Chapter Six

“You should be glad she’s doing all the hard work for you. Childbearing is hard work, you know,” Her mother Lauren Ashford said to her daughter. "Besides, with your weight, it will only make you worse."

“Are you serious right now?” Amara ran a frustrated hand into her hair as she stood. “I’m telling you what Brandon has been doing, how I’m treated, and how he almost killed me, and that’s your response? You’ll only believe me when he returns me in a body bag!?” She half screamed.

Amara had left her marital home and rushed to her mother’s house. Even though she wanted to go to a hotel, she couldn’t because the press would get wind of her marriage being on the rocks, and that would affect their stocks.

Even though Brandon showed his infidelity in public, he used the excuse of having a child and everyone sympathized with him. After explaining the humiliation and pain she had been experiencing, Amara expected her mother to call her back home and warn Brandon if a divorce was not possible at the moment, but to her surprise both her parents didn’t seem moved like nothing was new.

It was a normal thing between couples.

“Look, these things happen. You can still work it out. Just wait a little while, Brandon will definitely come back to his senses. Not having a child for such a long time can drive one insane. So instead of complaining and finding fault in everything, apologize to him and get along with Kate. She can’t be that bad.” Her father stepped in.

Amara’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. She turned to look at her father and mother in their eyes, not believing the nonsense that was coming out of their mouths, “Are you saying it’s my fault we’ve not had a child?”

“A fertility test wouldn’t hurt honey. I mean, you’re in this mess because of not having a child, right? So why not check it out? Maybe that will make Brandon love you like he did.” Her mother pointed out.

“I don’t believe this. Are you hearing yourselves?” Amara asked, still in disbelief. “I don’t know why I even came here!” She stood, grabbed her bag, and walked away.

Her mother shared a look with her father, “It’s for the best that they stay together.” He said as he squeezed Luaren’s hands. 

Furious with nowhere to go, she got into her car and applied concealer on her neck and eyes to cover her bruises. She had not worn any makeup earlier because she wanted to show her parents what she was going through, but it seemed they had only gotten greedier, “I doubt I’m their real daughter.” Amara whispered to herself as she applied the makeup.

She sat in the car to think about what she would do next. Clearly, she was on her own and needed to get herself out of the sham of marriage before Brandon killed her, or worse, Katherine poisoned her. After trying so hard to fix her marriage, Amara gave up and wanted a divorce. 

She remembered how Selene had mentioned that Lucian had great connections and was a powerful man, ‘If a man like him can have my back, then I’ve got a chance at getting out of this mess.’ She thought as she pulled out the note from earlier.

At the back of it was a number. She dialed it with a pounding heart, “Hello?” A deep voice answered.

“Lucian?” She asked.

“Who is asking?” He responded gruffly in his deep sexy voice, which notified Amara that she had woken him up.

“It’s uhm, Amara. You sent me soup?” She posed in a more questioning phrase.

He chuckled, “What can I do for you?” Lucian asked.

“I need your help. Can we meet? I’ll send you the address. I know you’re very busy but-” Amara was cut off.

“I’ll be there.” He responded and cut the call.

. 

************

Thirty minutes later, Amara was sitting in her usual restaurant, where she went when she wanted some privacy because of the booths. She was writing Selene an apology text when a scent that she had begun to know so well hit her nose and when she looked up, a fresh Looking Lucian offered her a smile as he sat next to her, 

“Mrs Foster,” He greeted.

Amara’s heart skipped a beat as she watched him take a seat, “Mr. Rostova” She responded, “Please call me Amara. That name will no longer be mine to use.” She added.

“Why is that?” Lucian asked as he tried to mask the smile that wanted to spread on his face. He was so frustrated when he learned that she was married and thought she called him over to plead for him to speak to her husband because he might have misunderstood things but upon hearing those words, he relaxed.

“That doesn’t seem like a bad idea.” He offered her one of his gorgeous smiles as he leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you?”

Amara sighed as she went on to explain what she was going through and how she needed his help to process the divorce because she would be fighting a losing battle if she did it on her own. Lucian listened attentively and locked his jaw in anger as he listened to what she had been through.

“So, will you help me?” She asked after she finished narrating.

“I had my suspicions, but I can see that i was right.” He said.

“Why did you suspect something was wrong?” Amara asked as she tried to keep her voice steady, the atmosphere was electric, and the tension was strong.

Lucian leaned close and looked at her lips for a second before holding her gaze, “That’s for another day. As for your husband, he’s an asshole and I’ll be more than happy to help.” 

A sigh of relief escaped Amara, 

“But,” Lucian continued, making Amara’s heart sink.

“But?” She edged him on.

“On one condition.” He said.

“What condition?” Amara asked.

Her heart was beating wildly in her chest as she waited for the condition. She had to make the deal work, especially with how violent Brandon had become. She had to leave. But she knew fighting him could cost her everything, so she had to play smart, and by his ruthless reputation, Lucian Rostova seemed like her best shot.

“Be my wife for a year, and I’ll help you get your divorce and your revenge. You can outline what you want and don’t want. I will never lay a finger on you, no, fuck that, I will never let anyone lay a finger on you. I just need you to carry my name for a year. You can decide the rest” He explained.

That was the least of the things Amara expected from him. She held his gaze and searched for any lies or mockery but when she found none, the confusion in her head only increased.