From Prison To Prominence: Too Late, Ex-Hubby

"Prisoner 9305, you're free now. Take care of your baby, stay out of trouble, and don't come back here!" the corrections officer said.

Without saying a word, Emma Clark walked through the prison gates.

She walked away without looking back, determined never to return.

Dead leaves littered the road outside the prison, crunching beneath her feet with every step.

Late autumn had already settled in. Cold wind swept past Emma and sent a shiver through her body.

Ellie Clark, her daughter, stirred at the touch of fresh air. The baby soon began to squirm and cry.

"Easy, Ellie. Mommy's here, so please don't cry..." Emma tucked the baby securely against her chest and blocked the wind with her body. A bitter ache filled her chest as she looked down at her daughter.

Emma entered prison unaware of her pregnancy. She didn't discover the pregnancy until three months into her sentence.

Life behind bars had been brutal, and the constant bullying only made it worse. Ellie arrived far too early. Six months after her birth, she remained painfully tiny and weak. Her cries barely rose above the faint mew of a kitten.

Emma's eyes filled with tears as she leaned her forehead against Ellie's soft hair and whispered, "It's over, sweetheart. Mommy's bringing you home, and no one can keep us here anymore."

She carried Ellie onto the bus parked nearby.

At nearly the same moment, a black Cayenne glided to a stop outside the prison. Its rear window lowered and revealed Shane Holt's cold, sharply defined profile.

Shane watched the prison entrance while his fingers slowly traced his wedding band. His eyes revealed no emotion.

Someone on the bus looked familiar to the driver. He leaned forward and quickly said, "Mr. Holt, there she is. Ms. Clark has already been released."

He took another look, hesitated and quickly corrected himself. "No, that can't be her. She's carrying a baby."

Shane's attention shifted toward the woman on the bus. Something in her profile resembled Emma, yet her body looked far too thin and fragile.

That frail stranger could not be the stubborn, sharp-tongued woman he remembered.

His gaze moved away almost at once. Memory soon dragged him back eighteen months.

Eighteen months earlier, Emma and Shane had fought more viciously than ever before.

The reason alone didn't justify that much anger. It had all started because Emma believed the rumors accusing Shane of having an affair with her adopted sister, Joelle Clark.

Emma had caused an ugly scene and shoved divorce papers at him. Nothing he said could make her abandon her demand to end the marriage.

Her groundless accusations had already worn through Shane's patience, and her refusal to back down pushed him past restraint. Alcohol destroyed what little restraint he had left, and he forced himself on her.

That night's chaos returned to Shane's mind as he pressed tired fingers to his temples. Even now, he couldn't make sense of his conflicted feelings.

Their marriage had always been a practical arrangement. Shane needed an ideal wife to satisfy his family's demands and silence the public rumors surrounding his private life. For three years after their wedding, he'd never taken Emma to bed.

After the sex, Shane found himself disturbed by the realization that he wanted Emma closer than he'd expected. He'd assumed the encounter might finally ease the distance between them.

That hope didn't even last a day. By the next morning, news had spread that Emma had stolen confidential information from Holt Group.

The witness statements and physical evidence all implicated her, yet she still refused to admit any wrongdoing.

Shane's anger only intensified, but disappointment cut even deeper. Emma was already his wife. Why wasn't that enough for her? Why had she betrayed him?

Blinded by rage, Shane ordered the legal department to seek the maximum penalty. He rejected every settlement offer and insisted on the harshest sentence possible.

He'd always believed guilt deserved punishment, and that was how he excused what he'd done.

Eighteen months behind bars should've been enough to make Emma admit what she'd done and think twice before crossing him again.

His anger had cooled by now. If Emma accepted responsibility and showed that she'd changed, Shane was prepared to put everything behind them.

"We've been here for more than thirty minutes, Mr. Holt. Do you want to wait any longer?" the driver asked quietly.

The question dragged Shane back to the present. His expression immediately darkened.

He had even canceled an important meeting so he could collect Emma himself. Her failure to appear could only mean she was still trying to punish him with another act of defiance.

He gave a derisive laugh. If prison hadn't taught her to soften, he wouldn't lower himself any further.

"Take us back to Seashell Villa." Shane spoke coldly and raised the window. His face revealed nothing.

