<b>Chapter </b><b>54 </b>


    “… Zachary stared at his own hands in shock, herified by what he’d just done. He quickly moved to help Sandra up. “Sandra, I didn’t mean to do that.”


    Sandra’s tears


    Hell


    cares about her.”


    as she felt utterly humiliated ‘Zachary did that on purpose, she thought. ‘He’s only acting this way because Amelia’s pregnant. He still


    But Sandra knew better than to say any of that out loud. Some things were better left buried–like Zachary’s ongoing affair with Elizabeth. Dwelling on it would only make things worse, like twisting the knife already lodged in her heart.


    The fear that Zachary might suddenly stop loving her, that he might leave her, was paralyzing. It squeezed her heart in a vice like grip.


    “Zachary, you. You could have hart out baby” Sandra whimpered through her tears, ton afraid to say anything more.


    “Shh, don’t cry. Let’s go home,” Zachary said softly, carefully helping <b>Sandia </b>into the car. But as he did, a sinister thought began to form in his mind.


    “Sandra’s only three months along, and she’s already so delicate, Zachary thought. And Amelia’s pregnancy is even riskier, if she were to take a tumble


    For once, Sandra kept her word and stayed <b>away</b>. Zachary had vanished from her life, too. Without their disturbance, Amelia found herself breathing easier, her days notably brighter.


    Herlite fell into <b>a </b>simple routine just home and work, nothing else. At the office, Amelia threw <b>herself </b>into her projects with renewed energy, and at home<b>, </b>she devoted herself to taking care <b>of </b>Landon,


    The painful menfiories of her past life were finally beginning to fade, like walking from a bad dream to find none of it had been real


    Everything seemed salvageable <b>now </b>and<b>, </b>better yet, firmly under her control. Things were falling into ce exactly as she’d nned. Her onlyint was the constant backache from crashing on the couch every night


    Amelia came up with a solution–buy another bed. After all, now that she was “pregnant“, it would make perfect sense for her not to share a bed with


    Landon


    After work that day, Amelia headed to the furniture market to <b>look </b><b>for </b>a new bed.


    “Get out of my way” a familiar voice suddenly barked from behind her. Before Amelia could react, a forceful shove


    nt her tumbling to the ground.


    “Dot,” Amelia cried out. The fall had knocked the wind out of her, and she stayed sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath.


    “Who the hell dares to block my–Oh shit. Amelia? is that you?” Henry eximed, quickly reaching out to help her up.


    Amelia tensed the moment <b>she </b><b>saw </b>him. “Henry?!


    What an


    are you doing here?“


    “Just got back in town. Thought Id browse for a new table,” Henry replied smoothly, but his eyes held a predatory gleam as they lingered on her stomach. “And what brings you hero, Amelia?”


    “Shopping


    for a bed.“Amelia struggled to her feet, steadying herself against <b>a </b>nearby piece of furniture


    A calcting look crossed Henry’s face as he thought, ‘Gloria agreed to them sleeping in separate rooms that has to be proof of the pregnancy!


    Henry silently thanked Zachary for the heads–up that had brought him home early. There was no chance in hell he’d let Ame carry Landon’s baby to


    term


    “No,” Henry thought <b>viciously</b>. “Landan doesn’t get to have an heir. Not now, not ever‘


    “You took a quite a tumble there,” Henry said, his voice honeyed with artificial concem. “Sure you’re okay?”


    08:10 <b>Wed</b><b>, </b>4 Jun


    aught the way his eyes kept darting to her midsection, Understanding dawned on her. She Amelia opened her mouth to brush off his concern but


    he ground pretty hard. My abdomen’s really hurting” instinctively wrapped an arm around her stomach and said, “Actually, I hit


    “Let me <b>take </b>


    e you to the hospital,” Henry insisted, reaching for her arm without waiting for her response.


    Amelia colled in horror, violently yanking her arm away from his grasp. “No need. Brooke will take


    “Brooke’s here?” Henty jerked his hand <b>back</b>, fear shing across his face.


    “Hmm?” Amelia pulled out her phone and made a call. “Tooke, what’s taking you so long? I’m ready to head home. <b>Yeah</b>, I’m in Section Don the third floor, by all the bedroom stuff”


    Her acting was convincing enough that Henry bought itpletely. “Well, if Brooke’s with you, I’ll leave then,” he said hurriedly before making a quick


    Once he <b>was </b>gone, Ameba copsed onto one of the disy beds, wiping sweat from her forehead. Her heart was still racing–from both the pain and close call.


