Chapter 20: He's Not My Friend

Amelia's POV:

"Mom! Mr. Carter!" Lucas burst through the therapy room door, his face lit up despite how tired he looked. My heart ached seeing the way he tried to hide his exhaustion.

Luke dropped to one knee instantly. "Hey champ! How'd it go with Dr. Linda?"

"I did all my exercises!" Lucas was practically bouncing, even though I could see his shoulders drooping. "Right, Dr. Linda?"

Dr. Linda nodded, her smile warm. "Lucas is our star patient. The new treatment is working better than expected." She handed me his progress charts, and I clutched them like a lifeline. These paper trails of hope were what kept me going.

"Same time next week?" she asked.

"Yes," I said quickly, grateful my new life let me make these appointments. Not like before, when I had to beg for schedule changes at the club.

Lucas's eyes went wide as soon as we reached the car. "What's in those bags?"

"Your new things for school," Luke said, smiling. "Backpack, art supplies, everything you'll need."

"All of that is for me?" Lucas pressed his face against the window, trying to get a better look. "Can I see them now?"

"After dinner," I cut in quickly. "You need to eat first."

"But Mom!"

"Listen to your mom, buddy," Luke said, though I caught the slight smile tugging at his lips. "The supplies aren't going anywhere."

The whole drive home, Lucas couldn't stop talking about all the new things he'd get to use at school, each excited word making my anxiety spike higher. I caught Luke watching him in the rearview mirror, something soft breaking through his usual sharp mask.

I waited until I was sure Lucas was settled before approaching Luke, who stood by the window overlooking the glittering skyline of Cypress Central. His tall frame was silhouetted against the cityscape, and for a moment, I was struck by how at home he looked in this setting of wealth and power.

"Thank you, you've really gone to a lot of trouble," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the mix of gratitude and discomfort churning inside me.

Luke turned, and I was surprised to see genuine warmth in his expression. His usually sharp features had softened as he glanced toward the collection of toys and books he'd bought for Lucas. I'd never seen him look quite so... content.

The peaceful moment shattered when I spoke my next words: "How much did those things cost? I'll transfer the money to you."

The silence that followed was deafening. I watched as Luke's expression transformed, the warmth vanishing like morning dew under a harsh sun. His jaw tightened, and I felt my stomach drop. Somehow, I'd managed to anger him, though I couldn't understand why.

"Mr. Carter, are you upset?" I ventured cautiously. "Did I say something wrong?"

His eyes met mine, cold and hard. "You want to pay me back for things I bought for Lucas?" The words came out clipped and precise, each syllable sharp enough to cut.

"Yes, of course." I tried to explain, feeling increasingly uncomfortable under his intense stare. "You're already providing the living allowance and paying for Lucas's kindergarten tuition, these things—"

"I bought those things for the child because I wanted to," he interrupted, his voice rising slightly. "Do you think I need that small amount of money?"

The condescension in his tone made my cheeks burn. I straightened my spine, determined to maintain my dignity. "Yes, I know this money is nothing to Mr. Carter, but I can't just take advantage of your generosity simply because you don't care about such small amounts." I forced myself to meet his gaze. "Just because I'm poor doesn't mean I should accept everything without question."

I felt my vision blur and knew I needed to retreat before the tears fell. Without another word, I turned and walked quickly to our suite, my steps echoing in the vast living room. Once inside, I pressed my back against the closed door, trying to steady my breathing.

What had I done wrong? Why did my attempt to maintain some independence, some dignity, provoke such anger? The rational part of my mind knew I should let it go – after all, this was a business arrangement. But something about his reaction, the way he'd looked at me with such disdain, cut deeper than it should have.

After several minutes of silent breathing exercises – a technique I'd learned during my years of struggling as a single mother – I managed to compose myself. I had to fix this. We still had months left in our contract, and I couldn't afford to let my pride jeopardize Lucas's future.

I opened the door and stepped back into the living room, making sure my face showed no trace of my earlier emotional turmoil. "I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. I got too emotional earlier. You've been too generous, and I felt unworthy. I shouldn't have lost my temper."

Luke stood exactly where I'd left him, his expression now more frustrated than angry. "For this year, we're husband and wife," he stated firmly. "When I spend money, it's because I want to. You don't need to think about all these complicated things."

I nodded and accepted his words I'd been foolish to think we could ever be anything like friends.