Chapter 5

The video doorbell chimed. Amelia glanced at the screen and saw Kellan standing downstairs.

She reached to decline, but froze when he dangled a familiar silver ring from a thin chain.

Her stomach dropped.

She had searched everywhere for that ring after the gala.

It was the only thing her birth parents had left her.

With no other choice, she went downstairs.

Kellan wasted no time. "The child you're carrying is mine, Ms. Fuller."

Amelia's pulse spiked. She stared at him warily, stunned he had tracked her down so fast.

His voice was ice. "But not just anyone gets to give birth to my heir."

The menace in his tone raised every hair on her body. She instinctively wanted to run.

Kellan read her like an open book and pinned her against the wall in one smooth move.

Trapped, Amelia shielded her stomach and glared up at him. "This is my baby, Mr. Hayes!"

He arched a brow, sharp eyes raking over her. "You're easy on the eyes, I'll give you that. Terrible taste in men, though. Divorce him. Marry me."

Amelia's jaw dropped. She wondered if she had heard wrong.

Seeing her disbelief, Kellan frowned. "What, you plan to let my child call another man Daddy?"

It took her several seconds to process.

He was acknowledging the child.

Still, she refused. "I will divorce Eduardo, but I'm not marrying you. This baby is mine and mine alone."

Something flickered in Kellan's eyes-surprise that anyone dared turn him down. "I'll remind you the child is half mine."

Amelia refused to back down. "I'm the one who's pregnant. I'm the one who'll suffer through labor. You contributed a few seconds of effort you didn't even know about. How exactly is this baby half yours?"

She twisted free, snatched the ring from his hand, and bolted back upstairs.

The door slammed behind her final answer in his face.

Kellan stared at the closed door. No anger, only a darker determination.

Amelia knew he wouldn't give up easily, but she pushed the thought aside and opened the surveillance feed on her phone.

The live stream showed the Wayne Group new product launch.

Eduardo stood on stage, all smiles. "Next, allow me to present a short film that captures the unique charm of our 'Voyager' collection!"

Every guest turned toward the massive screen.

The next second, explicit photos of Eduardo kissing Josie exploded across it.

The Wayne elders turned purple with rage. Josie went deathly pale.

More damning images followed in rapid succession.

Camera flashes erupted like fireworks.

"Mr. Wayne, do you admit to cheating on your wife and abandoning her?"

"Rumors say your marriage has been dead for years. Is this your public confession and divorce announcement?"

From her apartment, Amelia watched the chaos she had orchestrated and finally tasted sweet revenge.

But she sensed something different.

Then the financial alerts started pouring in.

"Wayne Group shares hit limit-down at opening bell after founder scandal."

"Breaking: Largest partner Macro Capital terminates all agreements effective immediately."

"Skyline Group, Far Reach Holdings, and seven other major partners withdraw from Wayne projects simultaneously."

She had only planned to ruin Eduardo's reputation and force the divorce through public pressure.

This was annihilation.

A text lit up her screen. It was from Kellan. "Consider the plunging stock price my small sincerity."

Another message followed instantly. "Someone just delivered a package to your door. Three days from now, come to the investment summit. Watch the show. I think you'll change your mind.

Amelia opened the box. Inside lay a metal badge engraved with a soaring eagle-the pass to the exclusive summit.

Beneath it rested an exquisite pink-diamond necklace clearly custom-made.

A card in bold, commanding script read: Only one-of-a-kind jewels are worthy of you.

Inside Wayne office, the atmosphere had never been grimmer.

"Find out who's behind this! Now!" Eduardo hurled a crystal tumbler against the wall as cancellation notices flooded in. The company teetered on the edge of collapse.

Josie wrapped her arms around him. "Don't worry, darling. I've already found a lifeline. In two days there's an investment summit. My uncle says a powerful overseas fund is looking for new markets. I managed to secure us entry."

Eduardo pulled her close. "You always take care of me."

Nestled against his chest, Josie hid her own panic.

She had burned every favor she had just to get them through the door. Everything now hinged on that single night.