Chapter Eighteen: Breaking Point

AVA

I ran from Liam's study, their laughter following me down the hallway. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely turn the doorknob to my bedroom. Once inside, I collapsed against the door and let the tears come.

Everything was falling apart. My marriage was a lie, my son was being drugged, and now they wanted to have me declared mentally incompetent. I felt like I was drowning, and every time I tried to surface, someone pushed me back under.

But then I thought about Eli. Sweet, trusting Eli who didn't understand why Mama seemed sad all the time. Eli who was being turned into a quiet, compliant version of himself with daily doses of sedatives.

I couldn't let that continue. Even if it meant losing everything else, I had to protect him.

I pulled out my suitcase and started throwing clothes into it. Not everything that would take too long and look too suspicious. Just enough for a few days while I figured out my next move.

I had some cash hidden in my jewelry box, money I'd saved from the allowance Liam gave me. It wasn't much, but it might be enough to get us somewhere safe. Maybe I could call my sister in Phoenix, ask her to wire me money for bus tickets.

"Mama?"

I spun around to find Eli standing in the doorway, still wearing his little jacket from the walk with Elena.

"Hi, sweetheart. Come here."

He toddled over to me, his eyes wide as he looked at the suitcase. "Mama going somewhere?"

"Maybe. Would you like to go on a trip with Mama?"

"Where do we go?"

"Somewhere fun. Somewhere we can eat ice cream for breakfast and play in the park all day."

Eli's face lit up. "Really?"

"Really. But it has to be our secret, okay? Can you keep a secret?"

"I'm good at secrets!"

"I know you are. Now, let's pack some of your favorite toys."

I moved quickly, grabbing Eli's clothes and stuffing them into the suitcase. His favorite stuffed elephant went in first, then the picture books I'd managed to read to him despite Elena's objections.

"Mama, why are we keeping secrets?"

"Because sometimes grown-ups don't understand what's best for little boys."

"Elena always knows what's best."

The automatic way he said it made my heart break. "Sometimes Elena is wrong, sweetheart."

"Elena is never wrong. Elena smart."

I knelt down to his level. "Eli, do you remember when we lived in our old apartment? Just you and me?"

He nodded, though I could see he was struggling to remember.

"Were you happy there?"

"I think so. We had pancakes."

"We had pancakes every Sunday. And we read stories in bed, and we sang silly songs."

"I like silly songs."

"I know you do. And we're going to sing them again, okay?"

I zipped up the suitcase and took Eli's hand. "Come on, baby. Let's go."

We made it halfway to the elevator before Elena appeared.

"Mrs. Blackwood? Where are you going with Master Eli?"

"We're going out."

"With luggage?" Elena's eyes narrowed as she took in the suitcase. "I don't think so."

She pulled out her phone and began dialing. I knew she was calling Liam.

"Elena, please. Just let us go."

"Master Eli, come to me right now."

"No," Eli said, surprising us both. "I go with Mama."

"Master Eli, you need to listen to Elena."

"I listen to Mama!"

It was the first time I'd heard him defy Elena, and pride swelled in my chest. But Elena's expression turned cold.

"Mr. Blackwood? Yes, it's Elena. You need to come home immediately. Mrs. Blackwood is trying to take Master Eli somewhere with a suitcase."

Within minutes, the elevator doors opened and Liam stepped out, followed by two security guards I recognized but had never spoken to.

"Ava, what do you think you're doing?"

"Taking my son somewhere safe."

"Safe from what?"

"From you. From Victoria. From Elena and her drugs and this whole twisted situation."

"Put down the suitcase."

"No."

"Ava, you're being irrational."

"I'm being a mother."

"You're trying to kidnap my son."

"He's my son too!"

"Not if you're declared an unfit parent."

Eli started crying, scared by the raised voices and the strange tension in the room. I picked him up, trying to comfort him.

"It's okay, baby. Everything's going to be okay."

"No, it's not," Liam said, nodding to the security guards. "Take the child."

"What? No!"

One of the guards stepped forward. "Ma'am, please hand over the boy."

"Get away from us!"

"Mama!" Eli clung to me, crying harder.

"Please, Liam. You're scaring him."

"You're scaring him. This erratic behavior, these wild accusations, trying to run away in the middle of the day."

"I'm trying to protect him!"

"From what? A loving home, the best education money can buy, a secure future?"

"From being turned into an emotionless robot like you!"

Liam's expression turned dangerous. "James, take the child. Now."

The security guard reached for Eli, who screamed and held onto me tighter.

"Please don't do this," I begged. "He's terrified."

"He's reacting to your panic. Once you calm down, he'll be fine."

"I won't calm down! You're ripping my child away from me!"

"I'm protecting my son from his unstable mother."

James finally managed to pry Eli from my arms. My son's screams echoed through the penthouse as Elena took him from the guard.

"Master Eli, it's alright. Elena's here."

"Mama! I want Mama!"

"Mama needs some quiet time," Elena said, carrying him toward his room.

I tried to follow, but the second security guard blocked my path.

"Let me go to him!"

"That's not going to happen," Liam said. "David, escort Mrs. Blackwood to her room."

"My room? What are you talking about?"

"You're clearly having some kind of breakdown. You need time to rest and recover."

"I'm not having a breakdown! I'm reacting normally to an insane situation!"

David took my arm, his grip firm but not painful. "Ma'am, please come with me."

"Liam, you can't lock me in my room like a child!"

"I can do whatever is necessary to protect my family."

"I am your family!"

"You're a woman I married for legal purposes who is now proving to be a liability."

David guided me toward the bedroom while I struggled against his hold.

"Please, let me just say goodnight to Eli. He's scared and confused."

"Elena will handle it."

"I'm his mother!"

"You're his mother when you act like a rational adult. Right now, you're acting like someone who needs professional help."

We reached my bedroom door, and David gently but firmly pushed me inside.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Blackwood," he said quietly. "Just following orders."

I heard the click of the lock and felt my world collapse completely. I pounded on the door, screaming for them to let me out, to let me see my son.

"Liam! Please! He needs me!"

"What he needs," Liam's voice came through the door, "is stability. Something you clearly can't provide right now."

"How long are you going to keep me locked up?"

"Until I decide what to do with you."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you've forced my hand, Ava. I tried to make this work, but you've proven that you can't handle the responsibilities of being part of this family."

"So what happens now?"

"Now I make arrangements for your future. Arrangements that may or may not include continued access to Eli."

I slid down the door and sat on the floor, the reality of my situation hitting me completely. I was locked in my own bedroom, cut off from my son, with a husband who was discussing my future like I was a problem to be solved.

Through the walls, I could hear Eli crying for me. "Mama! Where is Mama?"

Elena's voice was patient and professional. "Mama is resting, sweetheart. She'll see you when she's feeling better."

"I want Mama now!"

"I know. But sometimes we have to wait for what we want."

I pressed my face against the door, tears streaming down my cheeks. My son was twenty feet away, calling for me, and I couldn't reach him.

I was a prisoner in my own home, and the people who claimed to love Eli were systematically destroying his bond with the one person who loved him unconditionally.

For the first time since this nightmare began, I understood exactly how dangerous my situation really was..