No one else would take Emma in after her release. Eventually, she'd have no choice but to return home, and Shane intended to see what she tried next.

When the Cayenne entered the villa courtyard, light from Emma's bedroom immediately caught Shane's attention.

So she'd returned on her own after all.

Shane climbed the stairs faster than usual, unable to suppress his urgency. All he wanted was to see what excuse that lying woman would offer after eighteen months apart.

Emma had returned to the villa with her baby an hour ago.

She had come back for only one reason-to collect her belongings.

Although she and Shane were not officially divorced yet, the moment he sent her to prison, their marriage practically ended.

"Ms. Clark?" The villa maid, Pamela Davis, spotted Emma and couldn't recognize her at first. It wasn't until she got a better look at her face that she spoke hesitantly. But as soon as she opened her mouth, her eyes turned red. "How did you end up like this?"

The Emma Pamela remembered was lively and radiant. She carried herself with the natural grace and confidence of a wealthy heiress.

Now, however, she was dressed in the plainest gray coat, while even her jeans had faded from wear.

Her once delicate face had grown pale from poor nutrition. Her eyes were deeply sunken, and her skin had lost its glow.

The eyes that had once sparkled with life were now filled with nothing but exhaustion and despair.

"Pamela." Seeing someone familiar from her past, Emma managed a faint smile. But when she saw the concern in Pamela's eyes, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Emma had believed that once she was released, she would be able to leave the pain and suffering of prison behind. She had never been afraid of hardship, but the moment someone showed her genuine concern, the emotions she had been holding back suddenly became too much to bear.

Perhaps sensing that her mother was upset, Ellie, nestled in Emma's arms, let out a few soft, babyish coos.

Emma quickly composed herself, forced back her tears, and cooed softly, "Good girl. Mommy is fine."

"And this is...?" Pamela finally noticed the baby in Emma's arms.

Emma had no intention of hiding anything from Pamela, who had once cared for her so sincerely. But if Shane learned about the child, it would only bring more trouble.

She pressed her lips together then asked flatly, "Where is he?"

Pamela stared at the baby for a moment, looking somewhat stunned. When she realized that Emma was asking about Shane, she quickly explained, "After what happened, Mr. Holt hasn't been staying here. Even when he comes back, he never stays for more than an hour. These days, I'm the only one here, taking care of the house. But now that you're back, Ms. Clark, that's wonderful. I've aired out the bedding in your room. Everything is clean and fresh."

Pamela wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes and smiled as she prepared to lead Emma to her room.

A warm ache filled Emma's heart, but she said, "Pamela, thank you. But I'm not coming back home today. I just came to collect my things."

She looked down at Ellie in her arms, and her heart softened. She had managed to save quite a bit of money over the years. Even without Shane, she could still give her daughter a good life. She might not be able to give Ellie a complete family, but she would do everything she could to protect her child.

"Ms. Clark, but..." Pamela looked helpless when she heard Emma was leaving. Her eyes filled with reluctance and an unspoken plea for her to stay.

Emma stood at the doorway and gazed into her room. Everything stayed exactly as she had left it. Even the ring on the vanity was at the exact spot she had placed it.

She took one final look around the place she had called home for the past three years then opened the drawer and took out her identification documents and bank cards.

Her gaze fell on the marriage certificate she shared with Shane. She pursed her lips then said, "I wanted to divorce him that very night. In my heart, we've already been strangers for a long time."

As for everything the Holt family had given her, from jewelry and designer clothes to luxury handbags and phones, she left it all behind. She took only the things that truly belonged to her.

"Why are you putting yourself through this? Actually, Mr. Holt..."

"Pamela..." Emma interrupted her. She didn't want to hear anything about Shane.

"Thank you for taking care of me for three years. Right now, I just want to live a quiet life with my child, away from anyone who might bother us."

Her words came from the heart. Pamela looked at Emma, then at Ellie in her arms, and could only sigh.

Suddenly, the sound of a car came from downstairs.

Emma's expression changed at once. At this hour, there was only one person who would come back to the villa. And that person was Shane. Without hesitation, she tightened her hold on the baby and turned to the door.

Knowing that Emma desperately wanted to avoid Shane, Pamela grabbed her wrist and quickly guided her down the other side of the stairs to the door that led to the backyard. "Leave through here. Mr. Holt won't know you were here."

