Seven Years a Shadow: The Stand-In's Escape novel Chapter 2

For seven years, I thought the Miller estate could be that place. 

But in the end, I was shut out again.

I leaned against the door and dozed off without realizing it.

I didn't know how long I had been asleep before someone shook me awake.

"Ma'am, ma'am."

It was Lucas's assistant.

He gestured toward the car parked nearby.

Lucas was in the back seat, his expression cold as ice.

The assistant lowered his voice.

"Why are you sleeping out here? Come on, get in the car."

I didn't bother explaining.

I wrapped my arms around myself and stood up, nearly losing my balance.

After spending the entire night in the freezing cold, I was practically frozen solid.

Once inside the car, Lucas didn't even look at me.

He just said flatly:

"I heard about what happened today."

I opened my mouth to respond, but a sudden sneeze cut me off.

Lucas finally seemed to remember I had been locked outside all night in the cold.

His tone softened slightly.

"Noah is only seven. You shouldn't be holding a grudge against him."

"If you just went along with him like you used to, he wouldn't act out like this."

The gates of the Miller estate opened, and the car slowly rolled in.

That gate was always open—just never for me.

"If you had a baby, you'd start getting ideas."

"You wouldn't be able to focus on raising Noah."

From that moment on, every time we slept together, he made sure I took the pill afterward.

The Miller family's private doctor monitored my body like a hawk, making sure I never got any ‘dangerous' ideas.

For seven years.

And now, out of nowhere, Lucas had changed his mind.

Like this was some kind of grand gesture.

Maybe he thought I should be overwhelmed with gratitude, throwing myself into his arms in thanks.

Instead, I pushed him away.

"Seven years ago, we made a deal."

"When time's up, the contract is over."