Chapter
Chapter 9
Chapter 1
Sleep refused to come Amelia paced her bedroom, bare feet silent on thick carpet as the storm raged beyond her windows. Each flash of lightning uminated the decision facing
Switzerland. A new identy The chance for revenge
She paused at the window, pressing het palm against the cool glass. Rain streaked down the other side tears sh she refused to shed. She had red enough already
images from the past week sa
Richards indifferent face across the restaurant table. Charles mugs Jul’s end eyes at the male crud word. Twenty years of manage discarded without a backward glance. Twenty years of motherhood dismissed as manipulation
She moved to the dress me she had placed her wedding ring, picking it up. Once, this band of gold had symbolized promises of forever. Now it felt like a shackle she had finally escaped
Had it all been a le? Every anniversary card, every family vacation, every whispered “love you? Or had chaply grown tred of her, found semion, and new their h
ir history to justify his betrayal?
i set the ring down, turning instead to her phone. She scrolled through old family photos Julia’s graduation. Ethan’s soccer championships. M’s dance recitals Her children’s facessed up at her from the screen, mocking her with memories of what she lost
No not lost. What had been
ad been stolen from her
The truth but her with sudden canty Richard had taken her marriage. He had taken her children. Had poisoned them against her so thoroughly that they had actively participated in her ele. Had convinced them she was the villain in the family story
Shes the phone down, a new resolve hardening within her
They needed to Alf the That actions had consequences. That people couldnt be discarded without repercussions. That the woman they had dismissed as merely “Richard’s wile” and “the kids mother was so much more
Morning found Amela seated in the mansions garden. The storm had passed, leaving behind a washed–dean sky and the scent of rain–soaked earth Shehad dressed carefully in clothes from yesterday’s shopping trip, a structured blouse in deep blue, takored pants, low heels. Her newly cut ha making her look younger, sharper, more defined
and footsteps on the gravel path and looked up to see Lucas approaching. He carried two mugs, steaming into the cool morning at
thought you might be out here he said, offering her one of the mugs. “You always loved being outside after a storm
The case the shared past caught her off guard. “You remember that?
Lucas smiled, ring beside her on her on the stone bench. “Temember everything. Amelia”
Unlocked
Chapter
Something in one made her pub quicken the accepted the coffee grateful for warmth between her palms. didn’t sleep much
“Nether did “He gazed out at the garden, giving her space though they sati
enough that should food the heat of
Cheat of his body. Proposals like the one made last night tend to keep people awake
deep breath, the scent of wet roses and coffee mingling in the morning ar “Tive made my decision”
can turned to face her his expression carefully neutral “and?”
mong to Switzerland The words fet momentous as they left her lips like stepping off a cliff into open a Tim going to build myself. And then I’m going to show Richard and my children exactly what they threw away
and something deeper washed across Lucasface “Your”
I’ve never been more sure of anything was steady her gaze det. Last night realized something. For twenty years, I’ve been half life Being what Richard wanted. What my children needed. What society expected. I forgot how to be just
her mug down on the bench between them. 7w:
I want to discover who I am without them. Who I could have been if I had grup my dreams for Rochard’s. And that want them to see that woma
to truly see her, when it
slowly wont be easy envention nevers
i want waxy “Amelia stood, too full of restless energy to remain seated Twant justice (want growth Iwant
unflinchings. “Yes. Is that wrong?”
and bad om her. “It’s human. They han you deeply deliberately. Wanting them to feel a fraction of that pain doesn’t make you a bad person.”
| was nothing” Amelia whispered, the memory fresh despite her resolve “My own daughter. My firstborn. The child carried inside me for nine months, who I nursed through fevers and heartbreaks and disappointments. She looked at meikel was garbage to be discarded”
s as if he wanted to reach for her but held himself back “Children can be cruel without understanding the magnitude of the cruelty
untered. They allod The wasnt childish thoughice
i kps, not mocking or pitying, but appreciative There she The
camber
The was calculated participation in my destruction “Her voice hardened. “And they need to learn that I won’t be destroyed so easy”
“Was A fighter Ama seared face Some cant member who I was before Richard
Lucas said singly. “Brikant. Fearless The brightest star in every room
His words sparked something inside of region, a memory of the grishe had been. The law student with dreams of changing the world. The young woman who had faced down bullies and stood up for underdogs. Who had once punched Tommy Greggs for calling Lucas charity cas
to be her again” Amelia said. Not exactly the same cantwenty years or pretend they didn’t shape me. But I want to find that core of strength again. That sense of sell that existed before became Mrs. Richard Carter
as nodded. Then that’s what well do make the arrangements today.
