Chapter 4

"You're finally awake."

The voice was deep, steady, and definitely familiar. But it took Amy a moment to fully regain her senses, her mind clouded with the parts left over of the world she had just left behind.

The pain was still there, sharp and constant, but dulled somehow by the warmth surrounding her.

She blinked quickly, her eyes changing to make better to the soft light in the room, and then the words finally pierced through.

Bruce. It was Bruce's voice.

Amy tried to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate. She felt weak, her muscles sore, the after effects of the sudden accident still staying around like a dull pain beneath her skin.

She placed a hand to her forehead, trying to shake off the fog that still gripped her.

Where was she?

Her eyes scanned the room, but the apartment seemed strangely unfamiliar, yet the furniture, the decor, the smell.. everything about it felt... comfortable and home-like. Comfortable.

"Where... where am I?" she whispered, her voice rough-sounding and shaky.

"You're at my place," Bruce replied, his voice gentle, but there was an able to be seen firmness to it. He stood at the foot of the couch, a mug of steaming tea in his hands.

"Bruce?" She tried to sit up again, but this time he was there, supporting her shoulders, helping her until she was leaning back against the fancy and comfortable cushions.

"Yes it's me," He said. She could feel his hand on her arm, steady and comforting.

"Am I dreaming? How come you're in New York?"

Bruce let out a soft laugh, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

"I've been back for a few months now. Just didn't expect to find you like this."

"How did I... how did I get here?" she asked, still confused, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

The last thing she remembered was walking out of the hospital, her body failing her, and then.. then nothing. A blur of darkness.

Bruce's face softened as he sat down beside her, setting the tea on the table in front of them.

"You fainted, Amelia," he said, the small/short pause before her full name didn't go unnoticed. It sounded strange, yet kind, like he was trying to offer her some appearance of comfort. "You lost too much blood. I saw it on the news. They said you were hospitalized after... after the car hit you. But I recognized you from the picture, and when I got to the hospital, I found out you had already been okay, but you weren't awake yet."

He looked down at his hands, his expression briefly flickering with something unreadable, and then he quickly looked back up at her.

"I couldn't just leave you there," he continued, voice thick with concern. "You didn't look... you didn't look like yourself. You looked... broken." He let out a breath, his lips pressing together tightly. "I had to bring you here."

Amy closed her eyes for a moment, her chest tightening as her heart tried to catch up with the confusing mixture of thoughts that flooded her mind.

Her father's will. Liam. Celine. The betrayal. The hospital. The baby.. she had been having a baby developing inside the body. How could she have not known?

The weight of it all pressed down on her, suffocating her.

"Thank you," she managed to whisper, though the words felt like they didn't even begin to bring across the thankfulness she felt. She wasn't sure what she was thanking him for.. bringing her here, keeping her safe, being the only person who seemed to care.. but it was all she had left.

Bruce nodded and leaned forward, offering her the mug of tea.

"Here, this should help you feel better." His hand stayed around near hers for a second too long.

She didn't take the tea right away. Instead, she looked at him for a long moment, as if trying to piece together what had happened, trying to make sense of everything that was twisting and flowing inside her.

"I just... I don't understand," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Everything.. everything's falling apart. Liam... Celine... I just.." She stopped herself, shaking her head, tears threatening to spill over.

Bruce leaned in a little closer, his hand still floating over her shoulder, waiting for her to reach out if she needed to.

She didn't. She couldn't.

"I'm know, Amelia. I'm know that it's difficult. However, you must not allow it to defeat you. Not at this moment.” His gaze softened while he examined her features, then he turned away, inhaling deeply. "I cannot claim to fully grasp all that you have experienced with Liam, or the reasons behind his actions... but I understand that no matter what he has subjected you to, you do not deserve it."

Amy's gaze darted upward. A shadowy surge of anger simmered in her gut. No, she was not worthy of it. She was unworthy of any of it.

"Liam's gone too far," she said softly, her voice growing colder as the bad taste of his betrayal stung her throat. "He's the one who wants the divorce. Not me. And he's the one who wants everything.. everything.. from my father's company. He doesn't care about me."

Bruce gave her a sharp look, his eyes flashing with a sudden strength. "What do you mean, everything?"

Amy's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't meant to say it out loud. She hadn't meant for anyone to know.

But the words tumbled from her lips in a flood.

"The will. My father's will." She paused, quickly looking at Bruce, who was now watching her with a look that said he was ready to listen. "He... he had this clause that if I didn't stay married to Liam, I'd lose everything. All of it.. the business, the valuable things. Everything. All I've worked for, gone."

She closed her eyes, letting the pain wash over her. All she had worked for. Gone. And for what? For nothing. For Liam's control. For his family's gain.

Bruce's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Amy saw the fire in his eyes. "No." His voice was firm. "I won't let that happen, Amy. I won't let Liam or anyone else steal what's rightfully yours."

She looked up at him, confusion mixing with a sliver of hope. "What do you mean?"

Bruce leaned back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest. His look was steady, steady. "There's a way to fight this. There's a way to stop Liam from taking control of everything, and it starts with you."

Amy's breath caught in her throat. "What are you saying?"

Bruce's eyes locked onto hers, and for the first time since she woke up, she saw something there.. something that wasn't pity. It was resolve. Strong desire.

"I'll help you. I'll help you fight this. And if it means taking legal action against Liam, we'll do it. We'll make sure that will is invalid, that he can't have what's yours. You're stronger than you think, Amy. And I won't watch you lose it all."

Her heart raced as the weight of his words settled on her shoulders.

She had a choice. She had a chance to fight for her future. But the question remained.. did she have the strength to take it?

Just as Amy began to think about Bruce's offer, a message sent a message to on her phone.

The screen lit up with a single name: Liam Hawkes.

Her heart sank.