You're Not Allowed In

I don’t know how long I stayed there in the garage, frozen and bleeding. My cruel, devil husband had taken everything and left me with nothing but divorce papers.

Even though I was still shaking badly, I forced myself to my feet. My hand still dripped from the torn IV.

Snowflakes landed in my hair as I limped out of the garage barefoot, and half-naked in my hospital gown that was whipping in the wind.

A cab idled nearby by the curb, the driver was leaning against the hood, smoking a cigarette. He straightened when he saw me, his eyes went wide.

“Jesus, lady. Are you okay?” the driver said. “You need to be in a hospital–”

“I was just in one,” I snapped, my voice was thick with tears. “Please, take me to Smith Estate. 1420 Crestwood Drive. Aspen Hills. Hurry.”

He blinked. Then he stared at me really hard, his cigarette was dangling from his lips. “Are you sure about that address? That’s–”

“I live there!” I shouted, clutching my stomach as another wave of pain hit me again.

"Really?" He looked at me up and down, like he didn't believe a word I just said.

"Yes. Please, just drive!"

The driver hesitated, then he nodded, throwing his cigarette to the ground. “Fine. Get in before you drop dead.”

I slid into the back seat, barely holding myself together. Tears were pouring down my face.

“Please. Hurry.” I whispered.

The cab pulled away.

Snow fell harder now, covering everything in white. My chest burned with rage and grief as I stared out the window.

"Liam can't erase me as if I was already dead." My mind spun. "I am their mother. He can't take my babies from me. I carried them. Birthed them. I loved them before I ever saw their faces. He can't erase that."

Unless… he planned to replace me. Make Evelyn their mother.

The thought cut like fire.

"No. He wouldn’t dare. I won't let him." I shook my head. "If Liam wants a divorce, fine. But my babies are mine. And I will fight to the end before I let him take them.”

---

The ride to Aspen Hills felt endless. The cab’s heater barely touched the chill in my bones. By the time we reached the towering iron gates of Smith Estate, fear had settled heavy in my chest.

I stumbled out, clutching my stomach and fighting the blur in my vision.

“Hey... are you sure you’re okay?” the driver asked, leaning out his window. "You don't look so good."

“I’m fine,” I lied, limping to the security camera mounted above the gate.

“Open the gate!” I shouted. “It’s Olivia Smith! Let me in!”

Silence.

Then a crackle came from the intercom, followed by a voice I recognized. It was Noah, one of the estate's security guards.

“Mrs. Smith… I’m sorry," he said, his tone was apologetic. "Mr. Smith gave strict orders. You’re not allowed in.”

I froze.

The words hit harder than the cold.

“What?” I whispered, then louder, “What do you mean? My babies are in there! I’m his wife! You can't keep me out!”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Smith,” Noah repeated. “We can’t let you in. He made it clear. We don't want to lose our jobs.”

I grabbed the heavy gates and shook them with everything I had left.

“Liam!” I screamed into the snowy night. “You bastard! Give me back my babies! You can't do this to me!”

The cab driver got out, staring at me like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Wait a sec… you’re Mrs Smith? Married to Liam Smith? The billionaire? The one who…”

He kept going with wide eyes, but I didn’t answer. My fists slammed against the metal, tears freezing on my cheeks.

“Liam! I know you're in there! And I know you can hear me! I want my babies, you son of a bitch!”

“Lady,” the driver muttered, scratching his head. “I didn’t even know he had a wife. A real one, I mean... Look, you’re gonna get sick out here. Come on, warm up in the car.”

“No!” My scream tore through the night. “I’m not leaving without my babies! They’re mine! That bastard took them!”

I kept pounding the gates until my hands ached, until my whole body screamed in pain. Snow soaked my gown and my bare feet were numb on the ice.

“Liam, please,” I sobbed. “Don’t do this. They need me. I'll do anything, okay? I swear, I'll listen to anything you say. Just don't…”

Then the world suddenly tilted. And my vision went dark at the edges.

“No…” I whispered, clinging to the gate. "I won't let you..."

My knees buckled. And then I collapsed into the snow, the cold swallowing me. The sound of my sobs and the driver's screams started to fade. My last thought before everything went black was simple, desperate, and raw:

"I won’t let you take them from me.”