All Chapters of Reborn to Destroy Him: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Shaw's words hung in the air like a death sentence."An offer I can't refuse," I repeated. "That sounds like a threat.""It's not a threat. It's a business proposition." Shaw stood up and walked to the window. Looked out over Central Park like he owned it. "You want to destroy Brock Hamilton. I want to protect my investment. These goals are not mutually exclusive.""I'm listening.""Brock is weak. He's desperate. He just lost two million dollars to a con artist—yes, I know about that. I know about everything." Shaw turned to face me. "He's also drowning in debt to a very dangerous man. Salvatore doesn't forgive. Doesn't forget. And Brock has twelve days to pay him twelve million dollars he doesn't have.""What does this have to do with me?""You're going to help me take control of Magnificence. Legally. Completely. Brock will sign over his shares. His creative director position. Everything. And in exchange, I'll pay his debt to Salvatore. I'll save his life."I stared at him. "You wan

The cease-and-desist letter arrived by courier at 9 AM, just as I was making Emma breakfast.I signed for it, set it on the counter, and finished pouring Emma's orange juice before I opened it.The letterhead was expensive. Heavyweight paper. Embossed logo. Sterling & Black, Attorneys at Law. One of Manhattan's most prestigious firms."Dear Mrs. Bethany Nott,We represent Gregory Shaw and Shaw Ventures Capital in the matter of intellectual property rights related to Magnificence Fashion House.Our client legally invested $5,000,000 in Magnificence Fashion House in exchange for equity ownership and rights to all designs, patterns, and intellectual property associated with the brand. This includes, but is not limited to, the fifty-piece collection scheduled for launch, all derivative works, and all future designs created under the Magnificence name.It has come to our attention that you are claiming ownership of said designs and have made public statements asserting theft. These claims

Marcus drove in silence for twenty minutes before I finally spoke."We need to get Emma somewhere safe. Somewhere neither Shaw nor Salvatore can find her.""Where? Every place we know, they can find. Every friend, every relative—""Not every friend." I pulled out my phone and scrolled through old contacts. Found a name I hadn't called in five years. "Rebecca Morrison. We went to design school together. She moved to Vermont after graduation. Married a farmer. Completely off the grid. No social media. No public records connecting her to me. Brock never met her.""Will she take Emma?""She has three kids of her own. She always said if I ever needed anything..." I dialed before I could second-guess myself.A woman's voice answered, warm and surprised. "Bethany? Is that really you?""Rebecca. I need help. Serious help. I can't explain everything over the phone, but my daughter Emma needs somewhere safe to stay. Just for a little while. Somewhere no one can find her."Silence. Then: "How ba

I held Emma for a long time at Rebecca's farm. Just breathing her in. Feeling her small body pressed against mine. Letting the reality sink in that she was safe."Can we go home now, Mommy?" Emma asked, pulling back to look at my face."Soon, baby. Very soon."My encrypted phone rang. Marco."Mrs. Nott. Mr. Hamilton has barricaded himself inside the cabin. He's refusing to come out. Mr. Salvatore is here now. He'd like to speak with you."I stepped away from Emma, into Rebecca's kitchen where she couldn't hear."Put him on."Salvatore's smooth voice came through. "Mrs. Nott. Your delivery was successful. Mr. Hamilton is inside the cabin with nowhere to go. But he's making this more difficult than necessary. Perhaps you could encourage him to cooperate?""Why would he listen to me?""Because despite everything, he still believes you care. Use that. Get him to open the door peacefully. It will be easier for everyone.""And if I refuse?""Then we do this the hard way. More violence. More

Two weeks after my visit to Brock's hospital, I received legal papers by courier.I was making Emma breakfast when the doorbell rang. A process server with official documents."Bethany Nott? You've been served."I signed for them with a sick feeling in my stomach.Inside the envelope: a petition for custody modification. Brock was suing me for joint custody of Emma. Maybe even primary custody.I read through the documents twice, my hands shaking."Petitioner Brock Hamilton seeks to establish parenting time and custody rights with his minor daughter, Emma Hamilton. While Petitioner acknowledges past difficulties, he has completed rehabilitation, established stable employment, and is ready to resume his parental role. Respondent Bethany Nott has demonstrated patterns of alienation and has made unsubstantiated allegations against Petitioner that have poisoned the father-daughter relationship..."I called Diana immediately."He's suing for custody. After everything. After Salvatore. After