    That was close, Amelia thought, feeling relief wash over her. ‘If I hadn’t managed to fool Henry and he’d taken me to the hospital, my fake pregnancy would have been exposed!”


    She shuddered at an even darker thought, “He might have even followed Zachary’s example and used a misdiagnosis as an excuse to remove my uterus -to resolve their problem permanently.”


    The memory of her misdiagnosed hysterectomy sent waves of fear through Amelia, leaving her thoughts in turmoil. ‘Even with this second chance at life. I may have escaped the <b>Edwards </b>and Fosters, but <b>am </b>really in control of my own life <b>now</b>! she wondered with a heavy heart


    She had once believed so, but now her confidence was shaken. The world would show no <b>mercy</b>, and <b>she’d </b>have to watch her back more carefully than


    <b>ever</b><b>. </b>


    “Mrs. Kingsley.” Brookee running up, her expression grave, Seeing Amelia sitting alone, she visibly rxed. “Mrs. Kingsley, are you alright?” she asked with genuine concem.


    “I’m okay,“Amelia <b>said</b>, her eyes


    down.”


    swelling <b>up </b>with tears <b>at </b>the sight of Brooke. Seeing her felt like finding a life raft in a storm. “Henry just pushed me


    Brooke, a few years older, spoke softly, “Henry came back early… I’m afraid news of your pregnancy might have leaked. He won’t let this go easily. From now on, I’m going with you everywhere.”


    “But wouldn’t that be too much trouble? Amelia felt awkward about the suggestion Brooke was already so dedicated to protecting her at work, it didn‘ seem right to impose on her personal time after hours.


    “It’s no trouble at all, Brooke assured her, carefully helping her stand. “Mrs. Kingsley, let me take <b>you </b>to the hospital.”


    “No, really, I’m fine,” Amelia mumbled, looking down at her feet. She felt a pang of guilt. Brooke was so kind to her, and here she was, keeping this huge secret from her.


    “I’m taking you home,” Brooke <b>said </b>firmly


    “Thank you.” Amelia nodded, not refusing the offer this time.


    It was rush <b>hour</b>, and the bustling city streets were packed with cars and hurried pedestrians. Amelia leaned against the car windows, watching the scene outside as she gradually calmed down.


    “Don’t be scared, Amelia, she told herself. The more you back down, the more vulnerable be. You need to find <b>a </b>solution


    Henry had Donna’s protection, so Amelia couldn’t do anything to him. But Landon could help.


    As soon as she got home, Amelia told Landon everything that had happened that day


    <b>96</b><b>% </b>


    “He’s back already?” Landon’s eyes turned cold. ording to the n, Henry wasn’t supposed to return until the end of April. Yet here he is, barely into the month, he thought.


    “Landon, your


    you need to


    anxiety.


    to figure something out quickly. If my fake pregnancy gets explosed, your mother will be furious, Amelia said, her voiceced with


    “Are you alright?” Landons asked from his position against the headboard, studying her carefully. She looked terrible. Her face was as pale as a sheet.


    “Thank goodness i wasn’t actually pregnant,” Amelia sighed. “Areal baby wouldn’t have survived that fall.” She finally understood why Landon had kept that pregnant woman hidden away. Anyone carrying Landlon’s child would inevitably be Henry’s farget


    “I’ll have Wesleye take a look at you, Landon said as he began typing out a message on his phone.


    Amelia waved her hand dismissively. “It’s pointless. You need to figure out how to deal with Henry”


    “Soon enough. His days of running free are numbered, Landon said softly. By then, he had finished sending his message. His left hand was bing more dexterous with each passing day, and his mind was as sharp as ever. Unfortunately, the rest of his <b>body </b>remained paralyzed.


    When will I finally make a full recovery? Landon wondered silently, it pained him deeply to see her being bullied while he was in this condition


    Amelia felt a deep sense of mncholy. The Kingsley family was nothing but a mess. As long as she remained Landon’s wife, she would never escape this precarious situation. Divorce seemed like the best solution.


    Yet, as Amelia gazed at Landon, doubt crept in. “If I leave now, how can he possibly handle Kingsley Group in this <b>state</b>?‘ she thought.


    “Scared?” Landon looked up,


    his eyes soft with a hint of tenderness.


    Amelia nodded, letting her vulnerability show. “How could I not be? I’m so scared that I’ve even considered divorcing you.”