Chapter 3 Lines in the Sand

Vincent let me go, making me fall to the ground.

I groaned as I hit the floor, the shock rushing through my body faster than the pain. My palms scraped against the carpet and I looked up at him stunned. His face was cold and unreadable.

As if nothing had happened.

He bent slowly, picked up his phone and checked the screen. Hailey was still calling.

"I don't like games," he said, slipping the phone into his pocket. "Especially not from the people supposed to be helping me."

I pushed myself up, brushing off my dress. "That isn't a game. You were about to walk into a trap and I stopped you. You're precious girlfriend isn't who she says she is."

Vincent's expression changed as he walked up to me. "Don't talk about my girlfriend like that. I'm going to find another law firm to represent me."

I stood still, even as the sharp sting in my knees pulsed through me.

"I'm telling you the truth," I said quietly, steadying my breath. "You can go find another law firm. That's your right. But it won't change what's coming."

He paused just a few inches from me, towering, his jaw tight, eyes hard. "You don't know anything about her."

"I know she's the reason you went to jail," I replied, meeting his gaze without flinching. "She is the one that persuaded you into buying those lands, am I correct? It's not in your file."

" How do you know about that?" Vincent asked stunned as if he had just seen a ghost.

"Trust me. If you want to win this case, don't say anything to your girlfriend. Not a single information. Delmar Group is using her to get information on you." I said staring at him.

Vincent stared at me, his brows drawn tight, eyes dark with something between disbelief and suspicion. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. I could see it in his face. The war between logic and loyalty.

However I couldn't tell him anything. He wouldn't believe me.

"How do you know all this?" he asked again, his voice lower now. "No one outside my inner circle knew she was involved in that deal. Not even my secretary."

"I told you," I said, my voice calm. "This isn't the first time I've seen your case. I know how it ends. And I'm trying to make sure it doesn't happen again."

His hand ran through his hair as he stepped back, pacing the edge of my office. He wasn't the type of man to show confusion but right now, I could see the cracks.

"You really believe she's working with Delmar?"

"I don't believe," I said. "I know."

"Prove it," he said finally. "You have twenty-four hours. Show me one real piece of evidence linking her to Delmar Group."

"Deal," I said.

He turned to leave but paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder. "If you're lying-"

"I'm not," I said.

Vincent gave me one last look, then walked out, leaving the door open behind him.

I stood alone in my office, the ache in my palms dull now. Twenty-four hours wasn't much and I needed to find the truth.

*********************************

Walking into the house, I paused as I stared at the two women on the velvet couch.

Margaret Douglas. My mother-in-law.

And beside her was my sister-in-law, Clarissa. The same Clarissa who had looked down on me since the day I married her brother. The same woman who, in my past life, helped destroy everything I built.

But now, I wasn't that naive girl who sought approval.

Margaret turned her head, eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Well, look who finally decided to show up."

"Didn't realize I had guests." I said smiling faintly as I stared at them.

Clarissa stood, arms folded. "You weren't answering your phone. We were starting to think you were avoiding us."

"Should I have left a key under the mat instead?" I asked casually, walking past them to the kitchen. "Wait-never mind. You already let yourselves in."

Margaret's eyes narrowed. "Don't get smart with me, Lyra. We're family. Or have you forgotten that now that you wear designer suits and pretend to matter in court? Don't forget that you were nothing before you hired my son. Jason is the true talent of the law firm." She said proudly.

I clenched my hand angrily as I tried to hold back. In my past life, Margaret and Clarissa had done all sorts of things to me in the space of one year. From burning my face with iron to making me lose my baby. They had even gone as far as to humiliate me in public stripping me naked and calling me a jinx.

This time, I was going to take care of all of them. One after the other.

"You should just get to the point. No matter what talent Jason has, I am still the owner of the law firm. I built it from the ground to what it is." I said holding Margaret's gaze.

Clarissa walked up to me ready to strike me across the face. She always wore a gold ring that had some spikes. It had injured me before.

I didn't flinch. Not this time.

I caught her wrist mid-air, my fingers closing tight around her arm. The metal from her ring scraped against my palm, but I didn't let go.

"Try that again," I said, my voice low. "I dare you."

Clarissa's eyes widened. Shock. Fear. A flash of something that almost looked like doubt. She hadn't expected me to fight back.

"Let go of me," she hissed.

I shoved her hand away.

She stumbled back a step falling to the ground. Her body hit the ground with a loud thud making her groan in pain.

In my past life, I would have held out my hand to help her. Now, I wanted her to stay down.

Margaret rose from the couch slowly, like a queen. "How dare you?"

The door opened and Jason walked in, holding a couple of grocery bags. He stopped dead when he saw his mother standing tense and angry while Clarissa was sitting on the floor. His eyes landed on me.

"What's going on?" he asked sharply, dropping the bags.

"She pushed me," Clarissa whimpered, holding her elbow. "She just snapped."

I said nothing. My silence was louder than any words I could say. I didn't care.

Margaret stepped toward Jason, placing a hand on his arm. "She's lost it. We came here to talk like a family, but look at what she's turned into."

Jason stared at me for a long second. "Lyra, is that true?"

I met his eyes. "Ask her why she tried to hit me first."

Jason turned to Clarissa whispering something to her but I didn't care. I walked back to the living room and grabbed my bag heading to the door.

" Where are you going?" Jason asked as I opened the door.

I didn't answer him.

I was just about to walk to my car when someone pushed me from behind. Gasping, I lost my balance about to fall when strong arms caught me.

"Mrs. Douglas, are you okay?"

The familiar smell of rich and expensive cologne hit me making me look up at the man who had caught me. It was Vincent Vale.

What was he doing here? Our deal wasn't up yet.

Jason rushed out of the house and stood as he saw me in the arms of another man. Jason's jaw tightened as his eyes locked on Vincent's hand still wrapped around my waist.

Vincent glanced at him, then leaned closer to me, his voice calm but dangerous.

"We need to talk," he said. "Privately."

Then without waiting for permission, he pulled me toward his car right in front of my husband.

For the first time, I didn't resist.