The Price of Power.

BLACKMOOR HEIR IN SECRET LEGAL BATTLE OVER UNBORN TWINS.

The first headline appeared before noon and Cassian's looked astonished as more notifications flooded in.

It was so strategic and seemed like someone wanted it public.

There was only one person who benefitted.

At the hospital, I sat up with a pillow behind my back, scrolling through my phone with shaky hands. There were photos, speculations and comments that were hurtful.

‘gold digger’.

'baby trap’.

'heir war’.

I dropped the phone angrily on the bed and Mary snatched it instantly.

“That's enough”,she said with emotion.

“You don't need to see all of that”.

Tears filled my eyes anyway.

“They are talking about my children”. I whispered.

“They will answer for it ok?” Mary said, squeezing my hands.

—--

Cassian arrived an hour later, his face red in fury.

“This wasn't an accident. She leaked it”. He said.

“Did you warn her?” He said softly.

“I..I did and she warned me back”, he replied grimly.

—-

There was another meeting with more lawyers.

“The board is split”, one lawyer said.

“Your father is pushing for damage control.”

Cassian furrowed his eyebrow in confusion.

“What does that mean?”

“It means”, the lawyer continued,

“He wants you to publicly distance yourself from Elowen.”

Cassian laughed coldly but humorlessly.

“No!” He said firmly.

“Well, Mr. Cassian, that is not negotiable.

Later that evening,Cassian told me that his father would try to remove me strategically with an offer.

I stared at him.

“What would you do about it?”

“I'd burn the world first”. He said immediately.

That statement was supposed to comfort me instead, fear crept in.

—----

Across the city, Mr. Blackmoor poured himself a drink.

“You actually raised him to be ruthless”, his advisor said.

“Now, he's using it against you”.

“No, he's still sentimental”.

A message came into his phone.

“The girl is the weakness”.

Mr. Blackmoor's eyes gleamed.

“Then we remove the weakness", he said calmly, smirking.

That night, Dr Wright delivered the final decision.

“I strongly recommend relocation”.

My heart jumped.

“But err…the court…” Cassian began.

“I know but staying visible puts her at risk”.

Dr. Wright said and Cassian left no arguments.

After the doctor left, silence filled the whole room. Cassian sat beside me and told me that if he moved me, there would be a break in the court restriction.

“And if we don't, I'd stay exposed”.

Our eyes met and Cassian nodded.

This wasn't about comfort. It was about survival.

My phone buzzed and it was a message from an unknown number.

“Your safety depends on leaving him.”

I showed Cassian.

“This is my father”, he said.

“Cassian?” I whispered trying to hold tears back.

“If staying with you puts the twins in danger…”

I couldn't finish the sentence. He looked at me and for the first time, he understood what living with me might cost him.

—----

The envelope came at dawn. It was a cream coloured and expensive one with the Blackmoor crest stamped at the corner.

Cassian stared at it like it was a loaded weapon.

“They are moving fast”. Mary muttered.

“What is it?” I inquired.

He didn't answer me immediately. He just crossed the room and placed the envelope on the bed between us and told me that it was an offer.

My chest tightened.

Inside were many documents.

Mary skimmed through the first pages, her eyes darkening at every page.

Mary then said that they wanted me to relocate to Korea and that hit me like a sledge hammer.

“In exchange”, she said slowly, “they will drop all public disputes, silence the press and guarantee full time support for the twins”.

My heart pounded. I asked her what the conditions were and she told me that I would have to sign an agreement stating that I have no romantic involvement with Cassian and he has no claim over me.

“What about the twins?”

His voice was low. I'd be named biological father but custody would be delayed”.

I stared at the paper and my eyes caught a sentence.

“In the event of non compliance,the safety and anonymity of the mother cannot be guaranteed”.

My hands trembled.

“They are threatening me”. I said as a drop of tear slid down my chin.

Cassian reached out for my hands.

“I won't let them hurt you”.

To me, Cassian looked cornered.

Later that day, his father called him again.

Cassian put it on a loud speaker.

And he asked Cassian if he had received the offer. Cassian replied coldly.

“You are threatening the mother of my children”.

“I'm protecting the family legacy”, his father said.

“She's a liability”.

“I am not…” I retorted.

Cassian stopped me .

Mr Blackmoor chuckled.

“You see, she already thinks she belongs”.

My stomach twisted.

“Reject the offer and I take this public”.

There was a brief silence.

“Then the accidents become real”.

His father said and ended the call.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I stood by the window, London lights glowing below.

Cassian watched me from the bed.

“You're thinking”, he said.

“I'm scared”, I admitted.

He joined me and wrapped his arms around me carefully and assured me that he would never let them hurt me and if staying with me puts the twins in danger, he would never forgive himself.

“I would never forgive myself if my love became the reason they suffered”. I said.

Cassian turned towards me and told me that it was not my burden to carry alone but the truth already sat heavy in my chest anyways.

My phone buzzed.

Another unknown number sent a video.

I hesitated at first and played it.

It was security footage of a woman stepping out of a clinic and that woman was ME.

And that was from weeks ago.

A caption was written under it.

“You are visible. Choose wisely”.

I almost fell but Cassian caught me immediately.

My mind was racing because for the first time, I understood that this offer wasn't just about control. It was actually about forcing a choice.

I looked at him with a shaky voice and teary eyes.

“Cassian, if I..I.. leave, promise me you won't think it means I stopped loving you”.

His heart shattered.

“Elowen…”

“I haven't decided,” I interrupted him.

“But I need you to understand something”.

I placed his hands over my stomach.

“These lives come first”.

Silence filled the room.