Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Victory Tastes Bitter

Jaden's POV

The champagne bubbles tickled my throat as I raised my glass, watching the golden liquid catch the chandelier light. Victory had never tasted so sweet. Or so I told myself.

"To new beginnings!" Erica's voice rang out across the living room, her glass clinking against mine with a sharp, crystalline sound. She looked radiant, always did. That's what I'd missed during our years apart. That effortless beauty, that star quality that turned heads wherever she went.

"To finally getting what we deserve," I added, pulling her closer. She fit perfectly against my side, just like old times. This was right. This was always how it should have been.

"Oh, my darling boy!" My mother swept in, her arms wide, phone finally tucked away after documenting Melanie's dramatic exit. "I'm so proud of you. Finally free of that leech." She air-kissed both my cheeks before turning to Erica. "And you, my dear, welcome home. Where you always belonged."

Erica smiled that perfect smile she'd perfected for red carpets and camera flashes. "Thank you, Mrs. Oscar. It feels good to be back."

"Call me Mom, darling. You earned it. Not like that other one.."

"Can we not?" I interrupted, something uncomfortable twisting in my gut. "It's done. Let's just move forward."

My mother's eyes narrowed slightly, but she recovered quickly. "Of course, sweetheart. Forward is exactly where we're headed." She raised her own glass. "To the Oscar family, whole again at last!"

We drank. The champagne suddenly tasted slightly bitter. Betty appeared at the top of the stairs in her princess pajamas, rubbing her eyes. "Daddy? Is the yelling over?"

"Come here, baby girl." I set down my glass and opened my arms. She ran down, and I scooped her up. "No more yelling. Everything's peaceful now."

"Where did Mommy Melanie go?" Her small voice cut through the celebration like a knife. The room went silent. Erica's smile froze. My mother's glass paused halfway to her lips.

"She... she had to leave, sweetheart." I adjusted Betty in my arms, avoiding her eyes. "But you have Mommy Erica now. Remember?"

"But I want both mommies." Betty's lower lip trembled. "Mommy Melanie reads me stories. She does the voices funny."

"I can do voices too, precious." Erica moved closer, her hand reaching out to stroke Betty's hair. But Betty pulled back, burying her face in my shoulder. Erica's hand hung in the air for a moment before she dropped it, her jaw tightening. "Give her time, Jaden. She'll adjust."

"Of course she will." My mother's voice was overly bright. "Children are resilient. She'll forget that woman in a week."

"I won't forget!" Betty's voice was muffled against my shirt. "I don't want to forget. Mommy Melanie gives the best hugs.."

"That's enough." I set her down more firmly than I intended. "Go to bed, Betty. It's late."

"But Daddy.."

"Now."

She looked up at me with wide, hurt eyes, Melanie's eyes, I realized with a jolt. When had I started seeing Melanie in my daughter's face? Betty's bottom lip quivered, but she turned and ran upstairs, her small feet pounding against the marble.

"That was harsh," Erica murmured.

"She needs discipline. Melanie spoiled her." I grabbed the champagne bottle, refilling my glass more than necessary. "She'll be fine."

A small sound from the hallway caught my attention. David stood in the shadows near the kitchen, his face pale, arms wrapped around himself. How long had he been standing there?

"David? What are you doing up? You should be resting.."

"Where's Mommy Melanie?" His voice was flat, emotionless. Scarier than if he'd been crying. Not this again. "She's gone, son. We talked about this.."

"She's gone," Erica interrupted smoothly, moving toward him with that practiced grace. "And she's not coming back, David. I'm your real mommy now. I always was. You remember me, don't you? From when you were little?"

David stared at her, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded slowly. "I remember."

"Good boy." Erica's smile was warm, but something about it felt... off. Rehearsed. "Now, back to bed. You need your rest after that accident."

"It wasn't an accident," David said softly. "I was mad. I ran away. Mommy Melanie tried to save me.."

"Enough." My voice came out sharper than intended. "Bed. Now. Both of you, upstairs."

David flinched but obeyed, turning away without another word. I watched him disappear up the stairs, that uncomfortable feeling growing stronger in my chest.

"More champagne?" My mother's voice was too cheerful, too forced.

"Actually, Mom, can you give us a minute?" I looked at Erica. "I need to talk to Erica. Alone."

My mother's smile tightened, but she nodded. "Of course. I should check on the children anyway. Make sure they're settling in." She swept past us, leaving behind a cloud of her expensive perfume. The moment she was gone, Erica's smile dropped like a mask.

"We need to talk." She set down her glass with a sharp click. "Now."

"I know. Let me just.."

"You haven't transferred the assets yet." It wasn't a question. "Melanie's accounts are still frozen, not transferred. Her jewelry, her trust fund access, it's all still just locked down, not moved to us."

