Mrs. Cooper stood by the window, fingers gripping the heavy curtain as she stared out at the driveway. Her expression slowly softened, a small, satisfied smile curving her lips.
Today, Lia was coming home.
"My daughter," she whispered fondly.
Lia wasn't just anyone. She was the one she had chosen, raised, molded, and loved as her own. Strong, confident, elegant… everything Claudia could never be.
Claudia.
Her face hardened, anger surging through her chest like poison. Ever since that girl wormed her way into Richard's life, everything had shifted. Richard no longer listened to her the way he once did. He had become distant, fiercely protective of someone who had no place in their family.
It disgusted her.
The sound of a car pulling into the driveway made her turn sharply. Anticipation lifted her heart.
Lia had arrived.
Mrs. Cooper walked outside with controlled steps, but the moment Lia stepped out of the car, pride swelled in her chest. She pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Welcome back, my dear," she said warmly.
Lia smiled, but her eyes held cold steel. "I missed you, Mother."
Mrs. Cooper held her hands firmly, her voice low with promise. "You should never have been sent away. But now you're back… and things will return to how they were always meant to be."
Lia's eyes darkened. "Is Claudia still here?"
Mrs. Cooper's smile faded, replaced by icy determination.
"Not for long," she replied calmly, her voice dripping with finality.
Lia walked into the house like she owned every inch of it. Everything felt sickeningly familiar, yet one name burned in her mind like fire.
Claudia.
The girl who had caused her humiliation. The one who got her banished abroad.
The memory still scorched her.
"I warned her," she muttered under her breath. "But she refused to listen."
Richard had chosen her.
Chosen her over me.
Her jaw clenched so tightly it ached.
That would never happen again.
Mrs. Cooper's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "We will deal with her."
Lia smiled slowly, a dangerous, satisfying smile.
"Yes," she said softly, her eyes gleaming with malice. "She stole from the wrong person."
At the Larsons' house, Lucas paced the dimly lit living room, restless and burning with rage.
Everything had gone to hell. The one million dollars Claudia gave him was gone wasted on a business that collapsed within months. Now he was drowning in debt with nothing left.
He needed more money.
There was only one person foolish enough to give it to him.
Claudia.
He grabbed his phone with shaking fingers and dialed her number. She didn't pick up the first time. He called again.
On the second ring, she answered.
"Hello?" Her voice was calm. Too calm.
"Claudia, you need to come to the house right now," he said urgently. "Mom is very sick. She wants to see you."
"Lucas, she is not my mom. We severed ties, remember? Her sickness has nothing to do with me," she replied firmly.
His fist clenched until his knuckles turned white.
This bitch. If not for the money, I wouldn't even waste my time on you.
"Even if she's not your real mother, she raised you for twenty-two years," he pressed, forcing concern into his voice.
"Stop guilt-tripping me. I'll be there tomorrow," she said, then hung up.
A sly smile crept across his lips.
The next day at the Larsons' house, I stepped inside and immediately froze.
My adopted mother sat comfortably on the couch, looking perfectly healthy not a trace of illness on her face.
"Lucas said you were sick," I said coldly, "but you look completely fine. There's no reason for me to be here."
I turned to leave.
"Stop right there!" Lucas's voice thundered behind me.
I paused and turned around slowly.
Lucas looked stunned. I knew I looked different now — calmer, stronger, carrying myself with a confidence I had never shown before. He didn't like it. I could see the displeasure in his eyes.
"I need money," he said bluntly, dropping all pretense.
I regarded him quietly. "For what?"
"My business," he snapped. "I need to restart it."
I shook my head slowly. "What happened to the one million dollars you took from me? The money you threatened my baby and me for? What did you do with it, Lucas?"
"It didn't work out," he muttered. "Now I need more to start over."
"I already severed ties with this family," I said evenly. "And I gave you money once. That was enough."
"And I need more!" Lucas shouted, stepping closer.
I kept my gaze steady. "No."
That single word seemed to strike him like a slap.
"No?" he repeated, his voice rising with disbelief and rage.
"I won't give you any more money," I said firmly. "You wasted the last amount, and besides, where do I even get money from?"
Rage twisted his face into something ugly.
