Chapter 74 Chapter 74
Amelia
By the time I arrived at the field, the game had already begun. The air was loud and alive with children’s laughter, excited shouts, and the sharp sound of the whistle cutting through it all. Parents stood along the sidelines, clapping and cheering, some calling out instructions no one was really following.
I parked quickly and scanned the crowd, my heart lifting the moment I spotted my dad near the edge of the field. He was waving both hands in the air, completely absorbed in the game.
“There!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Run, baby, run!”
I smiled despite everything weighing on my mind and walked over to him. “You are going to lose your voice if you keep shouting like that,” I said.
He glanced at me and grinned, “Worth it.” I followed his gaze back to the field, then looked around. “Mom didn’t come?” I asked, searching the crowd just in case I had missed her.
“She had a guest by the time we were leaving the house,” he replied. “And she still needs to make dinner.” He barely finished speaking before shouting again, his attention snapping right back to the game.
Just then, the girls spotted me. Their faces lit up instantly, like someone had switched on a light inside them. They started waving wildly, hopping in place like they had already won.
“Mommy!” they called out together.
I waved back, my chest warming as I stood beside my dad. For a few moments, everything else faded away. We cheered, clapped, and shouted encouragement as the girls ran across the field, chasing the ball with fierce determination and very little coordination.
“Kick it!” my dad yelled. “That’s my girl!” I laughed, genuinely happy for the first time that day. Then I turned slightly and froze.
Declan stood a few feet away, hands tucked into his pockets, cheering the girls along with the rest of the parents. His presence tightened something deep in my chest.
What on earth was he doing here? I watched him for a second longer, hoping I was mistaken. I excused myself from my dad and walked over to him, keeping my steps calm even though irritation was already bubbling inside me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly, making sure my voice didn’t carry.
He looked at me and offered a faint smile.
“Your father told me about the game. I ran into him earlier, and he mentioned the girls were playing today. I thought I’d come watch.”
My jaw tightened. Of course my father had mentioned it. “You ran into him,” I repeated, lowering my voice further, “or you knew I would be here and decided to stalk me?”
His smile faded. “I sent you your money for this month,” I continued, anger creeping into my tone. “So why are you blowing up my phone with calls? Why are you suddenly showing up around my family?”
Before I could say anything else, his expression hardened completely. “You sent the monthly due,” he said flatly. “I am talking about the actual money I asked for.”
I stared at him, my blood beginning to boil.
“If you pay me,” he continued calmly, “you won’t see me again for a very long time. But if you don’t—” his eyes darkened slightly “—it’s going to get dangerous for you.”
I stared at him, disbelief flashing through me. “Then maybe you should ask your brother for it,” I snapped. “If getting that much money is so easy, talk to him.”
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t back down. “You are the one fucking him,” he said, leaning closer. “It would be easier for you to get it. But if I don’t have that money by month’s end, it’s going to get messy. Very messy.” He whispered the last part, like a threat wrapped in calm.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why aren’t you at the hospital with your brother?” I demanded, my voice sharp. “Your father just collapsed.”
He shrugged, completely unfazed. “Right now, getting my money is more important.”
The words made my blood boil. “You are unbelievable,” I hissed through clenched teeth.
“I don’t even know how you expect me to get that kind of money from him!”
He leaned closer again, his voice low and firm. “He got you a customized car, right? Fuck him more and get my money for me before month’s end.” His tone left no room for argument.
I glared at him, anger simmering just beneath the surface. “You picked the wrong place to threaten me,” I said, cold and measured.
He straightened, unfazed. “Just reminding you,” he said.
I turned sharply and walked back toward my dad, refusing to let him see how much his words had rattled me. As I reached the sidelines, the girls’ cheers rang out across the field. I forced a smile and clapped along, but even as I joined in the celebration, a part of my happiness had dimmed, shadowed by his presence and the threat.
When we got home, I barely had a moment to catch my breath before my father led me to his study.
“Amelia,” he said, as I took a seat in front of him, “I have to ask… why were you hurrying me to leave the office earlier today?” His tone was calm.
I swallowed, “I… I just don’t want anyone in the company to know about my girls,” I said quickly. “I am trying to protect them, that’s all.”
He studied me carefully, his eyes narrowing.
“Hmm,” he murmured. “And Maxwell Sinclair?” His voice dropped slightly. “Is he the father of your children?”
My chest tightened. I shook my head quickly, almost too quickly. “No! Absolutely not.”
He didn’t respond immediately, only continued to study me with that look that made me feel as though he could see straight through my thoughts.
“Then tell me why,” he said finally, leaning back in his chair, “Maxwell put Harrington in charge of the company. I thought everything was under control. I thought my legacy was safe.
And now someone else is running things?”
I felt my throat tighten, I couldn't tell him the truth even though I completely trusted him, I promised Maxwell but I had to give him something. “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way,” I said softly. “I didn’t agree with him taking over, but Harrington had convinced every member of the board and they sided with him, Maxwell said to allow him take over since it’s what the board want.”
He shook his head slowly, running a hand over his face. “Amelia… you can’t leave things to chance. This company is my life’s work… it’s not just numbers on a page. Harrington doesn’t care about what we built, and now he’s in the driver’s seat. Do you understand what that means?”
I nodded, swallowing hard, though my heart raced. “Yes, I know. That’s why I am working on it, dad.”
He leaned forward, his eyes sharp and piercing. “And Maxwell tell me you’re not trusting him blindly in all this. Because if Harrington has his hand in the company with Maxwell’s approval, Amelia this could get much worse before it gets better.”
I forced a steady breath and met his gaze. “I know, Dad. I’m being careful, I promise.”
I bit back the question rising in my throat, the one that wanted to slip out despite everything, Does he know that Harrington has another company? For now, I swallowed it, unwilling to risk his suspicion.
I stood up and walked slowly to my dad’s side. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tightly, he placed a hand gently on my back.
“I am going to fix this, I promise,” I whispered, my voice soft.
He didn’t answer right away, only rested his hand over mine for a moment. Then a sharp ping broke the moment my dad’s phone lit up on the desk, and he picked it up instinctively. I frowned as I saw the notification, it was from Harrington.