Chapter Thirteen: Desperate Measures

AVA

The next morning, I made a decision. Elena had to go. I found her in the kitchen, preparing what looked like a complicated breakfast for Eli involving organic everything and measured portions.

"Elena, we need to talk."

She looked up from the blender where she was making some kind of green smoothie. "Of course, Mrs. Blackwood. What can I help you with?"

"I'm letting you go."

Elena's hand paused on the blender. "I'm sorry?"

"Your services are no longer needed. I'll give you two weeks' pay, but I want you gone by this afternoon."

Elena set down the measuring cup and turned to face me fully. Her expression was perfectly calm, almost amused.

"Mrs. Blackwood, I don't think you understand how this works."

"I understand perfectly. You work for this family, and I'm part of this family. I'm firing you."

"You can't fire me."

"Of course I can. I'm Eli's mother."

"But you're not my employer." Elena's voice was patient, like she was explaining something simple to a confused child. "Mr. Blackwood hired me. Only he can terminate my employment."

"Then I'll talk to him."

"You do that." Elena turned back to her smoothie preparation, completely unbothered.

I marched to Liam's study and knocked harder than necessary on his door.

"Come in."

"I want Elena gone."

Liam didn't even look up from his computer. "Good morning to you too, Ava."

"I'm serious. I want her fired. Today."

"Why?"

"Because she's taking over my role as Eli's mother. Because she's giving him sleep medication without my consent. Because she treats me like I'm some kind of intruder in my own son's life."

"Elena follows the routine I established. If you have a problem with that routine, we can discuss modifications."

"I don't want modifications. I want her gone."

Now Liam looked up. "That's not going to happen."

"Why not?"

"Because Elena is excellent at her job."

"Her job is supposed to be helping me with Eli, not replacing me!"

"Her job is ensuring Eli receives proper care and education. If you felt threatened by that, perhaps you should examine why."

"I feel threatened because she's undermining me at every turn!"

"Or maybe you feel threatened because she's showing you how much you don't know about child development."

His words stung, but I pushed forward. "I know my son better than some stranger with fancy degrees."

"Do you? Because Elena has transformed Eli's sleep schedule, improved his behavior, and started his educational development. What exactly have you contributed since we moved here?"

"Love. Comfort. The things a mother provides."

"Elena provides structure. Discipline. Preparation for his future. Those are more valuable than feelings."

"You can't seriously believe that."

"I know it. Elena has proven results with children from prominent families. You have no experience except accidental pregnancy."

The cruel words hit their mark, but I forced myself to stay focused. "Fire Elena, or I'll take Eli and leave."

Liam's expression turned dangerous. He stood up slowly, his full height towering over me.

"You'll what?"

"You heard me. If Elena doesn't go, we do."

"Really? And where exactly would you go?"

"Anywhere. Back to my apartment, to my sister's, it doesn't matter."

"With what money? You don't have a job anymore, remember? You don't have savings. You don't even have a car."

"I'll figure it out."

"Will you? Because the last time I checked, you couldn't even afford groceries for a week."

"I'll get another job."

"Who's going to hire a woman with no college degree, no professional experience, and a gap in her resume?"

"Someone will."

"Maybe. Minimum wage, if you're lucky. Is that the life you want for Eli? Some cramped apartment, daycare, you working two jobs just to pay rent?"

"At least I'd be with him!"

"For how long? Until social services decides you can't provide for him properly?"

"That won't happen."

"Won't it? Single mother, low income, unstable housing. They take children away for less."

My hands were shaking now. "You can't keep me here against my will."

"I'm not keeping you anywhere. You're free to leave anytime you want."

"But not with Eli."

"Eli stays here."

"He's my son!"

"He's my son too. And I can provide for him in ways you never could."

"Money isn't everything!"

"It's most things. Food, shelter, education, healthcare, opportunities. All the things you can't give him."

"I can love him!"

"Love doesn't pay for college tuition."

I felt tears building behind my eyes. "You're being cruel."

"I'm being realistic. Elena stays. If you don't like it, there's the door."

"What about our marriage? What about trying to make this work?"

"This is it working. You have a beautiful home, financial security, and access to your son. Elena helps ensure Eli receives the best possible care. Everyone wins."

"Except I feel like a prisoner in my own life!"

"Then maybe you need to adjust your expectations."

"My expectations of being treated like Eli's mother?"

"Your expectations of controlling every aspect of a situation you're not qualified to manage."

I stared at him, seeing clearly for the first time how little he thought of me. "You really believe I'm that incompetent?"

"I believe you're well-meaning but inexperienced. Elena has the education and expertise to properly guide Eli's development."

"And what about what I want?"

"What you want is irrelevant if it conflicts with what's best for Eli."

"According to who?"

"According to me. I'm his father, and I make the decisions about his upbringing."

"We're supposed to make decisions together! We're married!"

"We're married on paper. That doesn't make you qualified to override my judgment about our son's needs."

"So my opinion doesn't matter at all?"

"Your opinion matters when it aligns with Eli's best interests."

"As defined by you."

"As defined by results. Elena gets results."

I felt my control slipping away entirely. "This isn't a business transaction! This is our family!"

"Everything is a business transaction, Ava. The sooner you learn that, the easier your life will be."

"That's the most horrible thing I've ever heard."

"It's the truth. You married me for financial security. I married you for legal access to my son. Elena works for us because we pay her well. Victoria maintains our relationship because it's mutually beneficial. Everyone gets what they need."

"What about love? What about caring about each other?"

"Those are luxuries for people who can afford them."

I felt something break inside me. "You're empty. Completely empty inside."

His face hardened. "I'm practical."

"You're broken."

"I'm successful."

"At the cost of your humanity!"

"Success requires sacrifice."

"Not everything! Not your capacity to love your own son!"

"I love Eli enough to give him every advantage possible, even if it means making unpopular decisions."

"You love the idea of him! The heir, the legacy, the continuation of your empire! You don't love him as a person!"

"That's enough." His voice turned dangerously quiet.

"Is it? Because I don't think you've ever loved anyone in your entire life!"

"I said that's enough."

"Victoria doesn't love you either, you know. She loves your money, your status, your connections. Just like Elena doesn't care about Eli, she cares about her paycheck!"

"Stop talking."

"The only person in this entire penthouse who actually cares about anyone else is a two-year-old boy, and you're systematically destroying his capacity for genuine human connection!"

Liam moved faster than I expected. His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist, his grip tight enough to cut off circulation.

"You're nothing without me," he said, his voice deadly calm. "Remember that."

His fingers pressed into my wrist so hard I gasped. For a moment, I saw something terrifying in his eyes, not just anger, but the cold calculation of someone who could hurt me and never feel guilty about it.

"Let go of me."

"You don't get to lecture me about love or family or humanity. You're here because I allow it. Elena stays because I want her to stay. And you'll accept both those things or you'll discover exactly how little power you actually have."

He squeezed harder, and I couldn't help the small cry of pain that escaped.

"Do we understand each other?"

"Yes."

He released my wrist and stepped back, smoothing his tie like nothing had happened.

"Good. Elena is taking Eli to the park this afternoon. You're welcome to join them if you can be civil."

I cradled my wrist against my chest and left his study without another word.

Later that evening, after Eli was asleep and Elena had retired to her room, I stood in front of the bathroom mirror examining my wrist. Dark purple bruises were already forming where his fingers had pressed into my skin.

I stared at those bruises and realized something that made my blood run cold.

Liam wasn't just controlling and manipulative. He was dangerous..