Page 3 of Chasing After You (Twisted Desires #3)

Eventually, the maid—Camille, the only one who ever actually looked me in the eye—slid my breakfast through a tray slot built into the large wooden door that I’d never noticed before.

A tray slot . Who has a tray slot built into a bedroom door?

Were they always expecting something like this to happen?

I’d never noticed the door being worked on, so it must have been installed before my adoption.

“You’re to stay in your room unless called for,” she said gently, not meeting my gaze. “Mr. Halbrooke’s orders.”

That was just day one.

By day two, my phone and laptop had vanished. When I asked, Camille hesitated and then whispered, “Temporarily confiscated.”

On day three, I wasn’t summoned at all.

No chores. No errands. No excuses to be near Dorian.

No Dorian.

I tried to ask her, quietly, if he was okay and if he’d asked about me. Her face faltered for just a moment before she turned away and said, “He’s being kept busy.”

I imagined them dragging him from one activity to the next—scheduling his every breath, surrounding him with strangers who smiled too much and listened too little.

I could almost see Victoria smoothing back his hair, telling him this was for the best. Telling him I was a bad influence.

That love wasn’t the same thing as loyalty.

That I’d abandoned him.

But he’d never believe that. Not Dorian.

Still, the isolation worked its slow poison.

Days bled together. The tray slot clinked three times a day.

The door remained locked. I had no way to tell the time, no idea what was happening outside my walls.

The estate was huge, sprawling, but they’d shrunk my world down to twelve by twelve feet.

Thank god my room had a small bathroom attached.

They didn’t yell. They didn’t hit me. That would’ve been too obvious. Too messy.

Instead, they simply erased me.

And the worst part—the part they didn’t understand—was that I could’ve endured all of it, everything , if I just knew Dorian was okay. But as each day passed, I grew increasingly worried about him. Was he eating alright? Was he studying?

Victoria finally visited me after what seemed like a century of isolation. She entered my room, a look of disdain aimed towards me.

“Have you learned your lesson?” She asked, one perfectly styled eyebrow raised.

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Hmm…” Was her response.

“Um… May I ask how many days it’s been? I lost track.”

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. It’s only been three weeks.”

Three weeks? I wasn’t sure how to react to that.

Victoria continued, “You should be grateful to me, really. Daniel wanted to keep you in here until your birthday, but I told him there was no need.”

“I… um—”

“I know, I know. I’m amazing. Anyways, I proposed that we have you work again.

He would never admit it, but you’re the best worker we have, Joshua.

So, you have a choice, but obviously you’ll want to choose my option.

We can do things my husband’s way, and continue your isolation for the next two months, or you’ll go back to work.

Of course, you won’t be allowed contact with Dorian, and we’ll make sure your schedules never match up, but if you’re good and manage to do your work quietly without any trouble, you’ll be allowed to see Dorian on your birthday to say goodbye. ”

My breath hitched. “Does that mean I wouldn’t get to say goodbye if I choose the first option?”

Victoria nodded smugly. “So? Your choice?”

“Two,” I rushed to say. “Option two, please.”

“Perfect! I knew you’d see it my way. We’ll work out a schedule for you today, and you’ll start tomorrow. Remember, though, if you break the rules, there won’t be a goodbye. Understood?”

“Understood,” I agreed, my heart aching.

* * *

The work had been grueling lately. Since the Halbrookes didn’t want Dorian accidentally running into me, I worked terrible hours. Most of my work took place between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., but I was also often called upon whenever Dorian was out of the house.

I was constantly exhausted, running on fumes, but it would all be worth it to be able to see Dorian one last time.

I had to wonder how they’d explained my absence.

It was only four days before my birthday when everything fell apart.

I’d been sneaking to the kitchen for a late-night snack when I heard it. Arguing. Angry voices.

Deciding that I could stop by the kitchen after, I followed the noise until I was standing outside the door to Daniel’s office.

“Just tell me where he is.” Dorian’s frustrated voice leaked through the oak.

Daniel replied, “We’ve already told you, son. The answer isn’t going to change, no matter how many times you ask. You know he’s been in the hospital.”

