A Fragile Claim

When we arrived at the shop, I got out of the car and watched as Enzo’s driver carefully helped him into his wheelchair. As I stepped into the antique shop, my chest tightened. The place was in chaos. Workers were everywhere, clearing things out. My books, my paintings. Everything I’d collected and loved was being packed up and hauled away.

Then I saw it. My office. My things, my private space, all being dismantled. Panic rose in me like a tidal wave. Without thinking, I rushed forward and grabbed the arm of one of the workers, desperate to make it stop

“ What do you think you're doing? This is my shop. You don't have the right to move anything.” I said, staring at the workers when suddenly, Sylas stepped out of my office, making me stagger in shock.

What was he doing? Samantha didn't tell me he was here.

“Lauren, I knew that you would come here the moment you heard that the antique shop was in danger. Too bad. This place doesn't belong to you anymore.” Sylas said making me clench my hand.

“ What do you mean this place doesn't belong to me? My grandparents left this shop for me. You cannot just take it.” I argued when Taylor suddenly appeared.

“ Are you dumb or stupid? You signed this shop over to us when you signed the divorce papers. Now, this place belongs to me and Sylas.” Taylor mocked before she leaned in to kiss Sylas in front of me.

I was beyond furious at this point.

“ This shop is the only thing that my grandparents left for me. Besides, I didn't want to sign those divorce papers. You forced me to sign it.” I argued.

Taylor let out a mocking laugh, her voice dripping with fake pity. "Oh, poor Lauren. Are you going to cry about it?"

"Get her out of here!" Sylas barked, his cold eyes narrowing as if I was nothing more than a nuisance.

Two men appeared at my sides, gripping my arms tightly. I struggled, twisting and pulling, but they were far stronger than I was. Taylor and Sylas stood back, laughing as they watched me fight.

Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the room, loud and sharp. I flinched, my heart pounding in my chest. Sylas’s expression changed, his eyes narrowing as he glanced behind me. The men holding me suddenly let go and I turned to see Enzo being pushed in by two men. My eyes landed on the man who had his gun out and Enzo who was in the wheelchair. His commanding presence filled the room making Sylas and Taylor scared.

“ This shop belongs to her. I'm not going to let you take it from her.” Enzo said suddenly making me stunned.

I couldn’t believe my ears. Was Enzo standing up for me?

“ You should learn to mind your own business.” Taylor snapped. ‘Lauren signed this shop to Sylas. We have the papers.” Taylor said coming to Sylas's defense immediately.

“ Liars!” I shouted unable to hold myself back. “Both of you forced me to sign them.”

“ Whether it's a lie or not, I think the court should decide that,” Taylor said smirking as if she had already won. “Besides, you're just a cripple. What can you do to stop us?”

Enzo's lips curved into a smile, and an unsettling feeling washed over me. Even though I wished for Sylas's demise, I didn't want it to happen in my shop. As I observed Enzo giving a signal, my gaze shifted to them. Taylor and Sylas's expression changed as they noticed Enzo's men advancing toward them.

Then, without warning, Enzo's driver and bodyguard moved forward, stepping between us and them with a quiet but firm authority. They were tall, broad-shouldered, and every bit as intimidating as Enzo. Reaching forward, they grabbed Taylor and Sylas forcing them to kneel in front of Enzo.

“You don’t get to take what isn’t yours,” Enzo said, his eyes never leaving Sylas and Taylor. “This shop will be returned to Lauren, and if you try anything else, you’ll regret it. Now, leave.”

After hearing Enzo's warning, Taylor and Enzo quickly nodded their heads, clearly frightened. Once they left, I breathed a sigh of relief as I watched Sylas’s car duge off. He used to take every opportunity to beat me and mistreat me because of Taylor, but in front of Enzo, he seemed like a frightened little puppy. When I noticed my grandparents' broken picture on the ground, I bent down to pick it up. This was not the conclusion. For all that Taylor and Sylas had done, I was certainly going to make them pay.

“ Thank you. For standing up for me in front of Sylas and Taylor.” I said to Enzo as I turned to face him. “ I won't forget it.”

“ Sylas works for the Ricciardi family. This shop was one of their fronts for laundering money. I didn't do it for you.” Enzo said coldly.

“It doesn’t matter if it was for me or not. Thanks to you, I have finally regained my shop.” I said, smiling at Enzo, and I could see his face unreadable as if he was thinking.

“ Is your baby okay? We didn't have time to go to the hospital yesterday.” Enzo asked making me surprised once more.

He seemed cold but he was so considerate. The fact that he remembered I had been through so much yesterday and was worried about my baby surprised me.

“I'll go after I clean up this mess. I need to make sure Sylas and Taylor didn't take anything. Taylor has always been jealous since childhood. I don't know what scheme she and Sylas will come up with next.” I said staring around the shop.

All I had now was the shop. No money, no cash, and no house. Sylas and Taylor had taken everything. Even if I wanted to run from Enzo, I didn't have the funds to do it.

“ Stefano, stay here and keep an eye on the place. After take her to the hospital and make sure they do a full scan on her to make sure nothing is wrong.” Enzo ordered.

I opened my mouth to talk but suddenly, the sound of my phone caught my attention. Staring at my phone, I stared at Enzo watching as his eyes piercing gaze was on me.

“ Hello, what's wrong?” I asked.

"Hello, Mrs. Freeman," my doctor said, her tone calm but serious. "I need to let you know about a mistake. It seems your test results were mixed up with someone else's. You’re not pregnant."

The words hit me like a punch. “I’m not pregnant?” I whispered, stunned. Turning, I caught Enzo’s piercing gaze, his expression unreadable.