Morning light crept into the hospital room, thin and hesitant — as if afraid to disturb the silence that had swallowed everything.
Amelia sat by Aunt Chloe's bedside, her coffee long gone cold. The machines hummed softly, their steady rhythm a cruel reminder that time was still moving even when her world had stopped.
Her kids were still asleep back at the house, tucked into the same beds they'd slept in during summer holidays. Lily had clutched her teddy so tightly last night that the stitches had given way. Ethan had refused to eat. Emily just cried quietly, asking every few minutes when Aunt chlowould wake up.
Amelia rubbed her temples, exhaustion gnawing at her. Between hospital visits and late-night emails to HR, she hadn't slept properly in days.
Then her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
Her chest tightened. She almost didn't pick up. Almost.
"Hello?"
"Miss Jones?" The voice was clipped, formal. Corporate. "This is Vanessa from the HR department at King's Corporation. We're conducting follow-up inquiries into your suspension. The Board has requested your presence for questioning — tomorrow morning."
Amelia blinked, stunned. "You're calling me for questioning while I'm out of the country attending to a family emergency?"
"I'm aware of your situation, but the request came directly from Mr. King himself."
Her pulse skipped. Christopher King.
"I can attend via video call," she said quickly, gripping the phone tighter. "I can't leave my aunt right now."
"I'll confirm with the board," Vanessa replied. "Expect an email shortly."
The call ended before Amelia could respond.
She dropped her phone onto her lap, shaking her head in disbelief.
Even from oceans away, that man still managed to control the air she breathed.
---
Later that day, she stepped outside the hospital for the first time, inhaling the crisp Manchester air. It smelled like rain and old memories.
She thought about her aunt's words years ago — 'Never let life make you small, Amelia. Even when it tries.'
So she stood taller. Straightened her coat. And walked back home to her kids with a fire slowly rekindling in her chest.
---
That evening, as she tucked the triplets in, Emily reached for her hand.
"Mommy, are you sad?"
Amelia smiled faintly. "A little. But I'll be okay."
"Because you're brave," Ethan said, yawning.
She brushed their hair back gently. "Because I have you three."
---
When she finally opened her laptop that night, her inbox was waiting — cold and merciless as always.
There it was:
> Subject: Official Notice — Mandatory Online Inquiry
From: Christopher King
Her jaw tightened as she opened it.
> You are to attend a virtual meeting tomorrow at 9:00 AM sharp. Failure to comply will be noted as insubordination.
— C. King
No signature. No sympathy. Just business — and control.
She stared at the screen for a long time, her reflection staring back at her — tired eyes, messy hair, unbroken spirit.
Then she whispered to herself,
"Fine, Mr. King. Let the game begin."
---