From Pawn To Queen: My Sweet Escape From A Manipulative Lover

"Are you afraid?" Greyson Blake's words, low and enticing, seemed to linger just beside Melanie Dale's cheek.

A shiver ran through her body, so strong that it left her breathless. "Please stop!"

He gave a quiet laugh, the kind that chilled her to the bone, every note dripping with mockery.

"Weren't you the one who promised you'd do whatever it took?"

Melanie's eyes stung, turning glassy with anger and regret. She had anticipated this and believed that she could stand it. But when it really happened, she found that the courage slipped through her fingers.

"The Blake family's gathering will begin soon. Can we just wait until it ends..."

Something unfamiliar pressed in on her, setting every nerve on edge.

Rising up on her toes, she strained to pull away, terror clawing at her.

A tear slipped down, catching on her lashes, and she looked for all the world like a frightened doe frozen in place.

"You want me to step in now, only to settle the score later. Do you think I'm a man who bends that easily?"

In all of Andence, everyone knew the ruthless and cold-blooded nature of Greyson. He was the former family head's fourth son and also the current family head.

A heavy weight dropped in her chest, the last bit of hope squeezed out.

With him, there would be no chance at trickery. He never moved without certainty.

Still, Melanie knew that today was her only chance. She couldn't afford to let it slip by.

"If that's the case, make it quick."

Pressure from his hand clamped down on her shoulder, the heat of his breath close enough to unsettle her.

They spent the next hour wrapped up in each other, hearts racing and breaths tangled.

Afterward, her fingers quivered as she slipped back into her dress, stealing a glance at the man who watched her every move as she crept over to collect her underwear from the floor.

"Mr. Blake, about what you agreed to do for me..."

Lighting a cigarette, Greyson leaned back without a care in the world, a single button left undone on his shirt, his posture both languid and commanding.

He looked at what she held and spoke in a flat, indifferent tone. "Put it on."

Shame washed over Melanie, burning hotter than before.

She sank her teeth into her lower lip, and, with his unwavering attention upon her, she stepped into the garment, tugged up her dress, and tightened the knot at her waist.

"Is that okay?"

"You can leave."

Shadows from the cigarette's glow hid whatever expression lingered on his face.

With questions left unspoken, Melanie slipped away in silence.

His word carried the weight of a signed agreement - once given, never broken.

Stepping out with quiet respect, she never glimpsed the way his fist tightened or how his stare darkened as she left.

A strange relief swept over him, pain that had haunted him for years disappearing for a fleeting moment.

Squinting, Greyson reached for his phone and instructed, "Find out everything you can about her. For the time being, don't do anything to her."

...

Outside, Melanie slipped from the mansion undetected, taking a moment to steady her breathing.

Coming toward her, Lorna Dale, her mother, moved carefully, one hand resting on her expectant belly. "Melanie, what took you so long? Did you talk to Mr. Blake? Has he agreed to lend a hand?"

With John Blake retired from the family's affairs, Greyson had taken his place at the helm.

If Greyson chose to intervene, every problem standing in their way could be swept aside.

Without a second thought, Melanie rushed over to offer support. "Take it easy, Mom. No need to fret. He's said yes."

Lorna gave a relieved nod, though her gaze soon landed on the faint red imprints marring Melanie's neck.

"Melanie, how did you convince him? Was there something you..."

Suspicion flickered in her mother's eyes, and Melanie's nerves jumped.

A swift tug at her collar hid the evidence her mother searched for.

"Why are you letting your imagination run wild again, Mom? Colby and I have been together for three years. He gave his word he'd marry me once he got back. There's no way I'd betray him."

Only then did Lorna's anxious shoulders drop.

With a calm voice, Melanie continued, "I explained to Greyson that your baby's father is his brother, Leland. That child is the last bit of Leland's blood in this world. Even if the Blakes want nothing to do with us, surely they'll accept the baby. After all, they have more money than they could ever spend - one more child won't make a difference."

For years, Lorna had loved Leland Blake, John's second son, and now she carried his child.

