Chapter 5 What Lies Beneath

The sound of glass shattering echoed through the marble hallway.

Amelia froze.

Somewhere downstairs, something had broken-and it hadn't been an accident.

She descended the stairs slowly, heels silent on the polished floors. When she turned the corner into the drawing room, Julian stood with his back to her, fists clenched at his sides, and a crystal decanter in pieces by the fireplace.

"What happened?" she asked cautiously.

He turned around. His expression was tight, unreadable.

"Carlisle pulled out," he said. "Your charm didn't last."

She flinched at the bite in his voice. "What do you mean?"

"I mean he requested to renegotiate terms without you in the room. Said he found you too... distracting."

Amelia stepped forward, anger rising. "So I'm being punished for doing exactly what you asked?"

"I asked you to charm him, not make him want to buy you instead of the deal."

The accusation was venomous.

She moved closer. "You think I encouraged him?"

"I think you don't even realize what you're doing anymore," Julian said, voice low. "To men like him. To me. To my brother."

Amelia's chest tightened.

"You said you trusted me to do this."

He took a step toward her, and then another. "I trusted you until I realized you weren't just bait anymore. You're leverage."

Her throat went dry. "So now what? You cast me aside like a failed investment?"

Julian reached out and gripped her chin. "No, Amelia. Now I make sure no one else gets to touch you again."

She wrenched away, eyes flashing. "You don't own me."

Julian's eyes darkened. "Don't I?"

Before she could reply, Victoria entered the room like smoke, silent and sudden.

"Enough," she said sharply. "This tantrum is beneath you."

Julian turned to his mother, jaw still tight.

Victoria looked between the two of them. "Our deal with Carlisle was weak from the beginning. You let your personal interests blur your judgment, Julian. That's your failure, not hers."

Julian didn't respond. He didn't have to.

Victoria turned to Amelia. "And you... were predictable. Men are simple. Use that knowledge next time. Don't let it turn into chaos."

Amelia stood still, letting the venom slide over her like armor.

"You think you're protecting this family," she said to Victoria. "But all you're doing is poisoning it."

Victoria's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Darling, that's exactly how protection works in this house."

Leo found her in the library later, curled on the leather couch, a half-read book in her lap and a storm in her eyes.

He didn't ask what happened. He never needed to.

Instead, he walked over and sat beside her, his thigh brushing hers, his energy calm and coiled like a predator choosing peace-for now.

"I don't know how much longer I can stay here," she murmured.

"Yes, you do," Leo said. "You're still here because part of you wants to win. Not just survive-win."

She looked at him. "Against who?"

"Against all of us."

She laughed bitterly. "That's the problem, isn't it? I didn't come here to compete. But now I'm the prize."

Leo turned toward her fully. "No, Amelia. You're the weapon."

And he kissed her again-not rushed or stolen this time, but deliberate. Slow. Tasting every inch of her like he needed it to breathe.

She kissed him back.

But as soon as her fingers curled into his shirt, the door creaked.

Julian stood in the threshold.

And the silence that followed cracked the world in two.

Leo didn't move. He just turned his head toward his brother and said, "Guess now you don't have to wonder."

Julian didn't speak. His eyes stayed on Amelia's swollen lips, her flushed skin, the guilt bleeding through her chest.

Then he left.

And this time, he didn't slam the door.

The house changed after that.

Julian stopped looking at her. At Leo. He became colder than usual-clinical. Calculating. There were whispers among the staff, rearranged meetings, security clearances changed.

One night, Amelia opened her laptop and found half her access revoked from the company portal.

Another night, her phone disappeared and came back reprogrammed.

He was cutting her off.

Leo tried to intervene.

"You don't want to start this war, Julian," he said one evening, their voices raised in the west wing hallway.

"Why not?" Julian snapped. "Because you've already lost?"

"No. Because you're angry at her for something you couldn't stop."

"You think this is about jealousy?"

"It always has been," Leo growled. "Since we were kids."

Julian's laugh was cold. "No, brother. This isn't about you getting the girl. This is about her choosing the wrong side."

Amelia stayed hidden behind the column, her heart breaking in silence.

Days later, she was called into Victoria's private suite.

The older woman stood by the window, a glass of wine in her hand, the city lights glittering below them like false promises.

"You've caused quite a disruption," Victoria said calmly. "Julian is practically frothing."

"I didn't plan this," Amelia said. "And I'm not a threat."

Victoria turned, one brow raised. "Not yet."

Amelia crossed her arms. "What do you want from me?"

"A choice," Victoria said. "Leave now with a generous settlement and a contract that keeps your mouth shut. Or stay-and watch this house turn on you completely."

"And if I stay?"

Victoria's smile was all knives. "Then you belong to us."

Amelia didn't flinch. "I already do."

Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Then survive it."

That night, Julian came to her again.

He didn't knock.

She turned, heart racing. "What do you want?"

Julian stepped inside, calm but dangerous.

"I've been thinking about the kind of man I am," he said. "And I've realized something."

Amelia backed up a step. "What?"

"I don't forgive betrayal."

She shook her head. "This isn't betrayal, Julian."

He moved closer, trapping her between the bed and his body. "Isn't it? You let me open you. I let you into everything. And then you gave it to him."

Tears stung her eyes. "I didn't mean-"

"You didn't stop it."

Amelia swallowed. "And you didn't stop using me."

He tilted his head. "No. I still won't."

Then he kissed her-hard, brutal, possessive. And she let him. Because part of her wanted to feel power again. Even if it came wrapped in obsession.

When he pulled back, his voice was ice.

"You want to play both of us?" he whispered. "Then don't be surprised when you lose us both."

He left her room as silently as he came.

And Amelia stared at the door for a long, long time.

She was no longer surviving the storm.

She was becoming it.