ANMELDENAmelia’s POV (Third Person) "I think we need to talk about us, Amelia. Really talk." Lucas's calm, steady voice broke the evening silence. They stood on the private balcony of Amelia's secure coastal apartment, watching the city lights shine across the dark ocean. A cool breeze blew in from the water, carrying the salty scent of the sea. Behind them, the sheer white curtains moved gently in the wind. Inside, Zane was fast asleep after his happy first day at his new school. For once, the apartment was completely peaceful. Amelia turned to look at Lucas, her dark eyes reflecting the city lights. He leaned casually against the polished wooden railing, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms. The warm light from the living room highlighted his handsome features. "What's on your mind, Lucas?" Amelia spoke softly, holding her warm mug of tea between both hands to keep them warm in the cool evening air. Lucas turned to face her, his dark eyes filled with emotion. His gaze made her heart
Amelia's POV (Third person )"Sign here, Miss Reynolds, and collect your personal belongings from the bin on your left," the corrections officer grunted, sliding a metal clipboard across the cold intake counter.Olivia's hands shook as she signed the papers. She was no longer wearing the gray prison jumpsuit. Instead, she wore the simple linen blouse and trousers she had on the day she was arrested. After signing her name, she collected her leather handbag and rings from the plastic tray.The heavy security gates of the Central Women's Detention Center groaned open, revealing the bright morning sky.Olivia stepped into the courtyard and squinted against the sunlight. She was finally free. With the help of the legal clearance provided by Amelia's lawyers, the state prosecutor had reduced her charges to three years of supervised probation, community service, and the surrender of all her assets.At the bottom of the concrete steps, a simple silver sedan waited with its engine running. Th
Amelia's POV ( Third person)"Are you sure you want the stars on the side, or right on the front, Zane?"Amelia knelt beside the velvet bench in the hallway and adjusted the straps of Zane’s new navy-blue backpack. Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, highlighting the school crest embroidered on his uniform. It belonged to St. Jude’s Preparatory Academy, a quiet, highly secure private school on the coast.Zane patted the side pocket of his bag with a proud, beaming smile. "On the side, Mommy! So everybody can see them when I walk!"Amelia laughed softly, genuinely happy. She leaned forward and smoothed Zane’s messy dark curls, then checked his grey trousers and clean white polo shirt one last time.Across the entrance hall, Lucas waited by the open front door, holding a small leather folder containing Zane’s medical records, custody papers, and school enrollment documents. He looked calm and alert, ready to protect them without getting in their way."The administrative
Amelia’s POV (Third Person)Silence filled the entrance hall. Outside, the autumn wind battered the high-rise windows, but inside, everything remained still.Lucas instinctively stepped forward, placing himself between Amelia and Marcus to protect her. "Explain yourself, Marcus. And choose your next words very carefully."Marcus didn't move. He stood in his dark wool overcoat, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Amelia. He paid no attention to Lucas standing between them.Unlike the usual arrogance of the Cole family, Marcus seemed haunted and completely exhausted."You knew?" Amelia asked, her voice dangerously quiet, cutting through the silence like a sharp blade. "You sat at our dinner table during those holiday galas at Elmwood. You watched me drink that tea. You saw me wither away while Nathan paraded his secret family in front of the board, and you said nothing?""I couldn't," Marcus spoke in a low whisper, his rough voice breakin
Amelia's POV"He isn't coming back, Zane," Amelia said softly, her voice remarkably calm and gentle despite the sharp, painful sting in her chest.She wrapped her arms around the trembling four-year-old and held him close as they sat together on the soft living room rug.Across the room, Lucas stood quietly, his expression serious and thoughtful. He didn't interrupt them. He understood that this was a moment between Amelia and her son. She needed to help Zane understand the truth in a way his young heart could handle.Zane pulled back a little, his large, tear-filled eyes searching Amelia's face for an answer he could understand."Why?" Zane sniffled, wiping his nose with the cuff of his star-patterned pajamas. "Was I bad, Mommy? Did I make him mad at the big house?""Oh, no, my darling. No, never," Amelia whispered fiercely, cupping his warm, rosy cheeks in her hands and looking straight into his eyes. "You were never bad. You are the sweetest, best boy in the whole world, and nothin
"Are we going anywhere today, Mommy? Can we stay here?"Zane looked up from the living room rug, holding a wooden block in his small hand. The coastal apartment was filled with warm morning sunlight. For the first time in four years, the home felt peaceful, free from the pain and fear of Elmwood.Amelia knelt beside him with a gentle smile and straightened the collar of his blue pajamas, which were covered in little stars."We can stay right here for as long as we want, sweetheart," Amelia answered softly, her voice steady and warm. "No one is taking us anywhere. This is our home now."Zane gave her a wide, gap-toothed smile before returning to his block fortress, unaware of the legal battles that had changed their lives.Across the room, Lucas left the floor-to-ceiling window and walked over to the mahogany console table. He rested his fingers beside a thick envelope containing certified copies of the estate deeds and the final legal pap