The villa in Swizerland is mady whenever you are”
soon can we leave? The question surpined them both with urgency
Amelafatered Tassumed thought you might
Lucas expression softened. To planned to help you get se
settled, of course Tem
To make sum you have everything you need. But I didn’t want to presume you’d want me there longer than necessary”
with an emction Amelia wash meady to me. Tidlike you there. At least at first find my footing
Than we can leave whenever youreready. Tomorrow, If you wish
schoed, the word carrying the weight of a new bear
of a new beginning. “What about my legal situation? The divorce? My belongings from the house?”
handle everything. Richard wont be able to the divorce through without proper division, no matter how much he might try. As for your personal items. “Lucas heated
in could retrieve them, if you like. Richard wouldnt know it was me
The offenempah to have her books, her keepsakes, the small behind. But something stopped her from accepting
“” she said finally “Let them go they part of the old Amela and she does more The words huit as she spoke them, but they also freed something inside her
Lucas auded her face. “You sure? Some of those things might hav
Amela thought of the photo albuma
chadang homemade grins, the souvenirs fromamily trips Each one a knife to her heart now, and by betrayal
T
( in the stjects. They’le as here” She touched her chest. “And…
1 want to start completely fresh,”
Chapter 4.
Lucas nodded, respect evident in his gaze 11 Eva cur plans. She be excited to come with us.”
“Eva is coming too?” Amela asked, surprised but pleased
“Of course. She wouldn’t miss it.” He smiled slightly. She’s quite taken with you, you know. Says you remind her of her mother, strong beneath the softness.”
The comparison to Dana County, a woman he had truly loved, touched Amelia deeply. Td to know more about her someday. Your wife. She must have been remarkabla”
“She was “Sadness flickered across Lucas’s face, quickly masked. Perhaps in Switzerland, well have time for those stories. For now, we should prepare for tomorrow?
As if on cue Eva appeared on
the garden path, her face brightening when she sported them. “Goodmorning! You’re both up early.
Lucas turned to hindaughter mela has decided to accept our offer. Will be leaving for Switwland tomaram,“
Exa’s eyes widened with delight. “Really? Thats wonderful She rushed forward to embrace Amela “You won’t regret it. The incredible, and land is the perfect place to reinvent yourself.”
Amela returned the hug, surprised by how naturale mglad you’re coming with us.”
wouldn’t miss for anything” Eva replied enthusiastically. “We’re going to have an amazing time.“Ex stepped back, her expression turning serious “Have you decided what to do about Richard and your children?”
The direct question might have seemed insensitive from anyone else, but from Eve concem
“Hot specifically Amela admed know want them to face consequences for what they did. I know I want Rochard to make what hetew away. But the exact form that takes, “She shook her head. I need time to figure that out
Era nodded thoughtfully. The best revengeplans aren’t rushed. They’re crated carefully, implemented patiently!
Lucas shot his daughter a look that Am couldan quteinterpret “Eva”
“What? I’m just saying what were all thinking” Eva shrugged unapologeticaly “Amelia deserves justice, and that requires planning”
“Tex alight,” Amala assured Lucas “She’s right. I don’t want bind retaliation I was “She searched for the right words “want them to reap what they’ve sows. To face the natural consequences of their choices. To realize exactly what they list when they threw me away
sider knowk
Eva smed approvingly. And they will With Dad’s resources and your insider knowledge of Richard, they won’t know what hit them
The conversation shed to practicalities, what Amelia would need to pack, how long they might stay in Stand, the logistics of managing the divorce proceedings remotely. Throughout the discusget strange lightness building inside her Each decision, each plan for the future, remo weght from her shoulders.
She was choosing her path now Not following Richard’s lead or society’s expectations or even her children’s needs. For the first time in twenty years, Amelia was putting herself first, her growth, her healing, her justice.
Старон 9
of how title she had left was sobering but also oddly freeing
ter breakfast, she returned to her room to begin packing. Her few belongings, the clothes Eva had haped by the tokens vs. Parker had provided, fit into a single suitcase. The physical reminder of how t
She was traveling light to her new life Unburdened by possessions that bed her to the past
folded a sweater, Amelia caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. The woman who gazed back at her seemed different head, her posture straighter, her years with determination. Not yet the woman she would become, but no longer the woman Richard had discarded Tomorrow, she would board a plane to Switzerland Would be the process of making herself far from Richard’s rich Would learn about finance, shout buses, about power in the world’s banking capital
And one day, when she was read
had transformed into someone new someone stronger, she would return. Would face Richard and her child not as the desperate, broken woman they had cast aside, but as someone they barely recognized. Someone they had underestimated Someone survived ther betrayal and emerged more powerful than they could imagine
They thought they knew Amels Carter
koon, thay would meet the new
And nothing would ever be the came