Realizing that this might be the last time they ever saw each other, Pamela wiped away her tears as she looked at Emma's thin, fragile figure. "Ms. Clark, don't worry. I won't tell anyone that you came here. Please take good care of yourself."

Emma's eyes reddened as well. She didn't want to leave Pamela, but if she stayed any longer, she might lose her chance to get away.

She bit her lip before finally turning away. She left with the baby in her arms, never once looking back.

The moment Emma left, Shane pushed the door open. A cold aura emanated from him. But by then, there was no sign of Emma anywhere in the house.

The large picture window stood open before him. The autumn breeze swept in from outside, carrying away the last trace of Emma's scent as the white curtains billowed.

Shane appeared calm but beneath that calm exterior, his anger was barely contained.

"Mr. Holt, there seems to be a problem with the surveillance footage." His assistant, Charles Mitchell, who had followed him inside, had already pulled up the villa's security footage.

Shane glanced at the screen coldly. The footage had been edited so poorly that there were obvious gaps everywhere. Whoever had done it clearly thought they could make a fool of him.

"Pamela." He looked toward Pamela and his voice turned chilling.

"Mr. Holt, do... do you need something?"

Shane fixed his gaze on her. "Where is she?"

Pamela visibly tensed under his stare, and his expression grew even colder.

Remembering Emma's request, Pamela lowered her head and pretended not to understand. "I don't know what you mean, Mr. Holt. Who are you asking about?"

"Pamela, stop trying to help Ms. Clark. Your daughter and her family all depend on Mr. Holt for their stable life. Do I really have to tell you which side you should be on?" Charles's voice was calm, but the threat behind his words was clear.

He couldn't believe Pamela was still trying to cover for Emma. Couldn't she see that Shane was furious?

"I..." Terror seized Pamela, leaving her caught in an agonizing mental battle.

"I'll tell you!" When she saw Charles already making a call to the human resources department, Pamela's legs went weak. She collapsed onto the floor, trembling. "I'll tell you everything. Please, don't fire my daughter..."

Pamela silently begged Emma for forgiveness, her eyes still red and swollen from crying.

"Ms. Clark returned and went straight to her room to collect her identification papers and bank cards. Right afterward, she walked out and took a cab. That's everything I know, Mr. Holt. I swear..." Pamela couldn't bear the guilt any longer and slowly sank to the floor.

Shane remained silent, his icy gaze making the air feel heavy.

Charles shot him a quick look and pressed on, "Ms. Clark trusts you more than anyone. How can you have no idea where she went? You're still hiding something from us, Pamela!"

"I swear she didn't tell me where she was going. Maybe... maybe she returned to the Clark Estate!"

She couldn't hold back her tears as she pleaded with Charles. "I've given you every detail I have, Mr. Mitchell. My daughter and her family had nothing to do with this, so please don't go after them. I'll do anything. Just leave them alone!"

Pamela's desperate pleas became too painful for Charles to watch. Eventually, he stepped toward Shane and spoke with respectful caution. "Mr. Holt..."

The room fell silent as Shane's gaze swept over every corner. His jaw tightened, and the fury radiating from him filled the room with crushing pressure. Charles groaned inwardly in frustration. If Emma didn't stay at this house after her release, where else could she have gone?

The lack of answers dragged Shane into an even darker mood. Once he was back in the car, Charles cautiously asked from the front passenger seat, "Would you like me to contact the Clark family and find out if she's with them?"

The city glittered beyond the window while traffic continued along the busy streets. Yet Shane felt nothing but bitter cold and emptiness inside.

Emma had never shared a close bond with her parents. More often than not, they treated each other with open hostility. Even so, she still chose the cold, miserable life at the Clark Estate instead of coming back to him. To Shane, that was the last straw. He'd put up with her defiance long enough.

His eyes turned cold before he gave the order. "Freeze every asset and property registered under her name. Make sure no company is willing to give her a job either."

Sooner or later, Emma would run out of options and come back to plead for his forgiveness.

Charles was stunned by the order. The rearview mirror gave him only a shadowed glimpse of Shane, and his expression remained impossible to read. Even so, the bitter chill inside the car made one thing clear: Shane was truly furious with Emma.

If they carried out that order, Emma would have nowhere left to go. Wouldn't that be forcing her into a corner?

