Running from the life that was.

Chapter Nine

Mia's breath caught in her throat, and a wave of dread washed over her. He sneered at her, a cold, unsettling smile spreading across his face that made her skin crawl. Fear crept up her body, paralyzing her for a moment as her mind raced with thoughts of what he might say or do.

Gathering her courage, Mia forced herself to walk over to him, each step feeling heavier than the last. She reminded herself to stay calm, to breathe, she couldn't make herself look weak in front of him. When she finally reached him, any words she had in her head seemed to vanish.

"Hi Mia," he said, his tone dripping with condescension.

Those two simple words sent a chill down her spine. Mia felt the urge to turn and run, to escape the confrontation, but she stood her ground, trying to project strength despite the fear that gripped her. "Why are you here?" she managed to ask, her voice steadier than she felt.

As Lane leaned against his car, his words dripped with mockery. "Just wanted to see how you're doing in your new life," he said, his expression cold and calculating.

Mia felt a tightening in her chest as he continued, "I meant it when I said you will have consequences for your decisions, Mia."

A gulp lodged in her throat, and panic began to rise within her. She glanced around at the other students milling about, looking for someone—anyone—who might notice her distress. But no one was looking her way. To them, Lane was just a man standing by his car, and she was just another student. No one had a reason to be concerned about the man looming over her.

Lane took a step closer, his voice lowering as he continued. "You need to come home, Mia. Running away is weak. You're ruining your chance to be great, and the longer you stay away, the worse it will get for you."

Mia felt anger bubbling beneath her fear. "I'm not going back with you," she said defiantly, her voice shaking but firm. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned in closer, his tone shifting to something more sinister. "You think you're safe here, trust me I can change that." Mia feels herself about to break, she should have known something like this was going to happen, she got to comfortable, she feels like an idiot.

Lane continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "Your mother is beside herself; you know. She's worried sick about you. All because you couldn't handle an athlete's lifestyle—because you are weak, weaker than Maya. Your actions are hurting the woman who brought you into this world, Mia, and I'm shocked that you could be so horrible as to hurt your mother like this."

Mia felt her heart clench at his words. The mention of her mother twisted the knife deeper, stirring feelings of guilt and shame, although the relationship she had with Katherine was rocky she still had love for the woman.

"Stop it," Mia said, her voice trembling. "You don't get to manipulate me like this. I'm not doing anything wrong by choosing what's best for me."

Lane laughed, a cold, mocking sound that made her skin crawl. "Oh, but you are. You're choosing to run away from your responsibilities, to abandon your family. And for what? To play house with two women who think they are married. You think they'll be there for you forever? They won't."

Mia felt anger bubbling beneath her fear, sparking a fire within her. "Maya and Carina love me! Unlike you! You don't know anything about them!"

Lane stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in, his voice a low hiss. "You think this is love? They're not going to want the burden of a teenager around forever. Maya has never been maternal; she only cares about herself, and it won't be long before she realizes that you will only make her life harder. There's a reason she never came to visit you, Mia—because you don't matter to her, she is doing all of this to get back at me, not for you. And if you don't come with me today, I know you'll be back home in no time, begging for forgiveness for the mistake of leaving."