Us. The word settled heavily between us.

"It takes time, Erica. These things are complicated.."

"Complicated?" Her voice rose. "Jaden, we had a plan. I didn't come back just to play house and comfort your traumatized kids. I came back for what was promised." She stepped closer, her perfectly manicured finger jabbing at my chest. "I want her money. Every last cent she brought into this marriage. That was the deal."

"And you'll get it. I just need a few more days to work with the lawyers.."

"A few more days?" She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I put my career on hold for this. I risked my reputation coming back to you. The press is already circulating rumors. I need something to show for it."

"You'll get it…"

My phone buzzed. Then again. And again. I pulled it out, frowning at the screen. My lawyer. Calling at 10 PM. Never a good sign.

"I need to take this." I stepped away, pressing the phone to my ear. "Richard? What is it?"

"Mr. Oscar." Richard's voice was tense, clipped. "We have a problem. A big one."

My stomach dropped. "What kind of problem?"

"The Sterlings just filed an emergency injunction. They're freezing all your accounts, personal and business. They're claiming fraud, coercion, and financial manipulation regarding their daughter's assets."

The room tilted. "They can't do that. Melanie signed the papers.."

"They're arguing she signed under duress. And they have enough legal power to make it stick, at least temporarily. Mr. Oscar, as of an hour ago, you don't have access to any of your liquid assets. Your credit cards, your business accounts, everything's frozen pending investigation."

The champagne in my stomach turned to acid. "For how long?"

"Could be weeks. Could be months. The Sterlings have the best lawyers money can buy, and they're out for blood. They're also threatening a civil suit for and I quote 'emotional distress, manipulation, and systematic abuse of their daughter.'"

"That's ridiculous. She chose to leave her family.."

"Mr. Oscar, I'm just telling you what's happening. You need to prepare for a very expensive, very public legal battle. And in the meantime..." Richard paused. "In the meantime, I'd suggest you don't make any large purchases. Or any purchases at all."

The line went dead. I stood there, phone pressed to my ear, the silence screaming louder than any words.

"Jaden?" Erica's voice cut through my shock. "What did he say? When can we access Melanie's accounts?"

I turned slowly to face her. Her beautiful face was expectant, eager. Greedy.

"There's been a complication."

Her smile faltered. "What kind of complication?"

"The Sterlings filed an injunction. They've frozen... everything. My accounts. The business accounts. All of it."

The color drained from Erica's face, her carefully applied makeup suddenly looking garish against her pale skin. "What do you mean 'everything'?"

"I mean we're locked out. For weeks, maybe months, until their lawyers and my lawyers sort through.."

"No." She stepped back, shaking her head. "No, no, no. That wasn't the plan, Jaden. You said you had this handled. You said Melanie was nothing, that her family had disowned her, that getting rid of her would be easy.."

"They must have reconciled. Or maybe they just hate me more than they hate her.."

"I don't care about their family drama!" Erica's voice rose to a near-shriek. "I came back for the money. The lifestyle. The security. You promised me.."

"And you'll still get it. Once this is sorted out.."

"Once this is sorted out?" She laughed wildly. "Do you know how much debt I'm in? Do you know what I gave up to come back here? I turned down three movie roles, Jaden. Three! Because you swore this would be worth it. You swore she was loaded and we'd take everything.."

"We will.."

"When?" She grabbed her purse from the couch, her hands shaking. "When, Jaden? Because I can't wait months. I have creditors calling. I have a lifestyle to maintain. I have.."

"You have me," I said desperately, reaching for her. "Isn't that enough?"

She jerked away from my touch, her eyes cold. Calculating. Nothing like the warm, loving Erica I'd remembered. Or had I ever really known her at all?

"Is it?" She tilted her head, studying me like I was a balance sheet that didn't add up. "Because from where I'm standing, you're broke, your reputation is about to be destroyed by the Sterling family lawyers, and you have two traumatized kids who hate me." Her perfect lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Tell me, Jaden, what exactly do you have to offer?"

The question hung in the air between us like poison.

"Erica, please. We can figure this out.."

"Figure it out?" She slung her purse over her shoulder, her movements sharp, decisive. "No, you figure it out. And when you do, if you do—call me. Maybe I'll still be interested."

"What are you saying?"

She turned at the door, and for a moment, I saw something flicker across her face. Disappointment? Disgust? Then it was gone, replaced by that cold, professional mask.

"I'm saying if you can't deliver what you promised, maybe I backed the wrong horse."

The door clicked shut behind her. I stood alone in my living room, surrounded by half-empty champagne glasses and the ruins of my victory celebration. Upstairs, I could hear Betty crying. David's door slammed. My mother's sharp voice trying to soothe them. I'd won. I'd gotten everything I wanted. So why did it feel like I had just lost everything that mattered?