Chapter 36: United Protection

The mood in Lucas's firm's security briefing room felt like a wartime strategy session. Emma was safe at the estate with Elena, happily coloring, thinking it was a fun sleepover with her great-grandma. Meanwhile, Mikel and I were staring at some pretty disturbing evidence on the table.

"She's been watching you for three weeks," Detective Sarah Martinez said, pointing to surveillance photos that made my skin crawl. "We found these on Sophia Chen's devices, along with logs of your family's routines."

Looking at the photos of Emma leaving school, Mikel at the store, and me grabbing coffee on Tuesdays, I felt exposed. It was like our private moments were being studied under a microscope.

"How did she get so close without us noticing?" Mikel asked, his voice dangerously low.

"She's been careful—using different cars, wearing wigs, using long-distance lenses." Detective Martinez pulled out another folder. "But today's incident at the school gave us a reason to search her place. What we found suggests this goes beyond just watching."

The evidence from Sophia's apartment was laid out in bags—tons of photos of Mikel from years ago, printed and marked-up articles about our family, and a copy of Emma's school schedule with notes. Most disturbing was a timeline, marking every time Mikel and I interacted with red ink.

"She's planning something," I said, looking at the obsessive details. "This isn't just watching; it's getting ready."

"Getting ready for what?" Mikel asked, stepping closer and placing a protective hand on my back.

Detective Martinez and Lucas exchanged a look. Lucas had been quietly going over the evidence. "We found letter drafts, apparently meant for Emma. They were from her 'real mother' who supposedly loved her more than you do."

My blood ran cold. "She was going to turn Emma against me?"

"It seems she was working toward some kind of direct interference, maybe trying to convince Emma she belonged with Sophia and Mikel."

The messed-up logic made me sick. Sophia had created a fantasy where she was Emma's true mother, and I was the outsider.

"There's more," Lucas said grimly, grabbing his laptop. "Show them the video, Sarah."

Security footage from across the street from Emma's school showed Sophia sitting in her car for hours, watching the playground through a telephoto lens. Apparently, she'd been there six times in the last two weeks.

"She knows Emma's schedule better than the teachers," Detective Martinez said. "She noted who Emma plays with, when she goes to the library, even which bathroom stall she uses."

Mikel clenched his fist. "She's planning to take Emma."

"We think so. Her apartment had maps of routes from the school to places like a cabin she rented in the mountains under a fake name."

The realization hit me hard. Sophia wasn't just watching Emma; she was planning to kidnap her and create a twisted fantasy family with Mikel.

"What now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"We've already got a restraining order. Sophia can't be within 500 feet of any of you, including Emma's school," Detective Martinez said, closing the folder. "But Bella, restraining orders are just paper. They won't stop someone who's lost it."

"So, what do we do?"

"We ramp up security to match the threat," Lucas answered. "Emma gets a bodyguard at school, your house gets upgraded, and you both learn to spot when you're being watched."

Mikel leaned forward. "Lucas, I want Emma protected around the clock, no matter the cost."

"It's already set up. But this kind of security changes things. Emma can't just walk to the playground or have playdates without supervision. All her movements need to be coordinated with security."

I thought about Emma's simple joys—riding her bike, playing with friends, getting ice cream. Sophia's obsession was stealing even those little things.

"How long?" I asked quietly. "How long do we live like prisoners?"

"Until we can prove Sophia isn't a threat anymore, or she gets the help she needs," Detective Martinez said tactfully.

Mikel's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and showed me the screen: *You can't protect her forever. Emma deserves better than a mother who keeps her from her real family.*

"Burner phone," Lucas said, already tracking the number. "She's breaking the restraining order right away."

"Legal stuff won't stop her," I said, feeling fear and anger. "What if she tries to grab Emma anyway?"

"She'll be arrested for kidnapping," Detective Martinez said. "But we're going to make sure it doesn't get that far."

Another text on Mikel's phone: *Tell Bella I know about her little secret. The one that would ruin her reputation if it came out.*

I stared, confused and anxious. "What secret?"

"Doesn't matter," Mikel said. "She's just trying to mess with us. It's a classic trick."

But I was already doubting myself. What if Sophia had found something I'd forgotten, some mistake from the past that could be used against me?

A third text: *Ask her about the Sterling Industries contract from three years ago. Ask her how she really got that deal.*

My stomach dropped. Three years ago, I won a big contract with Sterling Industries, which helped my company a lot. But I'd won it fair and square.