Yet, the Blake family had always kept their distance.

Not long ago, Leland died suddenly, and the truth of his massive debts came to light. With his passing, creditors hounded Lorna and Melanie for payment.

Desperation left Melanie with only one option: appeal to the Blakes for help.

She knew that under their roof, those men chasing the debt would at least think twice before making a move.

Right then, the butler appeared, beckoning for them to come inside.

True to his promise, Greyson had followed through.

Without hesitation, both Lorna and Melanie hurried after the man.

As soon as they entered the grand entryway, Lorna's eyes fell on John, who sat in a stately armchair, prompting her to approach with eager steps and offer a respectful greeting.

John cut her off before she could say another word, a cold scoff escaping him. "It's almost dinner time. Why invite guests in at this moment?"

His meaning could not have been plainer.

The Blake family was going to have dinner, and Melanie and Lorna, as outsiders, weren't welcome here.

A ghostly paleness swept across Lorna's face when she grasped what John implied. Her hands twisted the edge of her blouse as she stood rooted to the spot.

Wasting no time, Melanie stepped in, gently offering support while keeping her composure intact.

"Mr. Blake, my mother is carrying a Blake heir."

As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp, mocking laugh cut through the room.

Vivian Blake, wife to John's third son, made her presence known with a cold sneer. "It takes real audacity to make such a claim. Do you think your words alone make it true?"

Melanie opened her mouth to fire back, but Lorna, gripped by anxiety, held her firmly and stopped her short.

Contempt twisted Vivian's features even further. "Lorna, I'm amazed by your nerve. You played an unacknowledged lover to Leland, and now that he's gone, you show up at our door with an unborn child, thinking you can milk the family for money. Who can tell whether that baby is really Leland's?"

Her eyes brimming with tears, Lorna blurted out, "The baby is Leland's, I swear it. Mr. Blake, the due date is only a month away. I'll agree to any test you need."

A derisive huff escaped Vivian. "Leland's gone and buried - what sort of test could possibly prove anything now? Even if the baby shares Blake blood, how can you say it's Leland's and not some distant cousin's? A woman with no shame, dragging her scandals in here - who knows how many men you've tangled with?"

Frustration finally broke through Melanie's composure.

"So you mean to say the Blake men have so little honor, they'd lay hands on Mr. Leland Blake's woman?"

Stunned, Vivian hadn't anticipated Melanie's quick response. With anger sharpening her tone, Vivian retorted, "Mind how you speak! Who gave you the right to slander others?"

Melanie smiled mockingly. "Keep those words to yourself. You're the one who started slinging wild accusations!"

Meeting the eyes of those gathered, Melanie lifted her chin in defiance, her delicate features set with stubborn resolve.

"If there's so much doubt, just wait until the baby arrives. We'll have every man in the Blake family tested. The father's DNA will show a different match rate than any uncle or distant relative. It'll be easy to prove that none of their rates are close enough to establish paternity."

"And why should we go along with your scheme?" Vivian retorted, voice cold.

Melanie's stare did not waver as she faced Vivian. "Your father-in-law hasn't uttered a word, yet you keep trying to block us. Are you truly worried about the family's reputation, or are you just scared that Leland's child might threaten your worthless son's claim to the inheritance?"

All through Andence, people knew that Vivian always doted on her only son unconditionally. With such connivance, her son had become a notoriously dissipated playboy.

To be called out so plainly left her red-faced, anger and humiliation written across her features.

"You insolent girl, I ought to teach you a lesson!"

Vivian's hand shot upward, and Melanie instinctively tried to dodge it. But before she could get away, Lorna lunged forward, throwing herself between them.

Startled and desperate, Melanie wrapped her arms around her mother. With no time left to dodge, she simply squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the sting.

"That's enough!"

The sound froze Vivian's arm in mid-swing, her movement cut short by the sudden authority in the room.

A powerful presence loomed at Melanie's back, unmistakable in its severity.

Greyson had stepped into the fray.

