nor

y," echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of his betrayal. While I lay awake in the silent house, he was undoubtedly with

, but my nerves were still frayed. My phone b

or the patent transfer?" H

greement. He didn't even read it." A grim satisfaction twisted my l

atter... the evidence against them." Benjamin paused. "My people are having trouble. Joshua has covered his tracks meticulously. We

erbal confession between conspirators. It proved intent, yes, but direct acti

His private computer, perhaps. He's arrogant enough to keep

e home office. I know his passwords." A chill

It's risky,"

aby." My hand instinctively went to m

w will be there too, of course." His voice was

y other phone, a burner I kept for emergenc

, then answ

y have me! They have me!" He

e. "Who has you? What

e demanding money, Eleanor! Please, you have

mommy owes us a lot of money. Fifty million. You got until mi

's wealth, was now in danger. Despite the years of manipulation and disappointment, a primal instinct to protect her stirred within me. She was still my mother, in some twisted way. My

voice surprisingly steady.

ouse district on the edge of the city. "And

aptop could wait. This was an immediate threat. I called Benja

ut trouble," Benjamin said, his voice laced

ow, but true in a way I couldn't articulate. It was a debt I felt I owed, for reasons I still couldn't full

, I'll arrange the cash. But you go with a t

money." I knew it was foolish, but I felt an inexplicable comp

e. You're pregnant." His voice softened, a

Dad. I

both physically and metaphorically. I had never held so much cash in my life. The thought of bringing it to a dark, u

oken windows, bathed in the sickly yellow glow of distant streetlights. With each bump in the road, a sharp pain shot through

ajar. I got out, the heavy briefcase making my arms ache. The air was thi

voice trembling despite

sheveled and terrified, her hands bound. Her ey

said, holding up the

ces obscured by the dim light. One of them, the gruff

round, pushing it towards them

he stacks of cash. "Nice. Very nice, rich girl." He sn

with tears. "My baby! You saved me!" She

r embrace felt less like rel

as he looked at me. "You're Eleanor Wheeler. The tech

he's rich! My Eleanor is so rich! She can give you mo

. Idiot. I squeezed her hand, a si

, well. Looks like we hit the jackpot. Fifty million

creamed, her voice cracking.

eered. "Especially when a bigger

nside me. My own mother, betr

dangerously low. "You have the

"Or what? You'll cry to your billion

chance. As the lead thug was distracted by his own cruel joke, I shoved my

everywhere. The men cursed, momentarily distracted by the flying cash. I us

rged, my v

of the men echoing behind us. Footsteps p

ulder. My mother gasped, a terrified sob tearing from her throat. He

closing in. My shoulder throbbed, a hot, fiery pain, but

to go faster!" I plead

my arm. "I can't, Eleanor! I can't!" S

kment, landing hard in a heap. A sharp, agonizing pain ripped through my lowe

hielding my belly with my arms. A warm, sticky

ment from within. My baby. My precious,

emembered the doctor's words: Your body can only take so muc

rody of concern, as he rushed towards me, pushing past the thugs. He knel

k to fight him. Too weak to do anything but gasp for air, the pain

s. Sweet, ble