"Bella," Mikel said, seeing my face. "Whatever she's saying, it doesn't matter. You've never done anything wrong in business."

"But what if she's twisted something to make it look like I did? What if she's faked evidence?"

"We'll deal with it together. Don't let her scare you."

Detective Martinez looked concerned. "Is there anything in your business that could be misunderstood?"

I thought about the Sterling contract, trying to remember everything. I had the best proposal and did great work. But in business, there are always rumors about how deals happen.

"Nothing illegal," I said. "But in business, how things look can be just as bad."

"That's what she's counting on," Lucas said. "Sophia is attacking you from all sides—Emma's safety, your business, and your relationship with Mikel. She wants you to panic."

My phone rang, Elena's ringtone.

"Emma is safe and drawing dolphins with her new security detail," Elena said. "But I have to warn you. Thomas is asking around about your business. He's working with someone to get information on you."

"Working with Sophia?"

"Maybe, or using her as a distraction while he does his own thing. But whatever they find, remember that this family protects its own, always."

After I hung up, the room felt heavy.

"They're working together," I said. "Sophia isn't just obsessed; she's teaming up with Thomas Romano."

"That changes things," Detective Martinez said. "Thomas has resources that Sophia doesn't. It's a bigger deal if they're working together."

Mikel stood up and looked out the window. "They want to break us apart, cause so much stress that we turn on each other."

"Will it work?" I asked.

He turned to me. "Only if we let it. Bella, I don't care about the evidence or accusations. I know who you are, that Emma is safe with you, and that we're stronger together."

His words calmed me. "Even if they ruin my business?"

"Even if they ruin everything. As long as we have Emma and each other, we can start over."

I looked at Mikel, who had come back into our lives recently and was ready to risk everything for us.

"What's our game plan?" I asked.

"Emma gets round-the-clock protection, your house becomes a fortress, and you change your routines," Lucas said. "Long term, we gather evidence of harassment, build a case, and make them pay for what they're doing."

"And if they try something?"

"We'll be ready. But you have to understand that protecting Emma will limit her freedom. She can't have a normal childhood right now."

I thought about Emma's drawing—our family in a bubble. Even at five, she knew that safety meant some restrictions.

"Whatever it takes," I said. "Emma's safety is worth it."

"Agreed," Mikel said. "But we can't let them scare us into hiding. Emma needs to see that we're protecting her without being afraid."

Detective Martinez gathered the files. "We'll keep watching Sophia and tracking her. If she breaks the restraining order again, we'll arrest her."

"What about Thomas?"

"Elena's lawyers are on it. But business battles are different from personal attacks. It's going to be tricky."

After the meeting, Mikel and I were alone in the parking garage, trying to process everything.

"You okay?" he asked, looking at me.

"I'm terrified—for Emma, for our business, for everything."

"Hey," he said, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Look at me."

I looked into his eyes and saw my fear, but also determination.

"We've been through worse than this. We survived five years apart, lies that ruined our marriage, and Emma's medical stuff. We can handle this."

"Can we? What if they turn Emma against me? What if they destroy everything?"

"We'll rebuild it, over and over if we have to." He wiped away tears I didn't know were there. "Bella, I'm not going anywhere this time. Whatever happens, we're in this together."

After years of doing things alone, the idea of having someone to rely on felt overwhelming.

"I love you," the words slipped out, honest and scary.

He was surprised. "Bella..."

"I know it's too soon, but I can't keep pretending this is just about Emma. I love you. I never stopped, and I'm done being afraid."

Instead of panicking, his face softened. "I love you too. More than I did before, more than I thought possible after everything."

We kissed, a mix of hope and resolve.

"We're going to get through this," he said. "All of it. Sophia, Thomas, the business attacks, Emma's security—together, we'll get through it."

"Promise?"

"I promise. And Bella, when it's over, when Emma is safe and they're stopped, I want to marry you again. The right way this time, with Emma as our flower girl and no secrets."

It should have scared me, but it felt right. "Are you proposing in a parking garage while we're being stalked?"

He laughed. "I'm saying I want forever with you, no matter how messed up things are now. When things calm down, I want us to be a family legally too."

"Ask me again when Emma is safe, when we've won this," I said.

"I will. And I know what you'll say."

As we drove home separately, as required by our new security protocols, I thought about Emma's earlier question: "Will the sad lady make Daddy go away again?"

Not if I could help it.

Sophia and Thomas wanted to break our family, but they'd messed up.

They'd given us something worth fighting for.

And this time, we had no intention of losing.