Eclipsed By You 2

Chapter 3: The Web Tightens

The next few days passed in a blur of family meetings and discussions about the charity event. Ruth had always been involved in the planning, but now, with her uncle's demands looming over them, the atmosphere at home was tense. She spent her days shuttling between phone calls, meetings with potential sponsors, and trying to keep things running smoothly without letting on how much the situation with Mr. Phis was weighing on her.

Her father's concern was palpable, but Ruth could see the quiet strain in his eyes. Mr. Phis wasn't someone to be underestimated, and even her father knew that any misstep could lead to consequences they didn't want to face.

One evening, Ruth was sitting in the study, drafting a response to one of the sponsors, when there was a soft knock at the door. She looked up, startled, to find Mark standing in the doorway.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," he said, his voice low. "I just wanted to check in on you."

Ruth's heart skipped a beat, though she quickly masked her reaction with a calm smile. "I'm fine, Mr. Weston," she said, then added, "Mark."

He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his eyes scanning the room as if looking for something. "I can see that, but I also know you've got a lot on your plate right now."

Ruth hesitated, unsure how to respond. She didn't want to burden him with the growing tension between her family and her uncle, but at the same time, she felt an unexpected urge to confide in him.

"Things have been… complicated," she admitted, her voice soft.

Mark took a seat across from her, his gaze unwavering. "I know. I've been hearing a lot about your uncle. He's a dangerous man, Ruth."

Ruth nodded slowly, her fingers tightening around the edge of the desk. "You don't have to tell me that. We've been dealing with him for years, but this time… it feels different."

Mark leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. "If you ever need help, I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone."

There was something in his voice, a sincerity that made her feel both comforted and vulnerable at the same time. She couldn't remember the last time someone had offered help without expecting anything in return.

"Thank you, Mark," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you, Ruth. I promise."

The words lingered in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Ruth wasn't sure what to make of them. Did Mark genuinely care about her well-being, or was this just part of his job as an FBI agent?

Before she could voice her thoughts, Luke appeared in the doorway, his casual grin in place. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked, his tone light but with a trace of something deeper.

Ruth stood quickly, her heart racing at the unexpected tension in the room. "No, of course not. Just discussing the charity event."

Luke's eyes flicked between her and Mark, the smile on his face widening ever so slightly. "Right," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Well, I was just about to head out for a quick meeting. I thought you might want to join me, Ruth. A little distraction from all this business talk."

Ruth glanced at Mark, unsure of how to proceed. She didn't want to be rude, but the thought of spending time with Luke—especially with Mark present—felt complicated.

"I… I think I'll pass tonight," Ruth said, her voice faltering. "I've still got some work to finish."

Luke raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her response. "Alright, I understand. Maybe some other time, then."

As he left the room, Ruth felt the weight of Mark's gaze on her, his expression unreadable. The tension between them was palpable, and for the first time, Ruth wasn't sure if it was something she wanted to unravel.

After a long silence, Mark stood. "I'll leave you to your work, then. Just remember what I said, Ruth. You don't have to carry this burden alone."

As he walked toward the door, Ruth found herself caught between two very different worlds. Mark's offer of protection felt genuine, but Luke's presence had stirred something in her that was harder to define. She couldn't deny the growing attraction to both men, though the path ahead seemed increasingly murky.

The sound of Mark's footsteps faded down the hallway, and Ruth was left alone in the study once again. Her mind raced, but her heart ached with uncertainty.

---

Later that week, Ruth found herself once again facing her uncle, Mr. Phis, in the family dining room. He was seated at the head of the table, his face an unsettling mask of calm as he outlined his demands for the charity event.

"I'm not asking for much," Mr. Phis said, his voice smooth as silk. "Just a modest increase in my share of the profits. It's only fair, considering my… contributions to your father's success."

Ruth's stomach churned. She knew exactly what he meant by "contributions." The connections he had in the underground world were well-known, and Ruth had always hated how easily he manipulated their father.

"You've already taken more than enough, Uncle," Ruth said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "This time, it's not happening."

Mr. Phis's eyes gleamed with amusement. "You're a bold one, Ruth. But remember, I hold many strings in this city. You'd be wise to reconsider."

His words hung in the air, heavy with threat. But Ruth refused to back down. This time, she wasn't going to let her uncle walk all over her family.

---

Later that evening, as Ruth stood on the balcony overlooking the city, she found herself deep in thought. Mark's words still echoed in her mind, but so did Luke's teasing smile. She was drawn to both of them in different ways—Mark, with his earnest protection and steady demeanor, and Luke, with his effortless charm and undeniable allure.

But the more Ruth considered it, the more she realized that the path ahead was not just about the men in her life—it was about her own strength. She had to protect her family, her legacy, and her heart. And she wasn't about to let anyone, not even her uncle, take that from her.

