Flash Marriage: In His Eyes-Chapter 345: Escape Plan

–Sophia–

My husband woke up after three days.

Three days that felt like a lifetime stretched thin across my chest.

He was finally moved out of the ICU—out of that cold, merciless room—and back into our private space. Ours. Where he belonged.

I held his hand, pressing soft kisses against his knuckles, as if grounding him back into me.

He smiled.

God... he smiled.

He wasn’t fully paralyzed anymore. He could turn his head now—slowly, carefully—and look at me with that same devastatingly handsome smile that always made my heart stumble.

I leaned in and kissed his forehead, lingering there.

His gaze drifted downward.

To my belly.

A soft giggle escaped me. I turned my back to him carefully, mindful not to strain his arm, guiding his hand instead. I slipped it gently beneath my shirt and pressed it against my stomach.

"There you go, hubby."

His fingers rested there, warm and hesitant—like he was touching something sacred.

"B-beautiful," he murmured.

My chest tightened, but this time... it wasn’t pain.

"You can do more than that, babe," I whispered teasingly. "Recover fast, okay?"

We stayed like that for a few quiet minutes—his hand resting over the small life growing inside me, like he was anchoring himself to the future.

"Just tell me if you’re uncomfortable," I said softly.

But instead, his hand moved—slow, deliberate—caressing my stomach, tracing it gently downward.

"Babe..." I turned my head to look at him, half-warning, half-amused. "You haven’t fully recovered yet."

He was smirking.

That big bastard.

I let out a soft breath, shaking my head, and gently placed his hand back beside him. Then I leaned down and kissed his lips—slow, warm, full of everything I couldn’t say out loud.

"Phia."

I turned my head toward the door.

Aunt Ines.

"Yes, Tita?" I asked.

"A meeting with Livana."

She placed a tablet on the stand beside the bed, her movements graceful as ever—controlled, deliberate, like even the air bent to her will.

The screen flickered to life.

Everyone in the family was gathered in the library at the mansion.

I straightened slightly, my fingers still loosely intertwined with Kai’s.

"Is everyone here?" Livana asked, her voice sharp yet composed.

Her eyes shifted, then softened just a fraction.

"Oh—hi, Kai. I hope you’re doing better than before."

I lifted Kai’s hand gently, helping him give a small thumbs up.

He looked ridiculous and adorable at the same time.

I placed his hand back down, and Livana smiled faintly.

"Where’s Logan?" she asked, then sighed under her breath.

Ines took a seat on the other side, composed and attentive, observing everything with quiet authority.

I glanced at the screen... at all of them.

All gathered.

All present.

A strange weight settled in my chest—like the calm before a storm.

Why is everyone here?

What’s going on?

–Laura–

I still couldn’t stop wondering why Livana brought Andro back from Tyrona’s villa.

Did she... kidnap the kid?

And yet, here we were—gathered in the library. It felt like a board meeting, but no... this was very much a family meeting.

Livana sat at the head of the table, poised, elegant, and completely in control.

"Logan," she called, clearing her throat lightly.

The doors burst open.

I turned just in time to see Logan and Jane step in—looking like they had just come straight out of a battlefield. Jane’s arm was still dripping blood, and Logan was limping.

"Perfect!" Livana clapped her hands, graceful as ever.

"What happened?!" Amiliee gasped, jumping to her feet.

"We’re fine," Jane said casually as she took a seat.

Caine was already moving, sliding a first-aid kit across the table. Logan caught it mid-motion and immediately started patching Jane up.

"Can we start now?" Livana asked, glancing at her watch. "In forty-seven minutes, everyone will move to the panic room. We’ll begin evacuating the property. This place will be vacated."

"Wait." I raised my hand. "Why is Andro here?" My voice sharpened. "If we’re about to face something like this, why bring him here?"

"That’s because Tyrona doesn’t have a secure place to keep anyone safe," Livana replied smoothly. "We have an agreement. They’ll come for her as well. We already stationed men to protect her—"

"Why are we protecting her?" I cut in.

I knew exactly what Tyrona had done. The number of times she tried to kill Livana—

It didn’t make sense.

"Exactly, love. Why are we protecting her?" Damon added, arms crossed, eyes fixed on his wife.

I glanced at Jane’s wound again and winced before looking away.

"Sorry," she muttered.

I nodded.

"Because," Livana began, leaning back slightly, "she gave me the information I needed. About how The Society operates. They’re coming after us." She let out a soft, almost amused chuckle. "I mean, we’ve been cleaning up their mess for years. And after we leaked that video of senators involved in human trafficking..." She shrugged. "The FBI and NBI wanted to work with us too. But fuck them, right?"

She laughed lightly.

"Also," she added, her gaze sweeping across all of us, "you’re all aware they’re after what we have."

"What you have," Grandpa Reagan corrected.

Livana only chuckled—low, dangerous. A little unhinged.

God, she sounded like a psycho.

And Damon? He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Completely obsessed with my beautifully dangerous sister.

"Sorry, Grandpa," she said sweetly. "But it’s our problem now."

She paused, then added almost casually, "By the way, we found your other daughter."

"Just finish her, dear," Grandma Olivia said without hesitation.

