“That Boy Actually Lives With Me,” She Told the Millionaire — Her Next Words Shattered Everything He Thought He Knew
Amelia shook her head, not fully understanding. «I just wanted her to be good,» she said quietly.
«I know, my girl. I wanted the world to be fair too,» he replied with a broken voice. A heavy silence filled the room. Outside, the wind blew, slowly moving the curtains.
Henry stood up, wiped his face, and looked at Lucas’s portrait hanging on the wall. «Where is he now?» he asked.
«In my house, in the room. She told him to hide.» The girl’s voice was a confession and a plea for help at the same time.
Henry took a deep breath, picked up the phone, and made a quick call with a voice firm like he hadn’t had in a long time. «Get the car ready. We’re going now.»
Amelia watched him with a mix of admiration and fear, not knowing what would happen next, but feeling deep down that nothing would be the same. He knelt in front of her and said tenderly, «You did the right thing, little one. Now leave it to me. I promise no one will hurt you again.»
Amelia, crying, hugged him tightly. A pure hug from someone giving the world to a stranger and at the same time finding a new home without realizing it. Henry closed his eyes and for an instant felt destiny aligning.
«Let’s go for my son,» he whispered. And when he stood, something in his gaze had changed. It was no longer the look of a broken man, but of a father ready to face hell for the life of the child who still waited for him.
The night fell over the city like a thick veil, hiding secrets and setting the stage for something no one could foresee. Henry’s car cut through the streets, its headlights piercing the darkness. The engines sounded like the echo of an accelerated heart.
In the passenger seat, Amelia clutched the piece of paper between her fingers, staring into the void with eyes full of tears. «Is everything going to be okay?» she asked with a trembling voice.
Henry looked at her with tenderness and determination. «Yes, I promise.» The words came out firm, but in his chest burned a mix of fear and hope.
Between love and the anger growing with every mile, the car stopped a few blocks from the house. Henry turned off the engine, took a deep breath, and observed around. «We’re going to go in without making noise, okay?» he said quietly.
The girl nodded, holding her breath. The night air was heavy, as if even the wind awaited what was about to happen. They crossed the rusted gate, walking carefully over the damp ground, and a distant dog’s bark made the moment even tenser.
The house was almost dark, only a weak light escaping from the bedroom window. Henry stopped, closed his eyes for an instant, and whispered, «Please, let me find him. Just one more time.»
They entered through the back door. The creak of the hinges echoed, and Amelia put a finger to her lips, asking for silence. The hallway was narrow, and the smell of must and old food impregnated the air.
With each step, Henry’s heart beat harder. «It’s there,» whispered the girl, pointing to the bedroom door. He approached, trembling hands, and slowly turned the knob.
The room was in dimness, and for an instant, time seemed to stop. On the bed, a child slept curled up, his face half-covered by a torn sheet. Henry took a hesitant step forward, as if fearing to wake from a dream.
«Lucas,» he murmured.
The boy opened his eyes slowly, confused, blinking at the approaching figure. «Son, it’s me,» Henry said with a broken voice. Lucas looked at him for a second, and then something shone in his eyes. Recognition.
«Dad,» he whispered, barely audible.
Henry fell to his knees, tears running uncontrollably. «Oh God, my son.» He hugged him tightly, like someone fearing time would snatch him away again. Their cries mixed, and even Amelia cried, standing with her hands on her chest.
«I knew it was him,» she murmured, smiling through tears. But the moment of relief lasted little.
A noise in the living room made them freeze. Heavy, strong footsteps. The sound of a key turning in the lock. Henry signaled Amelia to hide behind him and hugged Lucas.
The front door opened, and Claire’s voice echoed, cold and cutting. «Amelia?»
Silence was the only answer. Seconds later, another male voice, deep, threatening, boomed in the house. «There’s someone here.»
The air seemed to vanish. Henry looked around desperately, trying to think fast. Amelia tugged his arm, trembling.
«It’s the man who always comes to see Mom,» she whispered. Henry understood immediately. That was the accomplice.
The bedroom door burst open, and Claire appeared with blazing eyes. «What do you think you’re doing here?» she shouted, her voice a mix of fury and desperation.
Amelia stepped forward. «Mom, what’s going on? Why did that man come? And why was his name in your notebook?»
The silence became immediate. Claire took a deep breath, her gaze wavering between her daughter and Henry. «You wanna know? Then you’ll hear it all.»
Her voice came out firm, loaded with something between guilt and cynicism. «I work with people who take kids. Sometimes we sell them. Other times we ask for money for them. But I couldn’t hand over Lucas.»
The air turned dense. Henry paled, and Amelia brought her hands to her mouth, unable to believe what she heard. «Mom, are you lying?» the girl stammered with a broken voice.
Claire shook her head slowly. «No, daughter, it’s the truth. He was just one more, another case. But when I saw him so small, so lost, I couldn’t do it. I brought him home. He became part of us.»
Henry stepped forward, dominated by horror and rage. «You kidnapped him. You destroyed my life.»
Claire looked at him with teary but cold eyes. «And you? What do you know about losing? You have everything. And still you lost him because you trusted too much.»
Amelia cried uncontrollably. «Mom, why did you do that? Why with him?»
The woman approached, trying to touch her daughter’s face, but Amelia backed away. «Because I had no other choice,» Claire murmured. «The people I work with don’t forgive. And when he showed up, I saw a chance to start over. To have a real family.»
Henry shouted, his voice breaking the silence. «You call that love? You stole a child and now try to justify it with feelings.»
Claire closed her eyes, her voice trembling. «I love that boy more than anything. And yet I know love doesn’t erase what I did.»
The man behind her stepped forward impatiently. «Enough drama. Let’s end this.»
Amelia grabbed her mother’s arm desperately. «Don’t let him hurt us, please.»
Claire took a deep breath. Her face tense. Her gaze lost between her daughter and the accomplice. «There’s no turning back now, my love,» she said quietly.
Henry, with Lucas in his arms, trembled between rage and compassion. «You could have asked for help. You could have told the truth,» he said with a choked voice.
Claire looked away, murmuring, «The truth never saved me from anything. Henry, it only condemned me.»
The silence that followed seemed to scream. Amelia, full of horror, stepped back, feeling her legs give way. Claire cried now, but there was no innocence in her tears.