Charles gathered all his courage before speaking up for Emma, though doubt still crept into his voice. "Ms. Clark may only need some time alone after her release. She'll probably come home once she's had a chance to clear her head..."

"Enough, Charles," Shane cut in before he could finish. The warning in Shane's sharp gaze pinned Charles in place. "Do you want me to send you off to join her?"

Charles felt a shiver of unease and forced a weak smile. "I'll take care of it right away, Mr. Holt."

"This is exactly what she deserves," Shane said. His clipped tone held no mercy.

That answer made Charles retreat, and he didn't dare defend Emma again.

Nothing had alerted Emma to what had happened at Seashell Villa after she had left. As the taxi carried them onward, she watched Ellie sleep peacefully in her arms. The sight filled her with tenderness.

Emma brushed a gentle kiss across Ellie's forehead. Relief brought a soft smile to her lips.

Nothing mattered more to her than being there to watch Ellie grow. If life granted her one more wish, she hoped she'd never have to face Shane again.

"Crestview Apartments, miss. This is your stop," the cab driver announced.

Emma climbed out of the cab and held Ellie close. Warm lights glowed across the peaceful complex around them.

A property in Crestview cost tens of millions, but Emma had paid for her unit herself before she was imprisoned.

This was where she and Ellie would build their new life together.

Emma had barely reached the entrance when Ellie's cries shattered the quiet. The baby rarely cried without a reason, so Emma knew she had to be uncomfortable.

One quick check confirmed that Ellie's diaper was soaked through. Emma smiled reassuringly and searched her bag, but she'd already used the final spare.

"Shh, sweetheart. Mommy's going to get you some clean diapers. You'll feel much better in a minute," Emma whispered as she headed toward the upscale supermarket near the complex.

"It's so nice to see you again, Ms. Clark." The clerk welcomed her with a warm smile.

Emma used to live in Crestview before marrying Shane, and she came to this supermarket often. Seeing the clerk recognize her after all these years took her by surprise.

Emma smiled and nodded in response. Keeping Ellie tucked safely in one arm, she used the other to grab a few packs of diapers and some formula. After getting everything she needed, she made her way to the checkout counter.

"That'll be thirty-four thousand."

The supermarket mostly sold high-end imported products, so the prices didn't bother Emma. She pulled out her bank card and handed it to the clerk. The clerk politely swiped it, but the payment didn't go through. With an apologetic look, the clerk gave the card back to her. "I'm sorry, Ms. Clark, but this card doesn't seem to be working."

Since the card had gone unused for so long, Emma blamed the problem on a damaged magnetic strip. Concern never crossed her mind as she continued calming Ellie and tried every other card in her bag. The terminal rejected every card, which caught her off guard.

"I'm afraid every card you've tried has been frozen, Ms. Clark," the clerk murmured.

The clerk's words made Emma clutch the cards harder. Her face lost all color. Shock locked her in place, and she couldn't move.

Shane had to be the one behind this!

His ruthlessness went beyond anything Emma had expected. He'd known she was getting out today, yet he'd chosen that exact moment to cut off her access to every account. Why would he do this to her? Hadn't eighteen months behind bars for a crime she didn't commit already been punishment enough?

The clerk's face softened with concern. Emma's eyes were red from holding back tears, while Ellie kept crying in discomfort. The heartbreaking sight of the mother and child stirred the clerk's sympathy.

Dressed in plain clothes, Emma looked worn out and exhausted. It was clear she had been through difficult times. The clerk let out a quiet sigh and reached beneath the counter. She took out a few sample packs of diapers and two cans of formula, then handed them to Emma.

"You don't need to pay for any of this, Ms. Clark. They're free samples, so please take them."

The clerk's kindness brought fresh tears to Emma's eyes. Her situation left no room for pride, so she accepted the supplies.

Emma struggled to steady her voice. "I can't thank you enough."

By the time Emma headed home, it was already eleven that night. The late-autumn air was cold and damp, and a sudden gust cut through Emma's clothes.

Emma hugged Ellie closer each time the wind blew, trying to keep the cold away from her. She couldn't stop sighing as she walked home.

Shane had locked her out of every account she owned. How was she supposed to care for Ellie now? Could they possibly survive with no income and no savings left?