that?” she hissed.

“I can help. But I have to act fast. Tonight, when the guards shift, I’ll—”

“Going somewhere, little reader?”

Her stomach dropped.

Ethan stood at the end of the hall, hands in his coat pockets, eyes dark with something far colder than jealousy.

Possessiveness.

Alex stepped in front of her. “She’s not yours.”

Ethan’s voice was calm. Too calm. “I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

“She doesn’t belong in your world.”

“She’s in it, isn’t she?” Ethan took slow steps toward them. “That’s not my fault.”

Lara swallowed. “Ethan, stop.”

“Funny. I was about to say the same thing to him.”

Alex narrowed his eyes. “You can’t keep her like this.”

Ethan gave a soft, humorless laugh. “Keep her? She wandered into my world uninvited. Maybe the book chose her. Or maybe she’s mine.”

Lara’s heart pounded. “I'm not anyone’s.”

Ethan’s eyes flicked to her. “Little one… you have no idea how this world works yet.”

Then, to Alex: “Walk away. Or I’ll break every part of you that touches her.”

The silence that followed was thick.

Alex clenched his jaw but backed away, his eyes lingering on Lara.

Ethan turned to her. “Let’s go. Now.”

She hesitated.

He leaned close, voice low. “You want to run to your hero? Be my guest. But don’t cry when he bleeds.”

Lara’s breath hitched as he turned and walked away.

And somehow, she followed.

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