Chapter 64
Richard's POV
"One week," Aria said. Her voice could have frozen hell itself. "Richard, you have one week to handle this Laura situation."
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
"She leaves the country," Aria continued, each word a hammer blow. "Immediately. And she never sets foot in Starport again."
"Grandmother, please—"
"Otherwise," she cut through my pathetic attempt at protest, "she will never see that child again. Do I make myself clear?"
Crystal fucking clear.
"Where did you take Emma?"
I immediately reached for my phone to call home, but Mother's icy voice sliced through the air.
"Don't bother. As long as Laura leaves obediently, we'll arrange for her to reunite with Emma in a year. I have no interest in raising her daughter for her."
She narrowed her eyes. "But if she insists on clinging to you, then Emma will be sent somewhere she'll never find."
"Grandmother, I promise I won't see Laura again!"
I knew changing their minds was impossible, but anger still burned in my chest. "Emma is just a child. You shouldn't use her as leverage—"
"Richard, things have reached this point. I have no interest in verifying anything further. The Harrison family's reputation cannot be ruined by some unclear child and a calculating woman. As for what you choose to do—you weigh it yourself."
I knew arguing with Grandmother was pointless. I turned desperately to Mother.
"But don't worry. The Harrison family won't harm a child. Just do as your grandmother says."
"Mom, actually Emma is—"
The words almost burst from my mouth, my face flushing red. I nearly told her the truth. But at the last moment, under Mother's scrutinizing gaze, I bit down hard and swallowed the words back.
"Actually what?" Mother's eyes narrowed, full of suspicion. "You're not hiding something else from us, are you?"
"Emma... she can't be alone. What if something happens?"
My fists clenched at my sides, my voice tight with barely controlled emotion.
"If something happens, that's Laura's fault for causing all this. Someone's taking care of her now. She's not going to die."
Mother's words cut into my heart like knives.
"Anyway, you'd better think clearly. Your father will be back in a few days. If you can't handle this properly, forget the family—you won't even be able to stay at the company."
After delivering her final warning, Mother had no more patience to continue this conversation.
Damn it.
I need to find Laura. Right now.
---
Laura's POV
I stared at my phone, reading Stella's text for the third time: Play it cool. The more desperate you seem, the easier it is for him to walk away. Remember—what he can't have, he'll want more.
Right. I could do cool.
I'd just showered, my hair still damp and loose down my back. The apartment smelled like vanilla candles. I'd changed into my silk nightgown—the champagne one that made my skin glow—and thrown on a cardigan for modesty.
Let him work for it, Stella had said. Make him remember what he's risking.
My phone lit up: Richard, downstairs.
My heart jumped. I took three deep breaths, checked my reflection, then casually—casually—shrugged off the cardigan. The nightgown's thin straps exposed my shoulders. Perfect.
I opened the door.
Richard looked like death. His tie hung loose, top buttons undone. Smoke clung to his clothes so thick I could taste it. Dark circles carved trenches under his eyes.
"Hey," I said softly, stepping back to let him in. "I wasn't expecting—"
"You need to leave the country." No greeting. No warmth. Just that flat, exhausted statement. "For a while. Maybe a few months."
The floor tilted under my feet.
"What?"
"Just until things calm down." He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Until Grandmother goes back to her estate. Until the company stabilizes. Then we'll figure something out—"
"Figure something out?" My voice climbed. "Richard, what the fuck are you talking about?"
He finally looked at me. God, he looked broken.
"They know," he said simply. "About Emma. Grandmother got the DNA report. She knows Emma is your daughter."
The world stopped.
"How?" I whispered. "How did they—"
"Does it matter?" He slumped onto my couch, head in his hands. "They know. And Grandmother gave me an ultimatum. Either you leave Starport permanently, or we never see Emma again."
"She can't do that! Emma is your daughter too—"
"Grandmother controls the family trust. She controls everything." His laugh was bitter.
I stood frozen in the middle of my living room, wearing a silk nightgown I'd put on to seduce him, and he was telling me to leave the country.
"You want me to just... go?" My voice cracked. "Abandon my daughter?"
"It's temporary," he insisted, but even he didn't sound convinced. "Just until I can sort this out. Once the IPO closes, once I have more leverage—"
"Once, once, once!" I was shouting now. Fuck cool. Fuck playing it smart. "It's always 'once' with you, Richard! Once the company stabilizes, once your family calms down, once the timing is right! When the hell is it ever going to be right?"
He stood, tried to reach for me. I shoved him back.
"They took Emma somewhere." His voice broke. "They won't tell me where. If you don't agree to leave, they'll make sure you never find her. Do you understand? Never."
"And if I do leave?" Tears burned down my face. "Then what? You'll just... mail me pictures? Let me FaceTime once a month like some kind of distant aunt?"
"Laura—"
"You're choosing them!" I was screaming, past caring if the neighbors heard. "You're choosing your fucking inheritance over your own daughter! Over me!"
My hand flew before I could stop it. The slap cracked across his face, snapping his head sideways.
He just stood there. Took it.
So I hit him again. And again. Beating my fists against his chest, his shoulders, anywhere I could reach, sobbing and cursing and hating him so much I couldn't breathe.
He caught my wrists. Pulled me against him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair. "But if I tell them the truth—if I admit Emma is mine—my grandfather's will kicks in. Harrison legacy goes to charity. The company, the trust fund, everything. I'll have nothing. We'll have nothing. How am I supposed to take care of you and Emma with nothing?"
I sagged against him, the fight draining out of me.
He was right.
If Richard lost everything, he'd be worthless to me. Just another broke guy with a pretty face and broken promises. Emma deserved better.
We deserved better.