Hearts Remember What Minds Try To Forget by Rex Wilder 21

“Lucas…” 

My face drained of color, my lips trembling as I demanded, “Why are you in the orphanage’s car? What… what did you do to the 

driver?!” 

Lucas glanced at the rearview mirror, a disturbingly pale smile playing on his lips as he murmured, “Don’t worry, wife. I’ve turned over a new leaf. I would never hurt anyone. All I did was have my men ‘handle‘ the driver, and then I took his car to come find you.” 

He was using this exact method to disarm me, to make me let my guard down. 

My hands clenched into furious fists, my nails digging hard into my palms. “What do you want from me?” 

Lucas let out a sigh, “Don’t always think the worst of me. I genuinely want to start over with you. I truly hope you can give me a chance 

to make amends.” 

My heart hammered against my ribs. I couldn’t bear to be alone with Lucas. I whipped around, fumbling for the door handle, desperate to throw myself out. 

But no matter how many times I pressed, it wouldn’t budge. 

I went through a lot to finally see you,” Lucas said calmly. “There’s no way I’m letting you get away that easily.” 

Only then did I realize Lucas had already locked the car. 

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to regain some semblance of control. 

This wasn’t the moment to enrage Lucas. I had to find a way to save myself. 

I covertly flicked my phone open, tapping on Evan’s chat. My current location flew across the screen, swiftly followed by an ‘SOS‘ 

emoji. 

The moment I finished, Lucas turned his head. His eyes immediately caught my action, and he leaned in, his voice a low, possessive warning. “Wife,” he murmured, the endearment sending shivers down my spine, “don’t even think about trying to escape me. You 

won’t get a chance.” 

A gasp tore from my throat, my eyes wide with terror. I jabbed a finger ahead, screaming at Lucas, “Look out!” 

A monstrous semi–truck barreled into our lane. Lucas yanked the wheel, swerving hard, just barely missing it. 

It was a near–miss, sickeningly close. 

My lungs burned, and I choked on a frantic gasp, still reeling from the near–death experience. But Lucas, completely unfazed, just gave a dismissive shrug. “Trust me, wife,” he said, his voice oddly calm, “no one will ever hurt you again.” 

I couldn’t make sense of Lucas’s deranged words. He was the one who’d ripped my life apart, yet here he was, spouting schizophrenic nonsense, claiming to protect me. It only fueled the terror clawing at my throat. 

Lucas slammed the gas pedal, sending the car careening forward. His mental state was clearly spiraling, and he started rambling, a monologue meant for no one but himself: “I’ve arranged a private jet, it’s waiting in the clearing at the foot of the mountain. Once we’re on board, we can go home so fast, wife. Let’s have a baby, okay? You want one, too, don’t you?” 

Every word Lucas uttered only sent a deeper chill through my bones. 

The longer this dragged on, the more terrified I became that Lucas would truly succeed in getting me onto that plane and back to 

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whatever twisted home he envisioned. 

A chilling realization solidified in my mind: I couldn’t rely on anyone else. I had to save myself. 

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“Lucas,” I said, forcing a soft, almost tender tone into my voice. “Before we leave, I’d really love to see the ocean from here. Will you 

drive me?” 

It had been so long since Lucas had heard such a soft tone from me that, for a fleeting moment, he actually believed I would forgive him, that we could rewind time and go back to how things were. 

“Sure, I’ll take you.” Lucas immediately swerved the car, his voice vibrant with eagerness. “Anything you want, I’ll do it for you.” 

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