Chapter 4: A Dangerous Game

The days following Ruth's confrontation with her uncle were filled with an uneasy silence that seemed to stretch through the house like a thick fog. Her father had withdrawn into his study, no doubt weighing the consequences of defying Mr. Phis. Saris, as usual, was preoccupied with her work and social commitments, leaving Ruth to manage the fallout on her own.

Ruth felt the weight of it all on her shoulders. Her family's fortune and reputation hung in the balance, and every decision she made seemed to lead her deeper into a maze with no clear exit.

It was on one of these long afternoons that she found herself walking through the garden, hoping the fresh air would clear her mind. The petals of the roses fluttered in the breeze, their sweet fragrance mixing with the cool scent of the earth beneath her feet.

As she wandered, lost in thought, she heard footsteps behind her. Without turning around, she already knew who it was.

"Mark," she said quietly, her heart beating a little faster at the sound of his voice.

"I thought I'd find you out here," Mark's deep voice responded. "You look like you could use some company."

Ruth paused, glancing over her shoulder. Mark was standing a few paces behind her, his expression as unreadable as always. There was a warmth to him, though—something that felt like a promise of safety in the middle of a storm.

"I've been thinking about what you said," Ruth began, turning to face him fully. "About not facing everything alone."

Mark took a step closer, his eyes fixed on hers. "And what have you decided?"

Ruth hesitated. It wasn't like her to open up about her fears, but there was something about Mark's presence that made her feel less like she was bearing the weight of the world on her own. "I don't know," she admitted. "I'm scared, Mark. My uncle... he's not someone you can just walk away from. And I can't protect my family if they keep pulling me in different directions."

Mark's expression softened. He took another step closer, closing the distance between them. "You don't have to do this alone, Ruth. I'm here." His voice was low, full of quiet intensity, and for a moment, Ruth felt as though the entire world had paused just for them.

"I appreciate that," she whispered, a small shiver running down her spine at the way his gaze lingered on her. "But you don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"Don't I?" he asked, his tone shifting slightly, a touch of amusement slipping through. "I've dealt with worse. You can't push people like me away by trying to handle everything yourself. I can help, Ruth. But you have to let me."

Ruth met his gaze, feeling an unfamiliar tug in her chest. There was something raw and real in the way Mark spoke, a sincerity that made her heart ache. She wanted to believe him. But after everything, was she really ready to trust anyone that completely?

Before she could respond, there was a loud rustling sound from the bushes. Ruth's instincts kicked in, and she quickly stepped back, her body tense. Mark immediately moved to stand in front of her, his protective stance natural.

From the bushes emerged Luke, his hands held up in mock surrender. "I was just walking by, didn't mean to interrupt," he said, his usual grin in place, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Ruth felt her pulse quicken, the tension in the air suddenly thickening. Luke's presence was always like a magnet, pulling her in with a force she couldn't quite explain. But now, with Mark standing so close, the contrast between them felt sharper than ever.

"Luke," Ruth greeted, her voice a little too cool. "What brings you here?"

"Just wanted to check on you," Luke said, his eyes flicking between her and Mark, a hint of something unreadable in his gaze. "Looks like I interrupted a… serious conversation."

Mark gave him a pointed look. "Nothing to interrupt."

Luke smirked, clearly not buying it. "Alright, then. I'll leave you two to it." He gave Ruth a wink before turning on his heel and heading back down the path, his casual stride belying the tension in his body.

Ruth watched him go, a strange fluttering feeling taking root in her stomach. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about Luke's sudden appearances always left her a little off-balance.

Once he was gone, Mark turned back to her. His eyes softened with an unreadable emotion. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Ruth nodded quickly, not trusting herself to speak just yet. The tension between her and Luke had unsettled her, but it was more than just that. The pull between her and Mark was undeniable, and yet, a part of her resisted it. She wasn't sure if she was ready to let anyone close, especially not someone like Mark, who had his own secrets—secrets she didn't yet know.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice a little more firm now. "Thank you for being here, Mark. But I need some time to think."

Mark hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Take all the time you need. Just know I'm not going anywhere."

He turned to leave, his footsteps light on the gravel path. Ruth stood in the garden for a few moments longer, her heart racing as the tension inside her grew.

What was she really afraid of? Was it the risk of getting too close to someone like Mark, who might eventually break her heart? Or was it something more—the fear of losing herself in a world that seemed to be closing in on her?

---

The next day, Ruth received an unexpected call from Mr. Phis's lawyer. The conversation was brief but chilling. Her uncle wasn't backing down, and if they didn't meet his demands, there would be consequences—ones that would put the entire family in danger.

Ruth hung up the phone, her hands trembling. She needed to do something, and she needed to do it quickly.

She stood in the living room, staring out the window, her mind racing with plans and possibilities. The only person she could trust now was herself. But as the weight of her decision settled on her, Ruth couldn't help but wonder if she was truly alone in this battle.