A heavy silence settled over the room, tension thickening the air. Even Vivian, still bristling with anger, held back, though her tone remained cutting.

"Greyson, perfect timing. These two came to our door scheming for money. I have no clue who allowed them inside. That disrespectful girl especially - if nobody puts her in her place, our whole family will be disgraced!"

Greyson ignored the outrage, his eyes flickering to Melanie before settling on Vivian, his look as cold as winter rain. "I'm the one who opened the door for them. Is that a problem for you?"

Stunned, Vivian stared at him as though the floor had shifted under her feet.

"Greyson, what are you saying?"

With deliberate ease, Greyson crossed the floor and sank into the nearest sofa, dignity in every line of his posture.

"Leland's child grows in Lorna's womb. From today, both she and her daughter will stay in Emerald Villa - my brother's old home."

"Excuse me?" A surge of panic washed over Vivian.

Sprawling across the Blake grounds, the estate held four grand villas in addition to John's own residence.

Each villa belonged to one of his sons, serving as a symbol of their status in the family.

Emerald Villa had always been Leland's territory.

"You can't seriously mean to welcome that bastard?"

Greyson's face turned cold as soon as he heard that, a shadow falling over his features. "I told you, Vivian. That child belongs to my brother. Stop calling them that!"

Though his presence made her shrink back, Vivian's eyes darted toward John, searching for support from him.

"Say something! While Leland lived, none of us had any clue he was seeing someone. Now he's gone, and suddenly strangers show up claiming to be family. No one can even prove the baby's his. How can you let them move into Leland's villa?"

The words had barely left her mouth when Greyson let out a low, chilling laugh that seemed to cut through the tense air.

"Vivian, my father has stepped aside. Are you questioning my authority as the head of this family?"

Vivian's protest died on her lips, her expression turning to stone.

A sharp crack echoed as John slammed his cane against the floor. "Greyson!"

Vivian's tense stance eased a little, her eyes turning expectantly to this old man.

Memories of Leland's involvement with Lorna still burned hot in John's mind, and her presence now only reignited that anger. Accepting them was out of the question.

Not even the promise of Leland's child could sway him from his decision.

"This family will never open its doors to people with such disgraceful pasts-"

Before John could complete his words, Greyson cut in, his tone flat and distant. "Is your memory failing, or do you simply refuse to remember why Leland left in the first place? And why did you surrender your place at the head of this family?"

John's face clouded further as those words sank in. Tightly pressed lips and a trembling beard betrayed just how close he was to losing control.

In contrast, Greyson's expression hardly flickered.

"Let's go take our places," he said, standing and leading the way toward the dining room.

Vivian's eyes darted toward John, silently begging for him to object. However, he offered nothing but a cold stare in Lorna and Melanie's direction. His silence was clearly a reluctant endorsement of Greyson's authority.

Clearly, whatever Greyson had said had managed to tip the balance in his favor.

Seething with frustration, Vivian stamped her foot, though she could do little else.

What Greyson had threatened to reveal was a truth that no one in the Blake household dared speak aloud.

Chairs began scraping as family members found their seats, but not a single servant had arranged places for Lorna and Melanie.

Vivian made certain that two short stools were set in the farthest corner of the room.

"You might have forced your way into the Blake family, but there's still a pecking order. If you want to eat, you'll sit over there," she sneered, her words meant to degrade.

Though anger tightened her grip, Melanie kept quiet. All she wanted was for her mother to find safety and shelter under the Blake roof.

Everything else - petty slights, open hostility - meant nothing to her.

With gentle care, Melanie quietly guided Lorna toward their places in the corner.

Without warning, Greyson's low voice broke through the air. "Come sit over here."

The words left Melanie rooted to the spot, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

A subtle gesture, his long fingers curling in invitation, made it clear that he meant for her to take the empty seat by his side.

Tension rippled through the dining room, every gaze shifting as the mood turned strange and brittle.

Perhaps it had made sense to let her and Lorna remain at Emerald Villa for the sake of the unborn child, but what was he playing at now?

