5
631 Words
Emma's POV
Daniel drove me to a small cafe on the outside of town, the place where nobody would recognize us.
“Emma, there’s something you need to know,” Daniel said, his voice heavy. “They’ve been planning this for months.”
I looked up at him, confused. “Who? Planning what?”
“Alex and your mother in law planning on Charlotte’s return. The pregnancy. All of it.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Alex has been in contact with her this whole time.”
My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”
“Margaret orchestrated everything. She wanted Charlotte back because her family has serious money, old money that would secure the Sterling empire for generations."
“Jesus, Daniel. How long have you known?”
“I suspected for a while, but I confirmed it last week. I have connections at the law firm Margaret uses. She’s been preparing divorce papers for months, claiming you’re unfit to be a Sterling wife.”
"Then why doesn't Alex want a divorce?"
"I don't know, Alex must be planning something."
My phone buzzed on the table. Alex’s name flashed on the screen for the twentieth time that day.
“Don’t answer it,” Daniel said firmly.
I declined the call, but it immediately started ringing again.
“He’s not going to stop,” I muttered.
“Emma, listen to me carefully,” Daniel’s tone became urgent. “Alex won’t let you go easily. He has influence, judges, lawyers, politicians. The Sterling name opens doors and closes mouths. If you’re really serious about this divorce, you need to be prepared for war.”
My phone buzzed with a text message. Not from Alex this time.
Victoria Sterling.
[You think you can just walk away? You will never escape this family alive. We made you, and we can destroy you just as easily.]
I showed Daniel the message, my hands shaking.
He whispered. “They’re moving faster than I thought.”
“Daniel, I’m scared.”
“You should be. But you’re not alone in this.” He reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I have a guest room at my place. Stay with me until we figure this out. I’ll get you the best divorce attorney in the state.”
“I can’t ask you to—“
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. They had gotten away with too much for too long.”
My phone rang again. This time I answered.
“What do you want, Alex?”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” His voice was pure rage. “James told me you went to family court. You filed papers behind my back?”
“I told you I wanted a divorce. You didn’t believe me.”
“Emma, you’re making a huge mistake. Do you have any idea what you’re messing with?”
“Yeah, I’m messing with my own life. The life you’ve made miserable for two years.”
“Get your ass home. Now. We’re going to discuss this like adults.”
“Or I’ll burn everything you own!"
“Don’t say—“
“Yes, I can open your safe, I have everything you’ve hidden in there, including...” Alex’s voice sounded like the devil in my ear, hissing threateningly and venomously.
“Including your mother’s jewelry, those old photos you think nobody knows about...”
“That little bracelet, those photos Miss Mary gave you, that shell hair clip you treasure so much...wow,"
"That sounds really fun," Alex began speaking like a crazy psychopath.
My blood turned to ice. “Alex, don’t you dare—“
“Come home. Now. Or I’ll burn every last piece of your precious dead mother’s memory.”
- Writer
