Chapter 3 Family Wound

Amelia's POV:

His dark eyes locked with mine, and suddenly the space between us seemed to vanish. His hand came up to brush a strand of hair from my face, the touch sending electricity through my skin.

"That's not in the contract," he murmured, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. His fingers trailed down my cheek, along my jaw, coming to rest at the base of my throat where my pulse was racing.

I should have pulled away. Should have maintained professional distance. Instead, I found myself leaning into his touch, my body betraying my better judgment.

Luke's other hand gripped the edge of his desk, his knuckles white with restraint. "You can't escape me," he whispered, his breath warm against my lips.

I couldn't speak. Couldn't think. His cologne surrounded me, intoxicating. The morning sun through the windows cast us both in golden light, making everything feel dreamlike and unreal.

His thumb traced my lower lip, and a small sound escaped me - somewhere between a gasp and a whimper. That seemed to break his control. In one fluid movement, he pulled me to my feet, pressing me against the cool glass of the window. His body was hard against mine, one hand tangled in my hair while the other gripped my hip.

"Luke," I breathed, not sure if I was protesting or pleading.

He answered by capturing my mouth with his. The kiss was nothing like I expected - not gentle, not tentative, but demanding and hungry. His tongue swept inside, claiming, possessing. His hands slipped under my clothes, his fingers tracing a path along my skin until they found my breast. He cupped it firmly, his grip tightening as he began to knead and squeeze, sending shivers through my body.

I melted into him, my body pressing closer as my hands clutched his suit.

A sharp knock at the door made us both freeze. Luke straightened smoothly, putting professional distance between us in one fluid movement.

"Yes?" His voice was perfectly controlled.

"Mr. Carter, your 11:30 is here," his assistant called through the door.

My hands shook slightly as I grabbed the pen, quickly signing my name on all the marked lines. "There. It's done."

"I'll be picking you up tomorrow at nine," he said, straightening his tie. "We'll go to the courthouse to make this official."

I nodded, still trying to calm my racing heart. "Nine. Courthouse. Got it."

"Wear something appropriately." his eyes swept over me briefly.

"I know how to dress," I replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into my voice.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "I'm aware. Just making sure we present the right image." He picked up his phone. "I'll have my driver take you home."

As I followed his driver to the waiting car, I could still feel the ghost of Luke's presence, the lingering warmth where his body had been so close to mine. What had I just gotten myself into?

The sleek black Bentley glided through the city streets, Cypress Central's gleaming towers giving way to the familiar, worn buildings of Maple Heights. I sat in the back, watching the city blur past, the contract in my bag feeling impossibly heavy.

"We're here, Ms. Wilson," the driver announced, pulling up to my building.

Before I could reach for the door handle, he was already out and coming around to open it for me.

"Thank you," I murmured, stepping out of the Bentley. The driver gave a professional nod and returned to the driver's seat. As the car pulled away from the curb, movement near my building's entrance caught my eye. My stomach dropped. There, standing with her arms crossed and lips pressed into a thin line, was my mother.

"Amelia." Her voice carried across the short distance, sharp with disapproval. Her eyes darted between me and the luxury car, calculating.

I watched the Bentley disappear around the corner, taking with it any chance of escape. Drawing a deep breath, I turned to face her.

"Mom." I straightened my shoulders, gripping my bag tighter. "What are you doing here?"

"Finally decided to acknowledge your mother's existence?" She sneered. "I've been trying to reach you all week."

"I've been busy with Lucas-"

"I need money," she cut me off. "Just a thousand. I have a system, I can win it back this time."

My heart sank. Of course. It was always about money. "Mom, you need to stop gambling-"

"Don't lecture me!" Her eyes narrowed. "Though I see you've found your own system. Getting dropped off in luxury cars now?"

"I won't give you a penny," I said firmly, ignoring her mockery. "You'll just lose it all gambling again."

Her eyes flashed with anger. "You ungrateful little brat," she snapped, lunging forward suddenly. Her hand cracked across my cheek, the sound echoing in the empty street. The force of it made me stumble backward, my bag slipping from my shoulder.

"Who do you think paid for your fancy college before you threw it all away?" She grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin. "You owe us!"

I wrenched away from her grip. "Owe you?" My laugh was hollow, my cheek still stinging. "Like five years ago at that hotel? When I wanted to go to the police, and you and Dad threatened to kill yourselves if I did? Was that for my benefit?"

"We were protecting you!" She snarled, her face reddening as she raised her hand again. I flinched back, but this time I was ready, catching her wrist before she could strike.

"No, you were protecting your precious reputation!" My voice broke, but I held firm. "You didn't care what happened to me. You've never cared!"

I shoved past her toward the building entrance, my heart pounding.

"Whoever you're hooking up with, he'll see through you eventually!" she called after me, her voice raw with spite. "You're an embarrassment, Amelia. Always have been."