Chapter 8
What if you could have that?” Lucas asked finally. “What if I could help you rebuild yourself completely, become someone Richard wouldn’t recognize, someone with the power to show him exactly what he threw away?!
Amelia’s pulse quickened. “What are you suggesting?”
Lucas set his glass down and moved to the window, looking out at the storm. Lightning flashed, iluminating his profile in that brief moment Amought gimpse of something fierce in his expression
Tim suggesting you leave. Not just this house, not just this city, but this country. Go somewhere Richard can’t reach you can track you, can’t continue poisoning your image. Heturned to face he have a vita in Switzerland, Beaful private, secluded in the Alps And Switzerland has sor discreet banking systems.”
“You want me to run away? The idea felt like admitting defect.
“Not running away” Lucas corrected algic retreat. Richard thinka has won, Let him believe that while you transform yourself in Switzerland into someone who can’t be dismissed or forgotten
Eva straightened in her chair. The Swiss via is incredible On Lake Geneva, with mountains in the background Dad barely uses in
Amelia’s mind raced with possibilities. To vanish completely to shed the skin of the woman Richard had molded and diccarded. The idea was both terrifying and exhilarating
But my children………she began
“Havemadether choice.” Lucas finished gently. For now, at least. Give them time to mas you to question the story Richard has told them.”
“And meanwhile?“ Amelia asked.
Lucas aroused the room and knelt before her chair, taking herhands in his The gesture fe intimate, he skin warm againsthers Meanwhile you become the woman you were meant to be before Richard convinced you to shrink yourself to fit his needs “
His face was close enough that she could see flecks of gold in his brown eyes. The boyish features she remembered from childhood were still there bana the mature Fras of his face.
“Why would you do this for me?” she whispered
Somethingcred across his expression, shadow of emotion quickly masked. “Because you deserve better that what happened to you. Because I have the means to help” He paused. And because I care what happens to you. I always have.”
The last words hung between them, laden with meaning she wasn’t ready to examine. Eva cleared her throat softly, reminding them at her presence
Lucas released Amela’s hands and stood, moving back to a more appropriate distance. “There’s more,” he said. “Richard’s rushed wedding mine. You mentioned it might mean he’s hiding something.”
Amelia nodded, grateful for the change in subject. “Richard never does anything without calculation. Two month is too soon unless there’s pressure we don’t know about
“My team found something.“Lucas said. “Item Richard has been hiding assets. He’s been systematically moving money to offshore accounes for the past three years.”
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Chapter 8
Amelia’s eyes widened. “Are you having him investigated?”
A small smile played at the corner of Lucas’s mouth takeabsonectors Richard’s financial movements caught my attention.”
“What has he been doing exactly? Amelia leaned forward, intrigued despite herself
“Moving mon through shell companies. Nothing technical legal, but defintly suspicious. My guess is he’s been planning this ext from your marriage for years, ensuring you wouldn’t get your fair share when the timeçame
Amelia absorbed this information slowly Richard, who prided himself on his business acumen, who had but his identity around being a financial genules, secretly hiding assets? Planning his eat for years? It seemed calculating even for him. And yet.
“He’s been anxious Lately, she said, memories clicking into place. “Working late, taking calls in private. I thought Her voice traded off
“You thought he was having an affair Eva supplied. “Which he was. But that was at
“How long have you known about this? Ama keduces
My team flagged unusual activity in his finances about six months ago. “Hepped his whiskey Timings interesting isn’t it? Just when he has everything hidden away, he suddenly can’t live another day has loveless marriage”
The implications were staggering Had Richard discarded her
ther not just for a younger woman, but to ensure she wouldn’t get her fair share in a divorce? Had he involved their children in this scheme, knowing what was coming?
If what you’re saying is true,” Amelia said slowly, then Richard is just cruel. He’s been deliberately planning in leave me with nothing while he keeps everything we built together!
“That’s my
Lucas agreed “And it presents an opportunity”
“What kind of opportunity?”
Information is power, Ama. Richard don’t know that you know about his hidden assets. He assumes you’re broken, defeated, grant of his true motives Lucas aned forward. “What if you disappeared to Switzerland for a while, reinvented yourself completly, the returned right when knowledge he doesnt expect you to have and power he never imagined you could possess?”
The image formed in Ames mind returning to face Richard not as his discarded wife but as someone new Someone stronger. The fantasy was intoxicating
“You’re taking about revenge,” she said quietly.