"You think you're better than us now?" he snarled.
I didn't answer.
My silence only fueled his anger.
"Don't forget who you are," he hissed, leaning in threateningly.
I met his eyes without flinching. "I know exactly who I am."
For the first time, I saw something flicker in Lucas's eyes uncertainty.
He was losing control.
And I wasn't afraid anymore.
My heart pounded violently, but I refused to let it show. For years I had been quiet, obedient, and terrified.
Not anymore.
"I won't give you money again," I repeated, my voice clear and strong.
My adopted mother stepped forward, eyes filled with fake hurt. "After everything we did for you?"
I looked at her with quiet contempt. "After everything you did to me."
The room fell deathly silent.
Lucas's face darkened with fury. "You've changed."
I nodded once. "Yes, I have."
His eyes dropped to my stomach.
A chill ran down my spine, but I stood my ground.
"No," I said again, louder this time, as I turned and slammed the door behind me.
As I flagged down a taxi and hopped in, a quiet pride bloomed in my chest. For once, I had stood up for myself even though fear still lingered.
I need to get home first. I hadn't told Richard where I was going.
That night, the house was eerily quiet.
I was alone when a strong hand suddenly grabbed me from behind. Another clamped tightly over my mouth, muffling my scream.
My eyes widened in terror.
I heard their voices — Lia, Lucas, and my adopted mother.
I struggled desperately, but it was useless.
Within seconds, everything went black.
Lia stood in front of Claudia, watching her carefully. She was tied to a chair, her breathing uneven and ragged.
"So this is what it takes to make you listen," she said, her voice dripping with venom.
Claudia looked up at her in silence.
That silence annoyed her more than anything.
"You should have left when I warned you," she continued coldly. "You don't belong with Richard."
Claudia shook her head weakly but defiantly. "You're wrong."
Lia's eyes hardened like ice. "I am the one who belongs with him."
"Richard will never love you," Claudia said, glaring at her.
Lia slapped her hard across the cheek.
"Love?" she laughed coldly. "I don't care about love."
"He will never want you," Claudia continued, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
The smirk made Lia's blood boil. She wanted to wipe it off her face.
"You stupid bitch…."
"Enough talking!" Lucas barked.
Lucas was tired of the games.
"Enough talking!" he barked. "Give us the money now!"
Claudia looked at him, exhausted but unbroken.
"No."
His patience snapped.
"You think Richard will come and save you?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty room. "I will kill your bastard child and you if you don't cooperate."
This Claudia… she was no longer the weak girl he could control.
She looked cold. Defiant.
Dangerous.
Richard sat in his office, staring at his phone with growing dread.
Something was terribly wrong.
Claudia wasn't answering his calls or messages.
His expression darkened.
"Track her phone. Now," he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.
Minutes later, the location came through isolated and remote.
His jaw tightened with lethal fury.
"Who has the guts to touch my wife?" he growled.
"Get the car ready and call the cops," he commanded as he dashed out of the company, heart pounding.
What if I'm too late?
What if something happens to her… or our child?
The building was deathly silent.
Then the door burst open with a loud crash.
Richard stormed in, eyes blazing with pure rage. His men poured in behind him.
Chaos erupted in seconds.
Lucas was slammed to the ground and dragged away.
Claudia's adopted mother screamed in panic.
Lia froze, her face pale with shock.
"Richard…" she tried to speak, her voice trembling.
"Send them all to the police," Richard commanded, his voice ice-cold. No emotion. No mercy.
They were dragged away without another word.
The door opened again.
I looked up weakly.
Richard.
Relief flooded through me like a warm wave.
He rushed to my side and quickly untied my wrists, his hands gentle yet urgent.
"I'm here," he whispered, pulling me into his strong arms.
Tears slipped down my cheeks as I clung to him tightly.
"I said no," I whispered brokenly.
Richard looked at me with deep pride and tenderness in his eyes.
"That's my wife," he said softly.
"What if they killed our child?" I asked, scared.
"They wouldn't dare," Richard replied firmly as he lifted me into his arms and carried me out of the building.
I closed my eyes, resting safely against his chest.
For the first time in my life…
I felt truly strong.
And completely safe.