Chapter 6
Theo’s mocking voice snapped Amelia back to reality, his final words dripping with smug satisfaction. “Time’s ticking, Amelia. Think carefully about your next move.”
mode
The call ended with a sharp beep, leaving Amelia gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Behind her, Karen’s shouts continued, her demands for repayment cutting through Amelia’s spiraling thoughts. “Pay me back You owe me everything!
The noise grated on Amelia’s already frayed nerves, but she tuned it out, forcing herself to focus
She opened her banking app, her heart pounding.
Her fears were confirmed. A series of zeros stared back at her
Theo hadn’t lied. He’d drained her account dry, leaving her penniless_
He had planned everything meticulously, leaving her blindsided.
Reporting him to the police or filing a lawsuit would take time, and time was the one thing Amelia didn’t have
Evelyn lay gravely ill in the hospital, and their debis loomed larger each day.
Without any other options and under the suffocating threat to Evelyn’s life, Amelia was forced to comply
This marriage.
which she had once hoped would bring her happiness, had instead dragged her into a pit of despair.
Amelia let out a bitter, silent laugh, her chest tight with emotion. All her sacrifices for this man now felt utterly meaningless.
Theo had always been overlooked by his parents, marginalized within his family.
It wasn’t until the year of his wedding that he joined the Hartwell family’s Eponix Group, starting out at Ellington Furniture.
That marked the beginning of his career,
The early days were brutal. Lacking ability and experience, he became a target for veteran shareholders, facing challenges at every turn.
Amelia had been there for him throughout.
She ran errands to factories, sketched furniture designs, pulled countless all–nighters, and calmed him with unwavering patience.
With: her support, things began to stabilize. Theo’s parents started seeing him in a new light, placing greater trust in him.
In under two years, Theo went from a disregarded employee to the general manager of the company
Once Theo’s career took off, Amelia stepped back from anything related to the Hanwell family’s business.
Her reason was simple–she wanted to focus on finding a career she was passionate about,
What she hadn’t anticipated was how quickly things would unravel at home.
Theo had orchestrated his elaborate scheme with a single purpose: to protect his spotless image.
He feared that a messy public fallout with Amelia would damage the company’s reputation and jeopardize his career,
So, he carefully backed her into a corner, ensuring she would bear all the blame.
They had vowed to care for each other in God’s house, but Theo’s calculated cruelty turned those promises into a mockery.
Amelia’s anger and sorrow were a storm within her, but unidst the chaos, a spark of clarity emerged. No matter how tough the road ahead, she would face it with Evelyn by her side.
With that resolve, she calmed Karen with a few soft words, left her contact information, and returned to the hospital.
Walking down the long hospital corridor, Amelia’s mind churned with unsaid words, her emotions a chaotic tangle.
At the far end of the hallway, a group of familiar faces appeared–Ivy, Sharon, and her aunt and uncle, Donna and Karter Willson.
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9:26 AM
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Chapter 6
They were pacing anxiously, their expressions tight with worry.
Amelia’s heart sank. Something was wrong. “What happened she demanded.
Sharon, usually easygoing and direct, now stood teary–eyed and flustered. “Amelia, your mom…she stammered, her words jumbled in panic.
Ivy stepped forward, her composure steady. “While we were getting hot water, your mom left the hospital on her own. We’ve searched everywhere but haven’t found her.
Evelyn was
was missing. Another crushing blow for Amelia
She steadied herself, her voice shaky but firm. “Don’t panic. Let’s split up and search. She couldn’t have gone far
The group nodded in unison. “Alright, let’s got
One crisis after another gave Amelia no time to think.
She rushed out of the hospital, her car weaving through the streets as she searched every place Evelyn might have gone
Before she knew it, night had fallen,
Twilight deepened, and the city came alive with light
Neon signs and glowing streetlamps lit up the streets outside her window, but none of it could cut through the darkness consuming her world.
Amelia had driven around the city three times without a single trace of Evelyn. Her anxiety was at its breaking point.
What she failed to notice was the black sedan following her
Inside were a man and a woman, watching her frantic search with detached amusement.
Their occasional bursts of laughter carried a smug, victorious edge.
Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, a flicker of hope appeared in Amelia’s eyes. She spotted a familiar figure.
Evelyn stood on a bridge, one leg already over the railing, half of her frail body teetering in the night air.
The evening breeze tugged at her thin hospital gown, her graying hair whipping wildly in the wind
She looked so small, almost swallowed by the vast expanse of the bridge.
Yet that fragile figure was like a bomb detonating in Amelia’s chen, obliterating everything in its path.
Amelia pulled the car over and bolted onto the bridge. As she neared, her frantic pace slowed.
Though panic clawed at her, she forced her voice to remain calm and steady, careful not to startle Evelyn. “Mom, come down. It’s cold out here. Let me take you home.”
Evelyn turned her tear–streaked face toward Amelia, her expression a heartbreaking mix of anguish and helplessness. “Amelia, is Theo threatening
Amelia froze. “How… how do you know that?”
Evelyn crumpled, her solis breaking through. “It’s all my Gould l’in useless! I can’t help you–I’m just a burden Amelia, stop being so stubborn. Go bark and beg Theo. He’ll forgive you if you do.”
Amelia’s heart clenched, a storm of sorrow and anger swirling inside her.
Heri
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