Chapter 5

Two days had gone by since Amy awoke in Bruce’s apartment, and during that time, she had wept until her eyes felt sore, yelled until her throat hurt, and attempted to understand a reality that had flipped completely upside down.

Yet, amidst everything, there was Bruce.. dependable, serene, and present for her in ways she never realized she required, but now couldn’t envision life without.

She was assigned a guest room, nestled in the corner of Bruce’s minimalist apartment.. a tranquil area that resembled the stillness before the chaos.

She had always been aware that Bruce would support her, but she didn’t foresee the extent to which he would rise to the occasion when her life was in chaos.

Her phone vibrated on the nightstand, showing an incoming call from Liam.

This time, she didn’t trouble herself to glance at the screen, her finger brushing it aside without a second thought.

She wasn't interested in hearing his voice.

Bruce’s presence enabled her to build barriers, regain some of her strength, and crucially, to sense that she wasn’t isolated in this.

Amy perched on the bed's edge, her fingers gripping a mug of tea firmly as she gazed out the window.

Today, she would move ahead.. distancing herself from the destruction Liam had caused.

The door creaked gently, and she glanced over to see Bruce in the doorway, a knock still reverberating behind him.

"You’re awake," he remarked, his tone quiet but gentle. He possessed a manner of speaking that made everything appear to be in order, even when the surroundings were anything but.

Amy gave him a small, exhausted smile. "I’m awake." She put the mug down on the bedside table, sitting up a little straighter. "What's the news?"

Bruce walked into the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

"The board meeting’s in a few hours. We’ve been working for days on making sure that clause gets removed from your father’s will."

Amy’s stomach tightened, the familiar sense of dread creeping up on her.

“You think it’s going to work?”

Bruce nodded confidently, but there was a glint of something else in his eyes.

“It will. The legal team’s been working overtime, and everything is lined up. Your father’s stipulation.. the one that says you forfeit everything if your marriage ends.. was never legally airtight. We've found multiple loopholes, and now we’re in a position to challenge it, with or without Liam’s consent.”

She raised an eyebrow, trying to push past the swelling sense of panic. “But, if the divorce is finalized… does that mean..”

“It doesn’t matter. The clause was based on a marriage that was meant to protect your inheritance, not Liam’s. It was a misstep on your father’s part, one we can use to our advantage now.” Bruce took a deep breath, setting his shoulders. “That’s why I’ve been working with the best legal minds to make sure that you get everything you deserve, Amy.”

She stared at him for a long moment, her emotions threatening to burst through.

Bruce had been tirelessly researching, fighting in ways she never even considered, all because he believed in her.

The realization was like a punch to the gut. He’s been here for me. All along. In ways I couldn’t even see until now.

“You’ve really been doing all of this?” she asked, her voice small, vulnerable. “For me?”

Bruce smirked, but it didn’t hide the sincerity in his gaze. “I’m your friend, Amy. You don’t think I’d help you after everything?”

She shook her head slightly, disbelief washing over her. “But… I didn’t even know if I could trust anyone after everything that’s happened.”

“I get it,” he said, his voice a little softer now. “But I’ve always had your back, even when you didn’t see it. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Ames.”

Amy blinked rapidly, her chest tightening. There was a lump in her throat, but she swallowed it down.

“Thank you, Bruce. For everything.”

Bruce’s expression softened, and he gave her a half-smile.

"The board meeting will be a formality, but the real challenge will come after that. Once the clause is officially voided, the next step is getting your father’s estate back into your hands, and that’s where things get tricky. Liam is going to fight this, but with the legal team behind us, we can make sure you don’t lose anything.”

The weight of it all was beginning to hit her again.. the storm that was about to come. But she couldn’t afford to back down, not now.

Not after everything she’d fought for, everything she’d almost lost.

Bruce's voice interrupted her thoughts. “Also… there’s the flight to London. You’re scheduled to leave today. It’s time to set things up for yourself.”

Amy blinked. It was the final piece in her journey.. what she had been avoiding for months, even years. The escape.

“I’m going to be fine, right?” she whispered, almost to herself.

Bruce placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes unwavering.

“You’re going to be more than fine. You’ve got this.”

A surge of relief flooded her as she nodded, sensing the familiar feeling of determination beginning to surface. She had been knocked over, but she was prepared to rise and battle. No further running.

Bruce offered her a brief nod before rising and facing the door. "I'll ensure everything is prepared for you. Just remember, you’re not by yourself in this."

Amy observed him as he approached the door, her heart racing in her chest.

She grasped the tea again, the warmth anchoring her in the truth of everything.

However, just as he was about to twist the door knob, Bruce's phone vibrated, and upon looking at the screen, his complexion turned white. It came from the legal department.

The subject line of the email stated: “Important: Court Submission – Short-Term Delay on Inheritance.”

Amy felt a chill as she saw the look on her friend’s face.

“Bruce?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Bruce looked at her, his eyes locking with hers.

“I’m afraid it’s already happening. They’ve filed the motion.”

“Wh.. What?!”