AMELIE
Sam's face hardened, his features sharp with irritation. "Don't be difficult, Amelie. You know damn well how this works. You sign, you leave, and we all move on. Isn't that what you want?"
I looked at him – I really looked at him – and for the first time, I saw not the man I had desperately tried to please for three long years but a stranger whose indifference and cruelty no longer had any power over me.
"What I want," I said slowly, the papers crumpling in my grip, "is for everything to be fair. And these terms aren't fair."
Miranda stepped forward, her expensive perfume wafting between us like an invisible noose that was set to strangle me. "Listen," she started, looking me up and down like I was a product to be purchased. "I understand this is difficult for you, but dragging it out won't help anyone. Just sign the papers, Amelie. Do something useful for once."
I recoiled a little, her venomous words making my head spin. In the past, I guess I would have shrunken under the weight of such despicable treatment, but now, it didn't mean a thing to me.
Useful for once? I asked myself, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips. Sure, they all look at people in terms of value, of how useful they could or couldn't be.
And although I hated it in the past, now, my value has gone up enormously. I felt confident.
"I won't do it," I said at last, my stance strong and unwavering.
The room fell silent once again, the tension growing so thick, I could run my finger through it.
"Who do you think you are?" Miranda finally hissed, her composure cracking. "You have nothing – no money, no family, no connections! The Cranes gave you a roof over your head for three years while you contributed nothing. The whole pack had to endure your useless presence, yet you took everything for granted!"
"Excuse me," Logan suddenly spoke up, his voice strangely calm and soft, "I can't help but wonder... You think so badly of Mrs. Gilmore, yet Samuel here still married her, for whatever reason. So what was it? Why did you marry her in the first place?"
All eyes turned to Sam, the Cranes clearly unprepared for such an intense intervention. Sam's mouth opened and closed as if he were a fish thrown out of water, yet no words came out for a while.
Finally, Miranda nudged him on the side, frowning as more irritation coiled inside her.
"It––it was a family matter," he said tightly, stuttering. "The s––situation was complicated back th––then."
"Is that so..." Logan said, though his tone suggested he wasn't happy with that answer. "Well, I find it fascinating that you're so eager to discard someone with Mrs. Gilmore's... unique talents."
The way he emphasized 'unique talents' sent a ripple of unease through the whole room. The Cranes exchanged confused glances, suddenly uncertain of why someone like Logan Grant would care to step forward and speak up for me.
"I'd be happy to recommend a good lawyer to review these papers," he continued, now focusing solely on me. "He specializes in complicated divorces. I'm sure he'll be able to help settle this matter fairly."
Before I could respond, Amanda Crane stepped forward, her social instincts finally overriding her disdain for me.
"Mr. Grant, would you like something to drink while we are working this out? I'm sure we can come to an arrangement that satisfies everyone."
Logan's smile was polite but tight with something hidden. "Thank you for the offer, but I believe Mrs. Gilmore and I have other plans. We'll be in touch regarding the papers. Through legal representation, of course."
With that, he simply turned to leave, clearly expecting me to follow. I hesitated only long enough to meet Sam's raging glare one last time.
"I'll have someone contact you about the revised terms," I said, my voice surprisingly firm and authoritative. "So long."
As I turned to follow Logan, Sam's voice burst like a hollow cry, thick with frustration and shock. "What?! So long? What are you doing, Amelie? Where will you even go?!"
I paused at the doorway, a strange sense of liberation washing over me as I threw one final glance in his direction. "I believe that is no longer any of your business, Mr. Crane."
Stepping outside into the sunlight, I felt lighter than I had in years. I had no money, no home, nothing to look forward to, yet somehow, I felt like the world was my oyster.
Logan was already waiting by his car, holding a door for me with a strangely blank expression.
"Thank you, Mr. Grant," I said sincerely. "For today. For everything."
He tilted his head, studying me with unhidden curiosity. "You seem surprisingly calm for someone whose life is about to turn into hell. Your in-laws won't leave you be."
"My life has always been hell," I replied with a small smile. "I'm used to it."
"Sadly poetic," he said thoughtfully, "but things are about to change for you, Mrs. Gilmore." He motioned for me to get into the car, then leaned forward, his face dangerously close to mine. "Starting right now."