Chapter 13 - THE PRICE OF STAYING
The call came from Derek.
He had learned Lily had been present during the kidnapping.
Of course he had.
“I’m filing emergency custody.”
Clara sat on the edge of her bed.
“She’s safe.”
“She was held at gunpoint!”
“I know.”
“At your workplace!”
“I know!”
“You brought her into danger.”
“No. You sent her there without telling me.”
Silence.
Then:
“What?”
Clara stood.
“My sister saved your messages.”
Derek’s breathing changed.
“You told her I asked Lily to be dropped off.”
“I thought—”
“You didn’t think.”
“Clara—”
“You wanted to make me look irresponsible.”
“That’s insane.”
“You used our daughter to build evidence against me.”
“I didn’t know anybody would get kidnapped!”
“And that makes it okay?”
He had no answer.
For once, Clara hung up first.
Two hours later, Derek’s attorney withdrew the emergency motion.
Apparently screenshots were powerful things.
Clara should have felt relieved.
Instead, she packed.
Victor found her closing a suitcase.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
He stared.
“No.”
She almost laughed.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re not leaving.”
“You don’t get to decide.”
“The danger is over.”
“That isn’t why.”
“Then why?”
Clara sat down.
“Because Lily needs normal.”
Victor looked around the garage apartment.
“This can be normal.”
“Five children were held at gunpoint last night.”
“Grant is in custody.”
“My daughter asked me if billionaires always have kidnappings.”
Victor almost smiled.
Clara didn’t.
“She needs school. Friends. A mother who isn’t chasing fugitives.”
“So you’re quitting.”
“I think I have to.”
“What about the boys?”
The question hurt.
Clara looked away.
“They have you.”
Victor was quiet.
“You think I’m enough now?”
“I think you’re trying.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
She zipped the suitcase.
“You can’t build your family around a nanny.”
His face tightened.
“You think that’s what this is?”
“What else is it?”
Victor stepped closer.
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
The room changed.
Clara’s heartbeat quickened.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I work for you.”
“Then don’t.”
She looked up.
Victor immediately regretted the words.
“That came out wrong.”
“Very.”
“I mean…”
He exhaled.
“I don’t know what I mean.”
“Great speech.”
“I run six companies. I’m terrible at this.”
“At talking?”
“At feeling things out loud.”
That almost got her.
Almost.
Then four faces appeared in the doorway.
Mason looked at the suitcase.
“You’re leaving.”
Clara stood.
“Mason…”
“You said adults stay.”
“I never said that.”
“You said parents stay.”
“I’m not your parent.”
The moment the words left her mouth, she wished she could grab them back.
Mason’s face changed.
Cole looked down.
Ryder stepped backward.
Theo simply whispered, “Oh.”
Clara’s heart cracked.
“That isn’t what I meant.”
Mason turned.
“Yes, it is.”
He ran.
The others followed.
Clara covered her face.
Victor said nothing.
Which somehow made it worse.
That evening, Clara found a folded piece of paper outside her apartment.
Five words in Mason’s messy handwriting:
EVERYBODY LEAVES WHEN WE GET HARD.
Clara sat on the floor.
And cried.
Not because Mason was right.
Because he wasn’t completely wrong.
She had spent years fighting for Lily because leaving her was unthinkable.
Yet the moment loving four damaged little boys became complicated, Clara’s first instinct had been to run toward safety.
Maybe that made sense.
Maybe it was healthy.
Maybe it was necessary.
But it still hurt.
At midnight, she went to the main house.
The boys were asleep.
Victor sat alone in the kitchen.
“Can I ask you something?”
He looked up.
“Anything.”
“If I stay, things change.”
“How?”
“I’m not a live-in servant.”
“Agreed.”
“I’m not raising your children while you disappear into work.”
“Agreed.”
“They need therapy.”
“Already scheduled.”
“You attend.”
He hesitated.
Clara raised an eyebrow.
“Agreed.”
“And I need hours that let me be Lily’s mother.”
Victor nodded.
“Done.”
Clara took a breath.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“You never use money to win an argument with me.”
Victor almost smiled.
“That feels oddly specific.”
“It is.”
He stood.
“Then one condition from me.”
Clara narrowed her eyes.
“What?”
“Next time you think you have to leave, talk to me first.”
She considered it.
“Fine.”
A tiny voice came from the hallway.
“So you’re staying?”
Theo.
Clara smiled.
“For now.”
He ran toward her.
Then four boys were suddenly awake.
Then Lily came downstairs.
Within seconds, Clara was trapped under five children.
Victor leaned against the counter.
“You realize this means they’ve won.”
Clara laughed.
“No.”
She looked at the children.
“We all did.”
Then Victor’s phone buzzed.
His face changed as he read the message.
Grant had confessed to financial crimes.
May you like
But not Elena’s murder.
And his lawyer was claiming the mechanic acted alone.
