Claimed by My Ex's Enemy

Amelia Hart stood in front of the full-length mirror, her heart pounding so hard she could barely hear the string quartet playing downstairs.

Today was the day.

After three years of loving Lucas King, she was finally going to become his wife.

Her fingers traced the engagement ring on her hand. The diamond sparkled beneath the warm lights of the bridal suite.

"You look nervous," her best friend Lily teased, adjusting the veil resting on Amelia's shoulders.

Amelia forced a smile.

"Nervous? I'm terrified."

Lily laughed. "Every bride is."

But Amelia wasn't sure that was true.

A strange feeling had been twisting inside her stomach since she woke up this morning.

A feeling she couldn't explain.

Three years.

Three years of waiting for Lucas to choose her over work.

Three years of defending him whenever others called him cold.

Three years of believing that beneath his distant exterior was a man who loved her.

And today would prove she had been right.

At least, that's what she hoped.

A sudden knock interrupted her thoughts.

The wedding coordinator rushed inside.

"Miss Hart, everyone's seated."

Her smile was professional.

But tense.

Too tense.

Amelia frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

The woman hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she forced another smile.

"No, everything's fine."

The uneasy feeling in Amelia's chest deepened.

Five minutes later, Amelia walked down the aisle.

The cathedral glittered with white roses and crystal lights.

Hundreds of guests turned to look at her.

Family.

Friends.

Business partners.

Even reporters.

Everyone watched as she stepped forward.

Everyone except the man waiting for her.

Because there was no man waiting.

The altar was empty.

Amelia's smile froze.

Her footsteps slowed.

Then stopped.

The priest shifted awkwardly.

The guests exchanged confused looks.

Lucas wasn't there.

A whisper moved through the crowd.

"Where is he?"

Amelia's pulse quickened.

Maybe traffic.

Maybe a last-minute phone call.

Lucas was always working.

Always.

She took a deep breath.

"He'll be here."

The words sounded weak even to her own ears.

Ten minutes passed.

Then twenty.

Then thirty.

The whispers grew louder.

Lily squeezed Amelia's hand.

"It's okay."

But it wasn't.

Because Lucas wasn't answering his phone.

Neither was his assistant.

A reporter in the second row discreetly lifted a camera.

Someone began recording.

Humiliation crept under Amelia's skin.

She felt exposed.

Like an animal trapped in a cage while everyone watched.

Then suddenly-

The cathedral doors opened.

Relief exploded inside her.

Lucas.

He was finally here.

But the relief lasted only a second.

Because Lucas wasn't alone.

A beautiful brunette entered beside him.

Her hand was firmly intertwined with his.

And walking between them was a little boy.

The entire cathedral fell silent.

Amelia's breath caught.

No.

No.

No.

This couldn't be happening.

Lucas walked toward the altar without looking away from the woman beside him.

The woman smiled softly at the child.

The child looked about five years old.

Amelia felt her knees weaken.

When Lucas finally stopped in front of her, his expression remained calm.

Cold.

Emotionless.

As though she was a stranger.

"Lucas..." she whispered.

"What is this?"

The silence stretched.

Then he spoke.

"The wedding is canceled."

The words hit harder than a slap.

Gasps echoed around the cathedral.

Amelia stared at him.

Certain she had heard wrong.

"What?"

Lucas glanced briefly at the woman beside him.

His face softened instantly.

A softness he had rarely shown Amelia.

"This is Sophia."

The woman lowered her eyes shyly.

Lucas placed a hand on the little boy's shoulder.

"And this is my son."

The world stopped.

Amelia couldn't breathe.

Couldn't think.

Couldn't move.

His son?

The little boy wrapped his arms around Lucas's leg.

"Daddy."

A single word.

One word destroyed everything.

The guests erupted into shocked whispers.

Phones appeared.

Cameras flashed.

Amelia felt every ounce of blood leave her body.

"You have a child?" she asked shakily.

Lucas nodded.

"Yes."

"How long?"

His silence gave her the answer.

Years.

He had hidden this for years.

Tears burned her eyes.

"You lied to me."

Lucas's jaw tightened.

"I never planned for you to find out this way."

Amelia laughed.

A broken laugh.

The kind that comes right before your heart shatters.

"You never planned for me to find out?"

"Amelia..."

"No."

Her voice trembled.

"No, don't say my name."

People stared.

Some with pity.

Others with fascination.

Like they were watching a television drama unfold.

Amelia wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

Three years.

Three years of love.

Three years of sacrifice.

Gone.

Reduced to public entertainment.

Then came the final blow.

Lucas looked directly into her eyes.

"I never stopped loving Sophia."

The cathedral turned silent again.

Sophia lowered her head dramatically.

Almost as if she felt guilty.

Amelia hated her instantly.

Not because Sophia had taken Lucas.

But because she looked victorious.

Because she had won.

And everyone knew it.

Lucas reached into his pocket.

Pulled out a document.

A check.

Amelia stared.

Disbelief turning into fury.

"What is that?"

"Compensation."

The entire cathedral gasped again.

Lucas held out the check.

"Take it."

For several seconds, Amelia simply stared.

Then something inside her snapped.

She grabbed the check.

Ripped it in half.

Then again.

And again.

The pieces fluttered to the marble floor like dead butterflies.

"I loved you!"

Her voice echoed throughout the cathedral.

A tear slid down her cheek.

"But apparently that was my biggest mistake."

Lucas's face hardened.

Amelia lifted the hem of her wedding dress.

Turned around.

And ran.

She ignored the reporters chasing after her.

Ignored the cameras.

Ignored the whispers.

Ignored everything.

The rain was pouring when she burst outside.

Cold droplets soaked her gown instantly.

But she kept running.

One block.

Two blocks.

Three.

Until exhaustion forced her to stop.

She stood alone beneath the storm.

Shivering.

Broken.

Ruined.

Nobody wanted a woman abandoned at the altar.

Nobody respected a woman who had been publicly humiliated.

Her life was over.

Or so she thought.

A pair of headlights suddenly cut through the rain.

A black luxury car pulled up beside her.

Its glossy exterior reflected the storm.

The rear window slowly rolled down.

Amelia frowned.

Then froze.

Because she recognized the man sitting inside.

Ethan Blackwood.

Lucas King's greatest enemy.

One of the richest and most powerful men in the country.

But that wasn't the shocking part.

The shocking part was the way he was looking at her.

Not with pity.

Not with amusement.

But with unmistakable interest.

His dark eyes locked onto hers.

Then he spoke.

"Get in."

Amelia's heart skipped.

"What?"

Rain dripped from her hair as she stared at him.

Ethan's gaze never wavered.

His next words sent ice through her veins.

"I've been waiting three years for Lucas to lose you."