Lost in confusion, Melanie could only stare at him, unable to make sense of his motives.

"Must I have someone escort you?" The chill in Greyson's eyes left no room for argument, his voice unreadable.

Reluctance heavy in every step, Melanie crossed the room. "Is there something you want?" she asked, her tone etched with uncertainty and unease.

One eyebrow lifted as Greyson answered, "Sit down."

Vivian shot up from her seat, her outrage barely contained.

"Greyson, what are you thinking? The Blake family has always respected the proper order. That seat is meant for Colby. How can you let this woman take his place?"

Colby?

Hearing a name identical to her boyfriend's made Melanie pause for a brief second.

But she immediately snapped out of it.

Quickly, she shook her head, refusing the offer. "Thank you, but I'll stay by my mother's side."

Her words barely left her lips before Greyson added, cool and casual, "Then bring your mother here as well."

A visible storm brewed behind Vivian's eyes.

Without hesitation, Greyson motioned to the servants.

"Begin serving the food."

His tone allowed no argument - this was settled.

While Vivian seethed with anger, Melanie and Lorna sat stiffly, nerves prickling as if on a bed of needles.

The tension only made them hold themselves tighter, their bodies almost frozen in place.

Out of nowhere, Lorna trembled, accidentally tipping over the glass of water set before Melanie.

Too slow to stop it, Melanie watched in horror as the water tumbled straight into Greyson's lap.

Vivian's lips curled into a smug smile. "No matter how hard you try, you'll always be out of place here. Look what you've done - Greyson's pants are soaked."

In a frantic rush, Melanie grabbed napkins and dabbed at the mess, only then realizing that the spill had landed in the most humiliating spot possible.

Color rose fiercely in her cheeks as Vivian's words stung.

Her mind spun back to those breathless moments - Greyson pinning her to the sofa, his hand firm at her waist, thrusting into her as he forced her to lift her chin. There was heat in his eyes, a glimmer of amusement, and his raspy voice seemed to scrape right through her.

"Is your body made of water? You've soaked my pants."

As she stared at the broad wet mark, Melanie's embarrassment burned so bright that she almost wished she could vanish altogether.

Meanwhile, Vivian kept pouring salt on the wound, mocking her as crude and untamed.

Rumor had it Greyson couldn't stand disorder, hated having his things touched.

Vivian felt sure that this would be Melanie's undoing.

She settled in, eager for chaos, but Greyson's cold stare found her instead. "She's part of this household now. Why turn a small accident into such a spectacle?"

Shock flickered across Vivian's face.

Nothing was unfolding the way she'd imagined.

Before Vivian could escalate things further, a low, authoritative voice interrupted - Rhys Blake, John's eldest son, had finally decided to speak. "That's enough chatter for one night. Let's eat."

Rhys might not wear the crown in the Blake family, but his word carried weight, and his calm intervention defused the growing tension.

Without another word, Greyson excused himself to change and didn't return for the rest of dinner - or any of the evening's formalities.

Every mouthful at the table felt stiff and uneasy, the meal a silent trial for Melanie and Lorna.

Once dinner concluded, John quietly instructed the staff to escort Melanie and Lorna to Emerald Villa.

Though the villa had been empty for quite a while, the place was spotless, thanks to regular upkeep.

Inside, the staff did a quick tidy-up before leaving the mother and daughter to settle in. Lorna collapsed onto the couch, spent and shaken.

"Melanie, I was frightened out of my wits."

Melanie crouched beside her, gently saying, "We're only being allowed to stay here. Greyson won't cover the debts, but don't worry. Just rest and don't leave the estate. The debt collectors won't dare follow us onto Blake property."

Lorna gave a shaky nod, reassured for the moment.

Melanie continued, "Hand over anything Leland left. I'll try to catch John and plead our case. None of this debt should be your burden."

For all the years Leland spent with Lorna, he'd never made her his wife - so, in truth, those debts weren't legally hers.

Yet reason never stopped the creditors, who now used Lorna's unborn child as leverage, leaving them completely cornered.