Running Away To My Erased Heir

Gina's POV:

The night seemed endless.

I stepped out of the train as it screeched to a sudden halt. The sound was deafening, disturbing both me and everyone else who might be trying to recognize me at the station.

I readjusted my overcoat and the baseball cap I was wearing. The cloth was quite uncomfortable but perfect for a disguise-the best I could think of.

I buried my head slightly, cramming my golden blonde hair into the baseball cap. I straightened the coat's collar and summoned the courage to move forward.

"No one would recognize me," I whispered. For sure.

My phone chimed and I brought it out. I stared at it and frowned; a slight headache flashed through my forehead.

It was Father's message, and I could guess it was another threatening message telling me to come back home right now.

I refused to be intimidated and left the message unread.

The sky kept getting darker, and a flash of lightning traveled fast over the resting earth. Rumbles of emerging rain echoed across the busy immediate surroundings.

I looked carefully at the surroundings like some code-scanner machine examining a QR code. The onboarding and arriving passengers, workers, people waiting for their arriving relatives or seeing them off.

I clearly had no one to wait for me because I expected no one to. Everyone who could do that all wanted me to be somewhere: home, preparing to be the bride I could never be.

Everyone would blame me for altering the loyalty of my father to the Kings Group, but I don't care. Why wouldn't they put themselves in my shoes and see how it goes? I just lost my fiancé, and his father kept forcing me to marry the new heir. Either way, the alliance between him and my father would grow stronger. I can't get to the root of it, but I'm clearly just a pawn.

Even though I have done many things for my family, I can't do this. I've made my father proud so many times, but not now.

I don't know anyone here in Sunshine City. I just have to blend into the environment and live my life. Freely.

My father or the Kings' men could be anywhere, stalking or tracking me.

I walked down the station and passed by the exit with the inscription: Crestford Station.

"Over there."

A man's voice shouted from afar, behind me, and a storm of footsteps ran toward me. I was quite frightened.

"Bring the young master."

I spun around, and a league of hefty men ran toward me. All in black suits. I got on my heels.

"Get her." Kaint, their leader and the Kings Group chairman's personal bodyguard, shouted. "The master wants her right now." The others marched toward me.

I ran into the busy city streets, as fast as my legs could carry me. I needed to hide somewhere urgently. If I kept running, they would get me for sure.

I looked back and saw them, hot on my trail. They would not give up. They might all lose their jobs if they did, or even their lives.

They chased after me like water penetrating a crack in erosion. I would not give up either.

"How did they find me?" I mumbled, still at full speed.

I ducked around a corner and halted. Then I realized: my phone. They had been tracking it all this while.

I removed it from my pocket and threw it to the ground. "Damn," I mumbled, and pressed it to the ground with my heel.

"Check over there," Kaint said, his voice shaking- probably from the fear of losing me. A step approached the corner, and I froze.

"Is this the freaking end?" I thought silently, and the steps stopped.

I sighed, but it was quite loud. He noticed and continued coming closer.

I quickly ran, and my steps attracted them all. "It's that corner," the man approaching shouted, and they all followed.

Then I stopped.

I reached a dead end. A tall fence with no way of escape. I looked back, panting, removed the baseball cap, straightened my hair, and faced them.

"You'll regret this," I shouted, still panting.

They didn't seem moved by my threats.

Kaint entered, also in a black suit. The slightly deep scar still visible on his forehead.

"Get her to the car gently," Kaint ordered, pointing to two of the men. He was really panting, with sweat flowing down his neck.

"Please," I begged. Broken, I felt hopeless.

"I should beg you to cooperate," Kaint walked toward me. "The chairman is really mad at you, so don't make any other scene out of this. It might irritate him more." He whispered into my ear and hissed.

"You." He called the ones he ordered. "Be fast and let's get going. The chairman is growing really impatient."

I frowned as two hefty men came forward. I felt like crying and shouting at the same time. I just wished I could vanish into thin air or be swallowed by the floor.

"Just kill me," I shouted at Kaint as the two men held my arms. I struggled, and they released me.

"That would just complicate everything." Kaint went ahead to their car without looking back. He signaled to the men, and they all prepared to leave.

"What's going on here?"

A voice said from the front, right before Kaint.

"Young man," Kaint said and patted him. "Just go on your way. This is none of your business."

I stretched my neck and saw the man. Dressed in a black suit and a white shirt. He had his tie on, holding a suitcase. Probably a hustler on his 9-to-5.

"It looks like you guys are trying to kidnap that lady." He pushed away Kaint's hand and readjusted his suit. "I can't overlook someone being bullied."

"Whoa!" Kaint sighed. "What now?"

"I've been in that situation before, and I can't let anyone be a victim anymore." He walked past Kaint and stopped in front of me.

"Are you okay?" His voice was gentle, unfazed by the number of huge men surrounding him.