Was someone in the family hurt? I hadn’t heard about anyone going to a hospital.

Dorian growled, “And I’ve already told you that I know you’re lying. I’ve checked every hospital in this goddamn state, and he isn’t in any of them!”

“There’s no way you could’ve checked them all,” Daniel laughed. “You’re intelligent, sure, but there’s no way a child could get access to patient records like that.”

“I had someone do it.”

“Okay, son, and so tell me—How do you know they told you the truth? I don’t know anyone in this household who would be loyal to a teenager over their employer.”

“I—”

Daniel cruelly mocked him, “Do you even know what his real last name is?”

“I don’t understand how that’s relevant,” Dorian muttered.

“I’ll take that as a no. So, let’s say that Joshua was admitted under that name rather than Halbrooke? Joshua is such a common name, you know.”

What…? They were talking about me?

“Oh…”

“Why can’t you just let it go?” Daniel asked.

“ Let it go? Let it go? You have to be fucking joking,” Dorian roared.

“What did you expect? For him to be by your side forever and ever? The world doesn’t work like that, Dorian. It’s time to grow up and be a fucking man.”

“Speak for yourself, Dad .”

“You are a Halbrooke. There are certain expectations you need to be held to, and that includes not whining about shit like this,” Daniel hissed out.

“I never asked for any of this! I don’t want any of it! I don’t want to be your perfect heir or whatever!” Dorian shouted.

“Well, too damn bad. You’ll never be free of this family.”

“You sure about that?” Dorian asked coolly, voice suddenly calm and collected.

“Yes. Now drop it.”

“I’ll tell them. Everything.” What was he talking about? Daniel went eerily quiet for a second or two.

He spoke slowly, “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I would. I already have it all written up, just waiting to be posted… If you don’t let me see him, I’ll post it. I bet it’ll probably go viral.”

“Dorian, don’t be ridiculous. You’d really ruin our family—our legacy —for that broke idiot?”

“That broke idiot is the only family I have. Besides, it would only ruin you and Victoria.”

“And what if he hears what you really are and is so disgusted he won’t even look at you?”

Dorian let out an angry laugh. “I’m sorry to tell you, but most people don’t fucking care. And sure, maybe some of your business partners care, but they’d also never align themselves with someone who gets canceled for forcing their child into conversion therapy!” Conversion therapy?

“I will not stand by and let you disgrace our family like this!”

“You’re the disgrace! You’re the one who can’t accept that I’m gay! I’m your son . You’re a pathetic excuse for a father, and the whole world should know that!”

“You—” I heard the sounds of a struggle coming from beyond the door. “Will not—”

The sound of something heavy hitting the floor finally snapped me out of the trance I’d fallen into.

There was a crash—glass, maybe—and then a low, strangled sound, like someone being slammed into a wall and trying not to cry out. My breath caught in my throat. He wouldn’t hurt Dorian, right? He wouldn’t.

“Don’t you fucking touch me!” Dorian snarled, breathless but furious as the struggle continued.

I instinctively stepped forward, hand hovering just above the doorknob. Every muscle in my body screamed at me to go in, to stop whatever was happening, to pull Dorian out of that room and away from the monsters who called themselves his parents.

But I didn’t.

Because I wasn’t supposed to exist anymore.

I couldn’t risk my promised goodbye.

So instead, I pressed my back to the wall and clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms.

“You’re not even worth it,” Daniel muttered after a moment. His voice was now lower, more calculated. “I can’t believe I wasted so many years trying to make something out of you. Useless.”

“What was useless was trying to change me,” Dorian spat. “Tell me where he is. Now.”

A heavy silence followed. It stretched long enough that I feared something terrible had happened.

Then Dorian spoke again—quietly this time. “You don’t own me. And no matter how hard you try, you never will. I’m leaving. And I’m going to fucking ruin you.”

“Stop—” Another crash. But this one was even louder. What was going on?

“Let… go…” Dorian wheezed.

“I’ll fucking kill you, boy, before I let you destroy this family!” Daniel yelled.

I flung the door open, startling Daniel. He was straddling Dorian on the floor, his hands wrapped around his son’s neck. “Why are you—”

I rushed forward, shocked at the scene unfolding before me.

