Eric arrived home late, exhausted from a long day at college, only to find Alex curled up on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. The dim glow from the lamp illuminated his pale face, his usually bright amber eyes dull and distant. It was obvious he hadn't slept much, if at all.
"Alex?" Eric called out gently, dropping his bag by the door. Alex turned his head slightly, acknowledging him with a weak nod but saying nothing.
Eric sighed and sat beside him, nudging Alex's shoulder with his own. "Alright, spill it. What happened?"
Alex let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes for a moment, as if gathering the strength to relive the nightmare. "It's Damien," he finally said, voice hoarse. "Or should I say… Mr. Sandbrook."
Eric's brows knitted together. "Wait—what?"
Alex let out a bitter laugh, rubbing his hands over his face. "Damien is Mr. Sandbrook. The same Mr. Sandbrook who's threatening my family, the one who wants to take over our business."
Eric's expression shifted from confusion to pure shock. "You're joking."
"I wish I was," Alex muttered. He sat up straighter, his hands clenched into fists on his lap. "I saw him at the restaurant. My entire family was there. And when my mother introduced him—" His voice cracked. "He wasn't even surprised, Eric. He knew exactly who I was. From the very beginning."
Eric shook his head, trying to process the revelation. "But that doesn't make sense. Why would he do that? Why approach you? What does he gain from this?"
Alex swallowed hard. "That's exactly what I've been asking myself. Was it a coincidence? Or did he get close to me on purpose?" His hands trembled. "Did he play with my feelings just to get some kind of twisted revenge?"
Eric frowned. "Hey, hey," he said, placing a firm hand on Alex's shoulder. "We don't know that yet. Jumping to conclusions isn't going to help."
Alex looked up at him, anguish evident in his gaze. "Then what am I supposed to do? Just pretend none of this happened?"
"No," Eric said firmly. "We're going to get to the bottom of this. Together. You're not alone in this, Alex. You have me…and you have Leo too."
"Yeah, we talked earlier and he too offered to help."
"You see," Eric smiled, pinching his cheek. "We got you covered!"
Alex let out a shaky breath, his tense shoulders dropping just slightly. The weight of the day was pressing down on him, but Eric's words, his unwavering support, kept him grounded.
"I'm staying here tonight," Alex mumbled after a long silence.
Eric gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Of course. Stay as long as you need."
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The next morning, Alex forced himself to get up and get ready for work. He hadn't slept much, but lying in bed thinking about Damien wasn't helping either. He decided that throwing himself into work might serve as a distraction.
When he arrived at the restaurant, the head chef was already bustling around the kitchen. The moment he spotted Alex, he walked over, crossing his arms. "Are you feeling okay?"
Alex forced a small smile, though he knew it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm fine."
The chef didn't look convinced but didn't press further. "Alright. Just don't pass out in the middle of service."
Alex nodded and got to work, slipping into the familiar routine of taking orders and serving customers. It was easier than thinking. For a few hours, he could pretend that his world wasn't falling apart.
By the time his shift ended late at night, exhaustion had settled deep into his bones. He stepped out into the crisp night air, rubbing his arms against the cold. But the moment he did, his stomach twisted.
Standing by the curb, leaning against a sleek black car, was Ian.
Alex's heart sank. He knew this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.
Ian pushed off the car, his expression hard and unreadable. "Get in," he ordered.
Alex narrowed his eyes. "No."
Ian sighed, already looking annoyed. "Alex, don't make this difficult."
"I'm not making anything difficult," Alex snapped. "I just don't want to go home."
Ian's jaw tightened. "You don't get to make that decision. Do you have any idea what you've done? Do you realize how much trouble you've caused for our family?"
Alex's hands clenched at his sides. "Trouble? Are you serious? I wasn't the one who borrowed money from a loan shark disguised as a businessman."
Ian took a step forward, his voice low and cold. "You think you're better than us now? Working as a waiter like some commoner? You're a Masterson, Alex. You belong with us, dealing with this problem like an adult."
Alex shook his head. "No, Ian. I belong wherever I choose to be. And right now, I choose to stay away from all of you."
Ian's eyes flashed with anger. "Stop being stubborn."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Alex said firmly, stepping back.
That was when Ian's patience finally snapped. Before Alex could react, Ian's hand swung out and struck him hard across the face.
A sharp sting spread across Alex's cheek, and his vision blurred for a second. The impact left him momentarily dizzy, his knees almost buckling. He stared at Ian in disbelief, pressing a trembling hand to his stinging skin.
Ian didn't look remorseful. Instead, he grabbed Alex's wrist and yanked him toward the car. "Enough of this. You're coming home."
Alex struggled, trying to pull away, but Ian was stronger. His grip was iron-tight, his intentions clear. Panic flared in Alex's chest as he realized he was actually being dragged.
"No!" Alex shouted, digging his heels into the pavement, twisting his arm in an attempt to break free. "Let me go, Ian!"
Ian didn't loosen his hold. "Stop making a scene."
Alex grit his teeth. "I am not going home with you!"
Ian's grip tightened painfully around his wrist. "You don't have a choice."
For a brief moment, Alex's mind raced. He could continue to struggle, but Ian was stronger. Taking a deep breath, Alex stopped resisting entirely. He let his body go slack, defeated.
Alex got into the passenger's seat, ready to face whatever nightmare waited for him at home.