Chapter 18
As the anesthesia wore off. Amelia drifted back to consciousness.
A heavy, throbbing pain coursed through her body, making her limbs feel alien and disconnected.
The dim hospital room was illuminated by a single bedside lamp, and soft moonlight spilled through the window, pooling faintly on the floor near
Vince’s feet.
“You’re awake. Here, drink some water, Vince said gently, holding a glass out to her.
“You’re still here?” she asked, surprised.
It was nighttime, and judging by how long she’d likely been unconscious, it shocked her that Vince had stayed by her sade all this time.
His dark, intense eyes locked onto hers, searching as though he could read her thoughts.
After a long pause, he dropped his gaze and said quietly. “Getting a divorce and starting over is the best thing for you. That scumbag doesn’t deserve another second of your life
“I know,” Amelia replied softly. Tve always planned to divorce him.”
Vince’s voice grew sharper, though his tone remained measured. Then why follow Karen there, knowing how dangerous it was?”
“If the police had been just a few minutes later… His words trailed off, but the unspoken horror lingered heavily between them.
He wasn’t wrong.
The thought sent a chill through Amelia. Had the police arrived even half a minute later, she would’ve been defenseless against Theo and his men.
The delayed fear settled in her chest, mingling with the relief of survival
For the first time, Amelia acknowledged that her actions had been reckless, her determination blinding her to the risks.
Still, she didn’t regret her decision entirely. Something deeper had driven her–something she couldn’t ignore.
Looking at Vince, her voice steady despite her physical pain, she said, “Because I refuse to give in. I poured everything into this relationship–my love, my time, my trust.
“And what did I get in return? Betrayal, manipulation, and humiliation 1 need to expose him for what he is, I want him to lose everything, to face -the consequences he deserves.”
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Vince studied her closely. Her tear–filled eyes, red and swollen, still shone with an unrelenting clarity.
They were bright, unwavering, like the sky after a storm–raw yet resolute.
It was a rare expression–fierce yet vulnerable, like an untamed filly still burning with defiance despite her wounds.
He wanted to tell her the harsh truth. While she had gathered solid evidence against Theo, the Hartwell family’s influence could sweep it all away.
They could hire top–tier lawyers to dismantle her case piece by p
by piece.
Amelia was fighting an uphill battle, and sheer determination might not be enough.
As Vince opened his mouth to speak, a memory surfaced unbidden.
Years ago, another woman–strong, resolute, and defiant–had fought against injustice after her divorce.
But her powerful in–laws had crushed her. In the end, she had been left with nothing, not even her freedom:
The memory made Vince clench his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
Before he could say anything, he noticed Amelia had drifted back to sleep, her breathing soft and even.
Amelia slept deeply, her exhaustion pulling her into an unbroken slumber until the late afternoon.
When her eyes fluttered open, she instinctively searched the room for Vince, but her gaze landed on someone unexpected–a sharp–featured
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8
Chapter 18
woman exuding an air of authority
on to be
It was Cheryl Hartwell, soon to be her former mother–in–law
Amelia jolted upright, her senses instantly on high alert.
Cheryl, though approaching sixty, was flawlessly put together.
Her tailored outfit, flawless makeup, and polished demeanor gave her a commanding presence that seemed to erase years from her appearance.
Sitting with practiced poise by the bedside, Cheryl spoke in a soft, measured tone.
“Amelia, seeing you like this breaks my heart, she began, her voice laced with artificial sympathy. “I know everything that’s happened. Theo acted immaturely and made horrible mistakes, and he deserves to be in police custody.
“But as his mother, this pains me deeply. Neither his father nor 1 could sleep or cat last night, worrying about you. Please, whatever you want, just say the word–Ill make it happen.
She finished her appeal by delicately dabbing the corners of her eyes with a tissue, her expression carefully arranged to project sorrow.
Amelia felt none of it
If anything, she almost laughed.
When Theo’s affair and Ivy’s pregnancy had first come to light, the Hartwells had been conspicuously absent.
Now, with Theo behind bars, they suddenly wanted to play the role of the concerned family.
It was too late. Amelia had no compassion left for them.
Cutting straight to the point, she said, “My demands are simple. Ivy’s child must not be born. As for Theo, I’ll senle things with him myself. You don’t need to interfere
Cheryl’s polished mask slipped slightly, her expression tightening. “You’re being unreasonable, Amelial No matter what’s happened, you and Then are still husband and wife.
“There’s no need to destroy every bridge between you. You’re young–soon you’ll understand the value of compromise.”
1
“Then I suggest you leave,” Amelia replied coldly.
Cheryl’s composure cracked entirely.
Clutching her handbag like a lifeline, she rose abruptly, but not before firing one final shot. “Mark my words–you’ll regret this. And when you do, don: expect me to show
any
kindness!”
Amelia didn’t flinch. The days when Cheryl’s veiled threats could intimidate her were long gone.
Sending Theo to jail had been her opening move in a much larger strategy.
he had m
more powerful cards to play and was ready for whatever counterattack the Hartwells attempted
She
Ignoring the lingering ache in her body, she picked up her phone and called Vince.
He answered almost immediately, his voice laced with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you in trouble? I’ll be there right away.
“No, nothing like that,” Amelu assured him calmly. “I just need to discuss something with you”
Vince exhaled audibly, the tension in his voice easing. “Alright, I’m listening”
Amelia paused, gathering her thoughts. “Do you remember when Sierra came to the hospital to film that video with my mom? It cleared up the false rumors about her, but her popularity took a hit.
“She lost several endorsements because of it. I’ve been thinking of a way to help her regain her momentum.”
Vince’s curiosity was piqued, and after listening to her idea, he let out a low chuckle, approval evident in his tone. “Now THIS is interesting-
