Chapter 4: Running Into The Unknown
1312 Words
POV: Amelia
The cab driver looked in the rearview mirror as two black SUVs gained on us. “Lady, those cars are following us. What the hell did you do?”
“Drive faster,” I said, gripping the seat. “Please. Just lose them.”
He swerved hard around a corner. Horns blared. “This ain’t no movie. I got a family.”
“I have a baby to protect,” I shot back. “They will kill me if they catch us.”
The driver cursed under his breath. “Fine. Hang on.”
My phone rang. Sophia. I answered fast. “Soph, where are you? Lila is after me.”
“Amelia, listen,” Sophia said, voice shaky. “I didn’t know it was this bad. Victoria called me. She offered me money to keep tabs on you. I said no, but Lila threatened my husband.”
My heart sank. “You too? Everyone is in their pocket.”
“Not anymore,” she replied. “Meet me at the old train station on the edge of town. I have cash and a new phone for you. But hurry. Ethan is losing it.”
The cab hit a pothole. I nearly dropped the phone. “Okay. Train station. Don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. I’m sorry, Amelia. I thought it was just rich people drama.”
She hung up. The driver glanced back. “Train station? That’s twenty minutes away. Those SUVs are still behind us.”
“Take side streets,” I said. “I will pay you triple.”
He nodded and turned sharply. My stomach rolled again, the baby. I touched my belly. “Hold on, little one. Mommy is getting us out.”
Another call came. Unknown. I picked up.
“Amelia, it’s Clara,” the voice whispered. “Don’t go to Sophia. She is playing both sides. Victoria paid her last month.”
I froze. “But she just said…”
“Trust no one,” Clara cut in. “I have a safe house. Text me when you ditch the cab. I will send the address. And delete this call.”
The line went dead. Twists everywhere. Sophia lied? Or Clara?
The SUVs got closer. One pulled up beside us. Lila leaned out the window, hair whipping in the wind.
“Stop the car, Amelia,” she shouted. “Ethan wants to talk. No one gets hurt.”
The driver sped up. “Who is that crazy woman?”
“My husband’s mistress,” I said. “Keep going.”
Lila yelled louder. “You think running solves anything? Victoria knows about the pregnancy. She will take the baby if you force this.”
My blood boiled. “Over my dead body.”
Ethan’s voice came from the other SUV. “Amelia, please. Pull over. We can fix the family mess. I just learned the truth about my mother, too.”
“Too late, Ethan,” I shouted back through the open window. “You had years.”
The cab driver took a narrow alley. The SUVs couldn’t follow right away. We gained distance.
“Where to now, lady?” he asked, breathing hard.
“Keep heading to the train station. But drop me two blocks before.”
He nodded. “You got it. This is the craziest fare I ever had.”
My phone buzzed with a text from Sophia. “I’m here. Hurry. Black SUV just passed me.”
Another text from Clara. “Sophia is compromised. Go to the motel on Route 7 instead. Room 12. Key under the mat.”
I deleted both. Head spinning. Who to trust?
The cab stopped at the corner. I handed him a wad of cash from my purse. “Thank you. Forget you saw me.”
He took it. “Good luck with that baby. Stay safe.”
I slipped out and ran toward the train station shadows. Footsteps echoed. Ethan appeared from the side street, alone.
“Amelia, wait,” he called. “No guards. Just me.”
I stopped but kept a distance. “Why should I?”
He held up his hands. “Mother confessed more after you left. She and Lila planned the crash. Father wanted to cut Lila out. I was blind.”
I crossed my arms. “And you? What did you do?”
“I suspected but stayed quiet to protect the company,” he admitted. “Stupid. I pushed you away, thinking it would keep you out of their games. But I never stopped caring. That night at the wedding, I wanted to touch you. I couldn’t risk it.”
“Risk what?” I asked. “Loving your wife?”
“Losing you to their poison,” he said, stepping closer. “When you said divorce this morning, it hit me. Then the baby. I am terrified, Amelia. Terrified of being like them.”
A car door slammed nearby. Lila’s voice carried. “Ethan, she is here. Victoria is sending security.”
Ethan turned. “Stay back, Lila. This is between us.”
Lila laughed. “Between us? She has the photos. Clara’s evidence. Hand her over, or the board hears everything about your signed approvals.”
I backed away. “You both disgust me.”
Ethan looked torn. “Amelia, run if you must. But take this.” He tossed a small black card. “My private account. No trace. Use it.”
I caught it. “Why help now?”
“Because I signed those divorce papers like an i***t,” he said. “But I won’t sign away my child. Or you.”
Lila ran up. “Ethan, enough. Victoria wants her brought in.”
I turned and sprinted toward the station. Trains whistled in the distance. I ducked behind an old ticket booth.
Sophia stepped out from the shadows. “Amelia. Here. Take the bag.”
She handed me a duffel. Cash. New phone. Passport with my old name.
“Thanks,” I said, watching her eyes. “But Clara warned me about you.”
Sophia’s face fell. “Clara lies. Victoria paid her too. I swear I am on your side now.”
Another twist. I grabbed the bag. “I don’t know who to believe.”
Ethan’s voice echoed closer. “Amelia!”
Police sirens wailed far off. Maybe the cab driver called them. Or someone else.
Sophia pushed me toward a side exit. “Go. The next train leaves in five minutes. Get on it.”
I ran. The platform was almost empty. I boarded the last car just as the doors closed.
Through the window, I saw Ethan and Lila arguing. Sophia slipped away into the crowd.
My new phone buzzed. Text from Clara. “Good choice. Motel Room 12. I left more proof there. About the twins.”
Twins? I stared at the screen. What twins?
The train pulled out. City lights faded. I leaned back, hand on my stomach.
Another text. From Ethan. “I will find you. We need to talk about the future. Our family.”
I blocked the number. But deep down, his words from the station stuck. Love? Or another trap?
The train rattled on. I opened the duffel. Inside, a small ultrasound photo. Not mine. Dated six years ago. Two babies.
My breath caught. What did this mean?
I looked out the dark window. Reflection showed my tired face. The chase was starting. With secrets piling up and no one to trust, I had to disappear completely.
But the baby kicked softly. Or was that imagination? Either way, I whispered, “We are getting out, little one. No more lies.”
The train picked up speed. Destination unknown. But one thing was clear. This divorce had opened a war. And I planned to win it for my child.
- Writer
