Chapter 2

Olivia Chen wouldn't leave it alone. She followed Sarah to the hospital, her voice a constant, grating whisper in the sterile hallway outside Liam' s room.

"You should really teach your son to be more careful. Leo is a sensitive boy, this whole ordeal has been very upsetting for him."

Then she leaned in, her perfume cloying and cheap despite its price tag. "I heard your son' s grades aren' t the best. Not every child is destined for greatness. Maybe this is a good lesson for him."

Sarah didn' t react. She just stared at the closed door to Liam' s room, her face a mask of stone. Olivia mistook her silence for weakness.

"Look, I know you want more money," Olivia said, sighing dramatically. "It' s always about money with people like you."

Sarah finally turned to face her. She gave a small, chilling smile that didn' t reach her eyes. "You' re right. Let' s talk about compensation."

A doctor came out just then, his face serious. "He' s stable for now. The burns are significant, but we' ve managed to prevent any immediate danger to his eyesight. He' s very lucky."

Sarah nodded, her eyes still on Olivia. "Thank you, doctor."

She turned back to a triumphant-looking Olivia. "Let' s go to the parking garage. It' s more private. We can settle this there."

Olivia smirked, convinced she had won. She thought Sarah was finally ready to name her price, to be bought off like everyone else. She followed Sarah into the elevator, chattering about how generous David was, how he always took care of his responsibilities.

Sarah led her to the quietest corner of the underground garage, between a concrete pillar and a black SUV. The air was cool and smelled of gasoline.

"So," Olivia began, pulling out her checkbook again. "What' s your number?"

Sarah didn't answer. Two large men in dark suits stepped out from behind the pillar. They moved with a silent efficiency that was terrifying.

Olivia' s smirk vanished. "Who are these men? What is this?"

"My bodyguards," Sarah said, her voice flat.

Olivia laughed, a high, nervous sound. "Your bodyguards? Don' t be ridiculous. David would never-"

"They don' t work for David," Sarah cut her off. "They work for me."

Before Olivia could process the words, the men grabbed her. She screamed, but one of them clamped a hand over her mouth. They were rough, professional.

"You tell David about this!" Olivia shrieked, her voice muffled. "He' ll kill you! He' ll destroy you!"

One of the bodyguards chuckled. "Lady, we only answer to Mrs. Miller."

Sarah stepped forward and looked down at the struggling woman. "You mentioned Leo is a sensitive boy. I' m so worried about him. I' ve already had him sent somewhere safe."

Olivia' s eyes widened in terror.

"He' s with his grandmother," Sarah continued, her voice soft. "Eleanor Miller. I' m sure she' ll be thrilled to meet her other grandson."

With a swift, practiced movement, one of the guards gagged Olivia, silencing her panicked cries. The other guard held her arm still while Sarah reached down. Her fingers were cold and steady as she unclasped the emerald bracelet from Olivia' s wrist.

She held it up, the stones glittering in the dim light. Then she slid it onto her own. It felt heavy, real. It felt like it was finally home.