Grandpa nodded.

No emotion.

None at all.

I guess he truly felt nothing anymore for the woman who killed his real daughter—our mother.

"Hmm... I’ll think about it," Livana said, smiling faintly.

Then she clapped her hands again.

"Back to the plan, shall we?"

"Wait, Liva—does that include me?" David asked. "I mean, I’m the CEO of Blackwell Company—"

"It includes you," she cut in. "I’ll also need to borrow your secretary."

David glanced at Kelly in the corner. "Why?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Snap out of it, David!" Alyssa hissed through the comms. She was in the other room with the kids—her face appearing on the screen like a live video conference, headset on, eyes sharp and already losing patience.

That shut him up.

"We’ll prepare supplies," Livana continued. "The pantry will be stocked with ready-to-eat meals. Chef Wally is already working with Braxton staff to prepare frozen meals. But by tomorrow, we’ll need more supplies."

"So what exactly are we doing?" David asked again.

"All of you—except a selected few—will stay in the panic room," she said firmly. "All devices will be collected. No exceptions."

"So... we’re going to be bored?" David frowned. "I have work, Liva."

"Take a leave. That includes you," she added, pointing at me.

"My husband stays with me, right?" I asked.

Livana sighed. "Yes. He’ll protect everyone inside. Damien hasn’t been in the field in a while."

"As for you," she said, turning to Damon, "monitor your family’s legal company. Make sure the lawyers are ready at any time."

"How about me?" Caine asked, glancing at Deanne.

"We need you, bro," Damon said, running a hand through his hair. "I’m sorry, Deanne."

"It’s fine," Deanne replied, cradling her baby.

Livana exhaled slowly. "I’ll be leaving for another Nest. We need to ensure—"

"Livana, I fucking told you—you can’t go out!" Damon’s voice exploded, making all of us flinch. "You’re pregnant!"

The air turned cold.

"Did you just curse at me, husband?" Her voice dropped—icy, sharp, dangerous.

Chills ran down my spine.

"I’m sorry, baby... but you can’t go. Please."

Oh, he’s definitely kneeling later.

She stared at him, expression unreadable.

"You don’t get to decide that, my love," she said calmly—but the threat lingered.

"But your husband is right, dear," Hardin finally spoke.

Silence.

Livana paused.

"I know," she admitted softly. "But I can’t stay here."

Final.

Unshakable.

"Tomorrow, the doubles will arrive. They’ll replicate your appearances."

"What about the kids?" I asked.

"It’ll be easy, sis," she assured me.

She glanced toward our grandparents.

The Carringtons weren’t here—but I knew Livana had plans for them. Dad too. Braxton and Carrington couldn’t clash—not yet. Even as in-laws, Grandpa Reagan might still kill them.

This was all Dad’s fault.

I felt Damien’s hand slide onto my thigh under the table, squeezing lightly.

I bit back a smile.

This man... seriously?

"They’ll come after Andro too," Livana added. "I signed a contract with the Madrigals three years ago. It led to his father’s death." She sighed. "We’re against the government across the country now. There’s already a bounty on my head."

My eyes widened.

I wasn’t the only one.

"Fuck," Damon muttered.

"What did I say about cursing?" she snapped again.

Honestly, I think he enjoys being scolded.

I rolled my eyes as Damien tried—and failed—not to laugh.

She’s the man of this house.

Not him.

"I’m sorry," Damon muttered, though the smirk on his face said otherwise.

Livana stood.

"This is war. For now... let’s inspect the panic room."

We all followed her downstairs—through the hidden passage, then another one after that.

My eyes widened at the retinal scanner. The heavy vault door alone could survive an apocalypse.

"Will there be oxygen?" I asked.

"Yes. No sunlight—but we have artificial sunlight systems."

When we stepped inside, I was stunned.

It was massive.

Pipes lined the ceilings, but there were proper rooms too.

"It’s not luxurious," she said, "but we have medical equipment, a kitchen, dining area... a game room." She glanced at our grandparents. "And a television—with Wi-Fi."

"But we can’t use devices?" David frowned.

"You can’t work, David. It’s a vacation."

"It’s confinement!" he shot back.

"Just shut up!" Alyssa snapped.

"Why are you so irritated? Are you on your period?" David teased. "Sis, you need sedatives when—"

I burst out laughing.

Damien laughed even louder.

Alyssa shot him a deadly glare.

"We’ll need a nurse and a doctor here," Deanne added.

"Don’t worry," Livana said with a small smile. "I know the best ones."

She opened a fully equipped clinic.

God... she really thought of everything.

"You can all choose your rooms."

"Is there a way to the Nest?" Alyssa asked.

"Yes—but only Lore has access."

We entered a wide room—filled with books, board games, and a large television.

"Family room," Livana said flatly.

Then she turned to us.

"Family... I’m sorry for dragging all of you into this. But the threats are everywhere."

"I’ll prepare the Shadows," Damon said quietly.

Livana nodded.

He stepped closer behind her, his hand resting possessively on her hip.

"Within..." she checked her watch, "...forty-six hours, this mansion will be shut down."

I exhaled slowly.

Oh, fuck.

I really hate this.