Chapter 3: The Lawyer’s Trap
1477 Words
POV: Amelia
The lawyer’s door burst open before I could sit down. Ethan stormed in, eyes locked on me like a hunter.
“Amelia, stop this right now,” he demanded.
Mr. Hayes stood up fast. “Sir, this is a private meeting. You can’t just walk in.”
Ethan ignored him and stepped closer to me. “I know about the baby. Don’t think you can hide it and run.”
I backed up against the desk. “How did you get in here? I told you to sign the papers and stay away.”
The lawyer cleared his throat. “Mrs. Blackwood, do you want me to call security?”
“No,” I said, holding up my hand. “I can handle this. Ethan, leave. We’re done.”
Ethan slammed a folder on the table. “Not done. These papers you sent? I read them. But there’s more you don’t know. My mother is on her way here right now.”
My stomach dropped. “Your mother? What does she have to do with this?”
Clara’s envelope felt heavy in my bag. I wanted to throw the photos at him, but held back.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “She pushed the marriage. She knew about Lila from the start. Sit down and listen for once.”
Mr. Hayes looked between us. “I should step out for a moment.”
“Stay,” I said quickly. “I want a witness.”
Ethan turned to the lawyer. “This divorce won’t be simple. There’s a clause in the prenup about heirs. If she’s pregnant, everything changes.”
I crossed my arms. “You don’t know anything. It’s my body. My choice.”
“Is it mine?” Ethan asked, voice low and rough. “Tell me the truth, Amelia. After three years of nothing, how?”
I laughed bitterly. “Nothing because you chose Lila. You chose your secrets. Now you want to claim a baby?”
The door opened again. A sharp voice cut through. “Ethan, what is this mess?”
His mother, Victoria Blackwood, walked in like she owned the place: perfect hair, designer suit, cold eyes on me.
“Mother,” Ethan said. “Not now.”
Victoria ignored him and stared at me. “Amelia, dear. Divorce? After everything we did for you?”
I stood tall. “Everything? You forced this marriage. Used me as a shield for your family’s dirt.”
She smiled thinly. “Dirt? Lila is useful. Ethan needed her to fix what his father broke. You were the pretty face to calm the board.”
Mr. Hayes coughed. “This is highly irregular. Perhaps we should reschedule.”
“No,” Victoria snapped. “Sign nothing, son. There’s a child involved now. Blackwood blood.”
I turned to her. “How do you know about the baby? I told no one.”
Victoria stepped closer. “Servants talk. Drivers talk. You threw up this morning. Sloppy, my dear.”
Ethan looked shocked. “Mother, you had her watched?”
“Of course,” she said smoothly. “After your father died, I had to protect the empire. Lila helped with that. The crash? Necessary cleanup.”
My blood froze. “You just admitted it. In front of a lawyer.”
Victoria laughed softly. “Admitted what? A tragic accident. Now, Amelia, be smart. Stay. Raise the child in the mansion. Ethan will give you whatever you want. Discretion included.”
I shook my head. “I want freedom. Not your cage.”
Ethan stepped between us. “Mother, enough. This is between Amelia and me.”
“Is it?” Victoria asked. “Or between you and Lila’s threats? The Europe deal files she holds. The ones that show you signed off on the meeting your father attended alone.”
Ethan’s face went pale. “How do you know that?”
“I know everything,” she replied. “I made sure Lila stayed close. Control, son. That’s what keeps Blackwood alive.”
I pulled the envelope from my bag. “Then explain these.”
I slapped the photos on the table. Lila with the father. The emails. Ethan’s own message.
Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “Where did you get those?”
“Someone who wants the truth out,” I said. “Clara.”
Ethan grabbed my arm gently. “Clara? She’s dangerous. She worked for my father and stole money herself.”
“Or maybe she saw the real killers,” I shot back. “You both covered it. Used me as cover.”
Mr. Hayes picked up the photos. “These could be evidence. Mrs. Blackwood, I advise you to consult your own counsel before proceeding.”
Victoria turned cold. “Burn those papers, Ethan. Or the board finds out about your little side deals.”
Ethan looked torn. “Amelia, please. Come home. We can fix this. The baby needs both parents.”
“Both parents?” I stepped away. “You never wanted me. Never touched me. Now you want to play family?”
He lowered his voice. “I wanted to keep you safe from them. From Lila’s games. From the mother’s control. I thought distance would protect you.”
“Protect?” I whispered fiercely. “By letting Lila call me pathetic? By signing my life away?”
Victoria checked her watch. “This is wasting time. Ethan, the board meeting starts soon. Lila is waiting.”
“Lila can wait,” Ethan said. But his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and cursed.
I looked at Mr. Hayes. “Serve the papers anyway. I want this over.”
Victoria smiled. “You won’t get far. Blackwood has reach. Doctors. Judges. Everything.”
The lawyer nodded to me. “We can file for a protection order if needed.”
Ethan’s eyes met mine. “Don’t do this. I just found out I’m going to be a father. Give me a chance to make it right.”
“A chance?” I said. “You had three years. Now it’s too late.”
My phone rang. Unknown number again. I answered quickly.
“Amelia? It’s Clara. Get out of there. Victoria knows everything. She’s the one who ordered the brakes.”
I put it on speaker without thinking. “Say that again.”
Clara’s voice filled the room. “Victoria Blackwood set up the crash. Lila just helped. Ethan was next on the list if he didn’t marry you.”
Victoria lunged for the phone. Ethan blocked her.
“Mother?” he said, voice breaking. “Is this true?”
Victoria straightened. “Business, son. Your father was weak. He would have lost everything. I saved us.”
Ethan stepped back as she slapped him. “You killed him?”
“Accident,” she said coolly. “Now focus. The child is our future.”
I grabbed my bag. “I’m leaving. Don’t follow me.”
Ethan reached out. “Amelia, wait. This changes everything.”
“It changes nothing,” I replied. “You all played me. The divorce stands.”
I rushed past them. Mr. Hayes called after me. “I’ll expedite the filing.”
In the hallway, I ran for the stairs. Footsteps behind me. Ethan.
“Amelia, stop!”
I turned at the exit. “Why should I? Your family is poison.”
He caught up, breathing hard. “Because I love you. I always did. But I was trapped.”
“Love?” I laughed. “Empty words. Empty bed. Empty promises.”
My phone buzzed again. Sophia. “Amelia, Lila just called me. She’s coming for you. Run.”
Another twist. Even Sophia tied in.
Ethan saw my face. “What now?”
“More lies,” I said. “Stay away from the baby and me.”
I pushed through the door into the street. A black car waited. Not mine.
The driver stepped out. Lila.
“Get in, Amelia,” she said with a smile. “We need to talk about your future.”
Ethan reached me. “Lila, back off.”
She laughed. “Too late, boss. Your mother sent me. The papers? Already handled.”
I backed away. “Handled how?”
“Money talks,” Lila said. “Your lawyer works for us sometimes.”
The world spun. Everyone connected. Everyone lying.
I ran down the street, heart pounding. Ethan and Lila called after me.
This wasn’t just divorce anymore. It was an escape from all of them.
Clara’s voice echoed in my head. Protect the baby.
I flagged a random cab. “Anywhere. Just drive.”
As we sped off, I saw them in the mirror. Chasing.
The hook pulled harder. With Victoria’s confession and Lila closing in, I had to disappear. Tonight.
- Writer
