The weekend passed with an undercurrent of warmth and excitement that Amelia hadn't felt in a long time. Her evening with Ethan lingered in her mind, filling her with a sense of lightness she hadn't expected. But on Monday, as she sat across from Heather, that feeling faded as reality came crashing back.
Heather leaned forward, her expression serious. "Amelia, I've found some unsettling information. David's been shifting assets, piling up debt, and manipulating accounts to make it look like you're financially unstable."
Amelia felt her stomach drop. "So he's making it seem like I can't provide for the twins?"
Heather nodded. "He's creating a picture that he's the more reliable parent. But we can counter it. You're working, you're building a stable life. This just proves how far he's willing to go to try to win."
Anger simmered within her as she processed Heather's words. "If he thinks I'll let him take everything from me, he's wrong."
Heather's eyes held a glimmer of admiration. "I know. I'll help you gather what we need to prove what he's doing. And I'll be with you every step of the way."
That evening, Amelia's mind was still reeling from her conversation with Heather when her phone chimed. She glanced down, seeing Ethan's name and feeling a rush of warmth.
Had a great time the other night. Let's do it again sometime—soon.
A small smile spread across her face. I'd like that, she replied, then hesitated, fingers hovering over the keys. But things are… complicated.
Almost immediately, her phone rang. She answered, her pulse quickening at the sound of his deep, steady voice.
"What's going on?" he asked, a note of genuine concern in his voice. "You sound like something's weighing on you."
She took a deep breath, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. "It's David. He's manipulating our accounts to make it look like I'm financially unstable. He's trying to set me up as incapable so he can take the twins."
There was a pause, and she could almost feel the controlled anger on his end of the line. "Amelia, that's… appalling. He's going too far."
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "I know. Heather and I are working on a counterstrategy, but… it's overwhelming. I thought I could handle all of this on my own, but sometimes it feels like too much."
"Let me help." His voice was steady and resolute. "This is serious, Amelia. I want to take some of this off your plate."
She closed her eyes, appreciating his offer more than he could know. "Thank you, Ethan. But I need to do this myself. I can't rely on someone else to fix this for me."
He was silent for a moment, and then he spoke with a quiet conviction. "Then let me support you in whatever way you'll allow. I won't fix things for you, but I'll be right here when you need me."
A soft warmth bloomed in her chest at his words. "Thank you, Ethan. Just knowing you're there… it makes everything feel a little more manageable."
"I'm not going anywhere, Amelia," he said softly. "Not if I can help it."
After they ended the call, Amelia's determination sharpened. This wasn't just about her anymore; it was about securing a future for her children. It was time to face David.
***
The next day, Amelia drove to David's house, her determination unshakable. She was done letting him manipulate her and endanger her future with the twins. When he opened the door, his expression shifted from surprise to irritation, though he forced a smug smile.
"Amelia. To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, his voice thick with feigned civility.
She didn't waste time. "I know exactly what you're doing, David. Shifting money, creating debt—all to make it look like I can't support the kids."
David's smirk faded, replaced by a look of simmering anger. "I'm doing what's necessary for our children, Amelia. But I guess you wouldn't understand, too distracted by your new… friend."
She crossed her arms, keeping her voice steady. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on." He scoffed, stepping closer. "You think Ethan Blackwell sees you as anything more than a convenient fling? I know men like him. He's just playing a game—and you're too naive to see it."
Her jaw tightened, but she refused to let him rattle her. "My personal life is none of your business, David. And the fact that you're using our kids as pawns to control me is disgusting."
David took a step closer, his tone mocking. "When it affects my children, it's very much my business. How do you think they'll feel when they see their mother parading around with some rich CEO? A man who's only interested in you until he gets bored."
Amelia shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips as she finally saw through his anger. "This isn't about them at all, is it? You just can't stand that I'm not under your thumb anymore."
That struck a nerve. His jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed with frustration. "You think he cares about you?" he said, stepping even closer until they were inches apart. "He'll drop you the second things get complicated. And where will that leave you? Alone. Right where you started."
She took a steadying breath, refusing to back down. "Maybe. But at least I'm choosing for myself."
With that, she turned to leave. But David's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back to face him. His expression was a mix of anger and something darker.
"You think you're better off without me?" he muttered, his grip tightening as he looked down at her, his eyes searching her face. "Maybe you need a reminder of what you had."
Before she could react, he leaned in, his face inches from hers, and tried to press his lips to hers in a forced, possessive kiss.
Amelia jerked back, managing to break free. "Don't you dare touch me like that again," she spat, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and disgust.
The rejection seemed to enrage him even more, but he finally released her, his eyes narrowing as he struggled to maintain his composure. "Fine," he muttered, his voice dripping with bitterness. "You want to throw your life away? Be my guest. But don't come crawling back when he leaves you with nothing."
Amelia took a step back, breathing hard, her gaze steady. "I would rather be alone than let you manipulate me any longer."
Without waiting for his response, she turned and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She could still feel his grip on her arm and the unwanted pressure of his attempted kiss, but her resolve had only hardened. She was done being his possession, and she was ready to stand her ground—for herself and her children.