Tm taking about justice,” Lucas corrected. “About balancing scales that have been tipped against you for too long
Exa, who had been silent during this exchange, spoke up not just about hurting Richard, though that would be satisfying” She smiled slightly. “It’s about reclaiming your life on your terms, Taking back what he stole from you, your confidence your sense of self–worth
Amel stood and walked to the window watching lightning spit the sky. She thought of Jula’s cold expression at the mall, of Richard’s indifferent dismissal at the restaurant of the text messages from her children siding with him. Every memory stoked find her that had been mod
Chapter 8
I did this,” she said without turning, “how long would I stay in Switzerland?
She heard Lucas move behind her, felt his presence close but not touching. As long as you need. The villa is private, secure. You could learn about finance there, Switzerland is the world’s banking capital. When you’re ready, Thave
He hesitated, and Amelia turned to face him. You have what?”
“Shares in Richard’s company” he admitted. “Not in my name of course Held through subsidiaries. Not enough to control anything but enough to give you a seat at the table when the time comes.”
Amelia stared at him. “You own part of Richard’s company? Since when?”
“Three years. It was a sound investment at the time. His pression revealed nothing. Now those shares could serve a different purpose”
The pieces fell into place in Amelia’s mind. “You want me to use those shares. To face Richard as a business rival, not just an ex–wide”
“The thought had crossed my mind‘ Lucas acknowledged. “But ultimately, the decision is yours. How you use this opportunity, if you choose to take it, is entirely up to you”
Amelia returned to her seat, mind whiring with possibilities. To vanish and return transformed. To face Richard on a battlefield where he never expected to seether. To show her children that she was not the weak, dinging mother Richard had portrayed
“What about my legal rights?” she asked practically. Divorce proceedings, division of assets?”
Thave excellent attorneys, Lucas said. They can handle everything remotely. Richard willikely try to rush the divorce through before his legal troubles become public. Let him, it might even work in your favor if her distracted “
Eva leaned forward. Dadsright. Let Richard think he’s won completely. The most satisfying revenge comes when your opponent has already started celebrating”
eta kask at her sharply.
The conviction in her voice made Amelia look at her sharply. There was a hardness in Eva’s young face that seemed out of place. What had this girl experienced to make
“What about you two?” Amala asked. “Why involve yourselves in my problems? You’ve already done so much.
understand revenge so thoroughly?
Lucas and Eva exchanged a glance. “Let’s just say we understand what it means to be underestimated,”Lucas said, “To have someone rente your story to serve their purposes
The roomed silent except for the patter of rain and the occasions rumble of thunder Amalia looked between father and daughter, sensing depth other offer that she couldnt fully comprehend. There was history here, pain perhaps, that atched her own in ways she didn’t yet understand. “I need time” she said finaly “This is…‘s a lot to com
Lucas nodded. “Of course. There’s no pressure, no timelineHealed slightly. “Well, except for Richard’s six week wedding countdown
Despite everything. Amelia found herself smiling back. “One year might be enough time to become someone”
Chapter &
“You’d be surprised what’s possible,” Lucas said“)
cafening. The Amelia I knew as a girl could accomplish anything the hermand to That womans side you, wating for her chance”
The reference to their shared past sent an unexpected wave of emotion through her Before Richard, before the children, before twenty years of slowly erasing herself, there had been a bright, ambitious girl with dreams beyond being someone’s wife Could that girl stil est beneath the layers of
should get some rest,” Amelia said, rising from her chair. The day’s emotions, from shopping with Eva to controming Juk to the offer from Lucas, had left her drained.
Eva stood and hugged her impulsively. Think about Switzerland,” she whispered. The company apartment has a view of beautiful sted”
Ameka returned the hug, touched by this girls easy affection think about everything“she promised
Lucas walked her to the door of the study. “Whatever you decide he said quietly, now that my offer comes without strings. If you want to rebuild your life independently support that too. This is about obligation orde
His sincerity was evident in his eyes, in the careful way he maintained space between them. This wasn’t a man trying to claim her in Richards place. This was something else, something she couldn’t quite define
“Thank you, Luca” she said simply. Tor or everything”
He nodded once then stepped back to let her pass. As she walked down the hallway toward her room, Amala fakt something string inside her, something she had thought died the night Richard destroyed her world.
Hope
Not hope for reconciliation or forgiveness Something darker, more powerful. Hope for justice Hope for revention. Hope that one day, Richard would look at her and feel the same fear and disorientation she had felt that night in the restaurant