I grew uneasy. My stomach clenched. This foolish man, with his steady gaze and foolish courage, would die because of me. The thought made my blood run colder than the threats from Kaint.

"Poor him," I thought and whispered to his ear, "They could kill you. Just go, please." I pitied him.

"No," he whistled.

The men froze. On standby.

Kaint signaled to them, and two of them moved toward my rescuer.

They both clenched their fists and stood before him.

One of them, with a broad face and a weird beard, faced him. "Just go now."

"Unfortunately," he folded his arms and stared at the haggard man, "I must take her with me." He pointed at me.

I didn't even know him.

Why would he wish to die when they would relentlessly bring me back home to my father and the chairman?

I sighed loudly.

Gina's POV:

The haggard man threw a punch, and he blocked it with his suitcase, hiding his face behind it. The case cracked, and the man groaned.

"You!" he snarled, lunging forward to attack again.

He slammed the bag into the man's face, and the haggard man crumpled to the ground. In an instant, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from them. We fled on our heels, as fast as our legs could carry us.

Kaint and his men chased after us, close on our trail. He headed into the garage, and I galloped behind him, his grip tight on my wrist.

He pulled a car key from his pocket and pressed it. An SUV chimed, the sound echoing through the garage. We ran to it, and he wrenched the door open.

"Get in," he ordered, and I obeyed blindly, climbing into the back seat.

I didn't know who he was or what his plan was, but I felt nothing could be more cruel than returning to that chaotic family.

He got in too, started the car, reversed out of the parking spot, and sped off.

They kept chasing the car closely until we left the garage and hit the road at high speed.

I looked back through the rear windshield and saw Kaint kicking the ground in frustration under the glare of a streetlight. His angry shadow loomed, monstrous and furious. He stood with his hands on his hips.

He ran a hand over his hair vigorously, burying his head. I knew exactly what he was feeling. I pitied him for a second, then remembered I needed to pity myself more.

I looked back at the man driving the car, cleared my throat, and asked, "Who are you, please?"

"You haven't even thanked me for saving you yet," he chuckled, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

"I don't even know what you're up to," I said, looking out the window, then added silently, How can I even be sure that I'm safe?

"You surely are," he said, looking back. "Those are bad guys, right?" he asked with a smile, returning his focus back to the road. "I can tell right away."

I felt a bit relieved. I couldn't think of anyone in my life who would do this. Either he was a kind passerby, or the whole situation was far more complicated than I thought.

"Would you like to go to my home or a hotel? I can tell you need refuge more than anything right now," he said, his gaze fixed on the road, his tone more serious this time.

I honestly knew a hotel wouldn't work. They already knew I was in Sunshine City. All public places were likely on notice.

I blinked and cleared my throat again; something felt lodged in my oesophagus. "Will I be safe at your home?"

"Sure," he said lightly, as if that was all the reassurance I needed.

"And how do you know me?" I stammered. "Who told you something was going on back there?"

His eyes widened. I could see it in the rearview mirror.

"You ask too many questions," he said with a smile. "It's not good for you."

"What?"

"I understand you have the right to ask, but..." he started.

I interrupted impatiently, "But what? Just tell me."

He smacked his lips and pressed the brake, pulling over to the side of the road.

"You've had a long day already." He looked back at me. His face was quite alluring. My eyes widened, and I quickly snapped out of it. "Haven't you?"

I nodded involuntarily-It was the best I could do.

"All you have to do is rest and trust me." He faced forward and started the car again. "I just risked my life to save you," he murmured, but I heard him.

His words still didn't completely move me. But I had to comply. He was right about one thing: he had risked his life for me.

I just couldn't shake the unanswered questions. Who was he? Why did he save me? How were we connected?

I fastened my seatbelt and lay back against the seat, sighing heavily.

He didn't speak. The car hummed beneath us, steady and warm.

I raised my head slightly, then let it fall back against the headrest, staring at the car roof until my vision blurred. The city lights slid across the ceiling in slow, rhythmic pulses.

"Want some water." He paused the car again.

"Sure. That'll be better."

"Lemme go get some." He got off the car.

Then my head started some calculations; Jax could be really cunning.

I should just runaway or something.

I looked at him talking to the store owner by the road side.

The transition is abrupt. Consider adding a beat of internal hesitation:

I should just run away. Now. Before he comes back.

I looked at him talking to the store owner by the roadside. He was relaxed, at ease. Not watching the car. Not watching me.

Still occupied.

I opened the door slowly, avoiding suspicion.

I retightened the cap, and buried my face to the ground.

Being alone is better than with some mercenaries.

Gina's POV:

I ducked around a corner at the end of the street and paused.

I hid behind the wall and peered at the store.

I wanted to make sure he was gone before making my final run.

