Golden Cage
448 Words
Elara stared at Liam as if he had grown a second head. "Take us both? You think you can just buy us back into your life? I’m here to audit you, Liam. To send you to prison for fraud!"
Liam grabbed her shoulders, his grip firm. "Then do it! Audit every single cent. You’ll find that the fraud was committed by my father and Sophia’s brother. I’ve been trying to clean up their mess for years. That’s why I need you, Elara. You’re the only one who can find the proof I couldn't."
He let go of her and walked to the window. "Here is my offer. Move into the Sterling Estate. Both of you. You can conduct your audit from there, with full access to my private servers. In exchange, I get to spend time with Leo. I get to be his father."
"And if I say no?" Elara challenged.
"Then we go to court," Liam said, turning back to her with a cold, business-like expression. "And with my resources, I will win. Leo will be moved to my house, and you will get supervised visitation twice a week. Is that what you want?"
The cruelty of his logic hit Elara like a physical blow. He was giving her a choice between a golden cage or losing her son entirely.
"You’re a monster," she whispered.
"I’m a man who just found out he has a son," Liam corrected. "I have five years of lost time to make up for. My driver will be here at 8 AM. Have your bags packed."
As Liam walked out, Elara collapsed onto the sofa. She had come to New York to destroy him, but she had walked straight into his trap. She looked at the audit papers in her hand. If Liam was telling the truth—if he was innocent of the fraud—then her entire mission was built on a lie.
But if he was lying to her now, just like he had five years ago, she was moving into the lion’s den with no way out.
"Mommy?" Leo’s sleepy voice came from the hallway. He was rubbing his eyes, holding the toy car. "Was that the nice man again?"
Elara pulled her son into a tight hug, her heart breaking. "Yes, baby. We’re going to stay at his house for a little while. It’s... it’s going to be an adventure."
"Will there be more muffins?" Leo asked innocently.
"Yes, Leo," Elara whispered, a single tear falling down her cheek. "There will be everything you ever wanted. But I hope the price isn't too high."
- Writer