Dorian’s eyes found mine. He mouthed, “Josh.”

I didn’t think. I couldn’t.

The moment I saw his bruised hands tightening around Dorian’s throat, something primal inside me snapped. I screamed his name— “Get off him!” —but Daniel didn’t even flinch. Dorian’s face was turning red, then purple, veins straining in his forehead, his limbs starting to flail more sluggishly.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I needed something. Anything.

My hand found the lamp on Daniel’s desk before my mind even registered it. Ceramic. Heavy.

I swung it.

Hard.

The sickening crack resounded around the room.

Daniel slumped sideways immediately. A strange, wet wheeze came from his mouth before he crumpled to the floor beside Dorian—his body dead weight, his chest still.

Dorian sucked in a desperate breath, coughing as he rolled onto his side, hands gripping his throat. I dropped the lamp, my hands trembling violently.

“ I-oh my god—I didn’t mean—” My knees hit the floor. “I didn’t—he wasn’t—he was going to kill you, I had to—Oh my god…”

“ Josh ,” Dorian rasped, eyes wide with a strange mix of fear and gratitude. “It’s okay. You saved me. He was going to—he was actually going to—”

But then the office door slammed open.

Victoria stood there, her silk robe flowing around her legs, a look of absolute horror frozen across her face. She stared at her husband’s crumpled form… then slowly turned to look at me.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My throat was thick with panic.

“I’ll call 911,” I managed to gasp out. “ I-I have to—he might still be—”

“No.” Her voice was sharp. Unfeeling.

“What?”

She stepped inside, her gaze never leaving the blood on the floor. “Put that down. Don’t touch anything else.”

“I killed him,” I whispered. “Victoria, please—call someone. Please .”

“I said no,” she snapped, suddenly composed. She looked at me like she was sizing me up. Calculating. “Come with me. Now.”

“But Dorian—” I reached toward him instinctively, and she raised a hand like she might slap me.

“ Now , Joshua.”

Dorian tried to speak, but his voice was still shot, his mouth opening in slow protest as Victoria yanked me out of the room by the arm and down the hall into one of the sitting rooms. She shut the door behind us with a soft click , sealing us in like a vault.

I stood there, shaking. “Are you going to call the police? You gotta—”

“No.”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“Good.”

My head snapped up. “What?”

“I said good ,” she repeated. She moved to the bar cart in the corner and poured herself a drink with steady hands, completely unbothered. “You did something I’ve fantasized about for fifteen years.”

“I don’t—w-what are you talking about?”

Victoria sipped her drink and let out a sigh of what could only be described as relief . “Daniel was a tyrant. A charming, polished, well-connected tyrant. And now he’s gone.”

“H-he was your husband.”

She laughed , a sharp, bitter sound. “You think that means something? We never had any love between us.” Her eyes glittered. “Now I can finally collect the life insurance. It’s quite a generous policy, so thank you.”

My legs buckled and I sank into the nearest armchair. “You’re not calling the police. You’re… you’re happy about this?”

“You’ll leave tonight,” she said, ignoring me. “I’ll contact my cousin in Seattle. He owes me a favor. Just think of this as an early birthday present.”

I blinked at her. “What about Dorian? I need to say goodbye. He’ll be devastated.”

Victoria’s face hardened. “No. You don’t get to see him again.”

“But—”

“If you care about him, you’ll go,” she said flatly. “He doesn’t need more chaos. He doesn’t need a scandal. You’ll vanish, and he’ll never know what really happened. Let him think you ran.”

Tears stung my eyes. “That’ll destroy him.”

“Not as much as prison would destroy you ,” she replied coldly. “Now go pack what little you have. You have one hour.”

And just like that, the last fragile thread tying me to Dorian snapped.

“Please… just promise me you’ll take Dorian to the hospital. Daniel was hurting him. Please.”

Victoria sighed. “God, you’re so dumb. We can’t take him to a hospital, but I can promise you that we’ll have a private doctor summoned at once. Does that work?”

I cried, “O-okay.”

“Good. Now, please get out of our lives.”