He was about leaving the store owner, when I leaned against the wall swiftly. My hand shook a bit-I don't really want to get caught again.

Just freedom. I wanted just that.

I peeped back and he was back at the car.

He opened the driver's door-he clearly does not know I had run.

I looked carefully,not knowing what his next action would be.

And probably after noticing I was not there, he immediately got out.

He looked up and down the street, right and left-clearly tense. He walked back to the store owner and mumbled something I couldn't hear but could guess the meaning of.

He walked back to the car and checked again, now carefully-he probably thought I was hiding at the back seat like a fool.

He walked to passersby, asking questions I couldn't hear, he couldn't get a clue or so it seemed-probably.

I had maintained a good cover-even though I'm not used to hiding, this could cost me my freedom so I have to take actions.

I pressed my back against the wall and held my breath.

He asked another passerby-a woman with a shopping bag-and she shook her head. He thanked her anyway. Even from here, I could see the way his shoulders dropped after each refusal.

"Just give up," I thought. "Just leave."

But he didn't.

He walked the length of the block, then doubled back. He checked the alley across the street. He stood at the corner, turning slowly, scanning every shadow, every doorway.

I had never been watched like this. Not by Kaint's men-they hunted with numbers and orders. This was different. Personal. Like I was something he couldn't afford to lose.

No, I told myself. He's just good at his job. Whatever that job is.

I waited until he disappeared around the next corner. Then I moved.

I didn't run this time. Running drew attention. I walked-fast, but not fast enough to make anyone look twice. I kept my head down, my cap low, my arms wrapped around myself against the cold that had started to settle in my bones.

I didn't know where I was going. I didn't have a plan. I only knew I needed to put distance between us.

The streets of Sunshine City blurred past. Shop windows, streetlights, parked cars. I walked until my feet ached, until my legs felt like they might give out, until the city around me grew quieter and the buildings shorter and the shadows longer.

I found an alley-narrow, dark, hidden from the main road by a row of dumpsters. I slipped into it, pressed my back against the brick wall, and let myself breathe.

I was alone.

I was safe.

I was-

Cold.

The rain started without warning. Not the gentle drizzle I had run through earlier, but a hard, driving rain that soaked through my coat in seconds. I pulled my cap lower, but it did nothing. Water dripped down my neck, my spine, my legs. I was shivering before I could stop myself.

I should move. Find shelter. But my body wouldn't obey. I slid down the wall, my legs folding beneath me, and sat in the wet dirt of the alley with my knees drawn to my chest.

This is fine, I told myself. Just rest for a minute. Then you'll figure it out.

But the minutes passed, and I didn't move. My thoughts grew thick and slow. Evan's face floated behind my eyes. His voice. The last time I saw him-the way he had looked at me like he was saying goodbye before he even left.

He knew, I thought. He knew what was coming, and he didn't tell me.

I don't know how long I sat there. Long enough for the rain to soften. Long enough for my shivering to stop, which I knew, somewhere in the distant part of my brain that was still functioning, was a bad sign.

I heard footsteps.

My eyes snapped open. I hadn't meant to close them.

A figure stood at the mouth of the alley, silhouetted against the dim streetlight. Broad shoulders. Dark coat. Water dripping from his hair.

No.

I scrambled backward, my hands slipping in the mud, my back hitting the wall.

He didn't move. Didn't lunge. Didn't call out.

He just stood there, breathing hard, looking at me like I was something he had been searching for his whole life.

Then he sat down.

On the wet ground, across the alley, his back against the opposite wall. He didn't say anything. He didn't come closer.

The rain fell between us.

I watched him for a long time, waiting for the act to drop, waiting for the mask to crack. It didn't. He sat there, soaked through, shivering just like me, and said nothing.

It was him. The man from earlier.

Finally-I don't know how long-I found my voice.

"Why?"

He looked at me. In the dim light, his eyes were dark, steady, sad.

"Because Evan asked me to protect you."

The name hit me like a physical blow. I pressed my hand to my chest, feeling my heart hammer against my ribs.

"What did you say?"

"Evan." He said it like a prayer. " he asked me to keep you safe."

I stared at him. The rain kept falling. Neither of us moved.

And for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt something other than fear.

I felt the possibility of hope.

"You know him?" I shook and shivered at the same time-the cold and my fear combined.

He smacked his lips. "Let's just go already. Knowing too much truth at a time would break you, you have to rest now."

The numbness ended and somehow, I stood and he gripped my wrist slowly.

"Let's go."

The walk to the car was very silent, like hearing more from him would break me for real.

He opened the door and I entered slowly.

He entered too and started the car.

My eyes closed slowly.

I didn't mean to sleep. I meant to stay awake, to watch him, to figure out who he was and why he'd risked everything for a stranger.

But exhaustion was heavier than fear.

And somewhere between one breath and the next, the darkness took me.