Chapter 9
The sharp sting of disinfectant made Amelia Austin cough violently as she regained consciousness. The blinding white ceiling swayed above her eyes. Then came Edmond Robinson’s deep, familiar voice:
“You’re awake? How are you feeling?”
“April!”
She bolted upright. The IV in her arm yanked painfully, but she didn’t care-her hands were already reaching for the blanket, ready to throw herself out of bed.
Edmond quickly tried to restrain her. “Easy, don’t panic. She’s fine. Blanche is in the next room watching her.”
Amelia shoved him away with all her strength. “Get out of my way!”
Edmond’s expression darkened. “Amelia, I get that you’re angry, but the situation with Finn was urgent. I had no choice-”
“No choice but to use my daughter as a bargaining chip?”
She grabbed the glass on the bedside table and hurled it. It shattered at his feet.
“Get out of my sight, Edmond! I never want to see you again!”
“Must you be so dramatic?”
His voice grew irritated. “You’ve been unstable ever since the baby was born. Fine. I’ll go. Call me when you come to your
senses.”
The door slammed behind him, leaving only silence in his wake.
Moments later, Blanche walked in, all smugness and satisfaction, holding a folded document in her hand. Her smile
reeked of victory.
“Your daughter’s in the nursery. Sign this,” she said, holding out the paper, “and disappear from Edmond’s life for good. Then you can take her.”
Amelia scanned the document. Her fingers paused on the clause: No contact. Ever again.
She lifted her gaze, eyes eerily calm.
“You staged the kidnapping, didn’t you?”
Blanche raised a brow and didn’t even bother to deny it. “You’re not as dumb as you look. I just wanted you to see- Edmond only sees us as his real family now.”
“He saved Finn. And now, his heart belongs to me. You? You’ve already lost.”
Amelia didn’t respond. She simply turned to the last page and signed her name.
When the nurse finally brought April in-small, warm, her tiny body curled in her arms-Amelia’s tears fell freely. This was
her whole world.
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Blanche stood to the side, watching, then sighed.
“You know… I used to think he loved you too. The first time-between us-it was an accident. He avoided me for over six months after. It wasn’t until I showed him I was pregnant that he even spoke to me.”
“But men change. Maybe he did love you once. But now? He loves me. And let’s be honest-I gave him a son. The real successor-that’s something your daughter will never be able to compete with.”
“I know you look down on me. But you’re not better than me, Amelia. You were just lucky to be born into the Austin name. If our roles were reversed, don’t act like you’d be any more noble.”
Amelia gave a slight, bitter smile and said nothing. Her throat ached. Every word felt like sandpaper dragged across open wound.
Before leaving, she made one final stop at the company to check the production records for the Voyager Project. Every trace of fraud, every invoice of cheap materials, every dollar of stolen profit Blanche had taken-Amelia had compiled into a secure, encrypted file.
Let the storm come, she thought. Let’s see if Edmond still wants to shield his “wife” when it all blows up.
She boarded the plane with her daughter in her arms.
And as the aircraft began to take off, she sent a single message to Edmond’s greatest business rival:
[Sorry for the delay. I promised to marry you-and I keep my promises.]
The reply came almost instantly:
[Amy… I’ve waited twelve years for this moment. No wait is too long for you.]
Her nose stung with the threat of new tears. She turned her head-and there it was again.
Blanche’s latest post on social media. Finn sat between them in a party hat, Edmond and Blanche each kissing his cheeks on either side. The caption read:
“Happy 7th birthday to our little prince. Mommy and Daddy love you forever
Attached was a deed to a private amusement park. Finn’s birthday gift from Edmond.
Then, Edmond’s messages began to come through:
[Amelia, something came up at the company. I’ll be home a little late.]
[When I get back, I’ll register April’s Social Security Number and find her the best doctors. I swear.]
[Amelia… I’ll always love you.]
Amelia snorted. Without hesitation, she blocked him-and Blanche-on every platform.
The plane broke through the clouds. She powered off her phone and pressed a soft kiss to April’s head, whispering:
“Now you want to register her? She’s not even yours anymore. Her name is April Austin.”
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“And from now on… she’s going to call your worst enemy ‘Daddy.””
“Hope you’re ready for that, Edmond Robinson.”
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