The World Without Me
Morning sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, waking me slowly.
For a moment, I didn't remember where I was.
The ceiling above me was unfamiliar. The room was smaller than the bedroom I had lived in for three years. The furniture was simple. Quiet.
Then everything came rushing back.
The mansion.
The divorce.
Vanessa.
Damian.
And the life growing inside me.
My hand instinctively moved to my stomach.
A soft breath escaped my lips.
"We're going to be okay," I whispered.
I had checked into a small serviced apartment late last night. It wasn't luxurious like the mansion, but it felt... peaceful.
No memories here.
No lies.
Just a fresh start.
I slowly sat up in bed and glanced around the room again.
A new life.
It felt strange saying those words in my mind.
But that was exactly what I needed.
An hour later I sat by the window with a cup of warm tea, reviewing the financial documents I had taken from the mansion.
Papers covered the small table.
Investment reports.
Company records.
Hidden accounts.
Vanessa and Damian had believed I knew nothing about the company finances.
They were wrong.
For three years, I had quietly handled most of the business decisions behind the scenes.
Damian had been the face of the company.
But I had been the brain.
I ran my finger slowly over one of the documents and frowned.
Something wasn't right.
A few of the major investments listed here were projects I had personally negotiated months ago.
Yet the newest financial updates showed massive losses.
"How is that possible?" I murmured.
Those deals were solid.
There was no way they could fail this quickly.
Unless...
Someone had changed something after I left.
My phone suddenly vibrated on the table.
The screen lit up with a news notification.
I opened it casually.
But the headline made my heart skip.
BLACKWOOD GROUP STOCKS FALL AFTER FAILED INVESTMENT PROJECT
I stared at the screen.
Failed?
That project had been one of the most stable deals the company had.
Unless...
My eyes slowly widened.
Damian had approved the new modifications Vanessa suggested.
Without me there to stop it.
A small bitter smile appeared on my lips.
"You finally get to see what happens without me," I whispered.
Across the city, inside the tall glass building of Blackwood Group, chaos filled the executive floor.
Damian stood inside the conference room, his face dark as several managers spoke nervously around the table.
"This project was supposed to bring profit," one of them said anxiously.
"The market reaction has been terrible," another added.
Damian slammed a file onto the table.
"Who approved the changes to the investment contract?"
The room fell silent.
Finally one of the directors spoke carefully.
"You did... sir."
Damian's jaw tightened.
Vanessa had been the one who convinced him to adjust the contract terms.
She said it would bring faster profit.
Now the entire project was collapsing.
Another manager spoke quietly.
"Mrs. Blackwood used to review all these agreements before they were finalized."
The room grew uncomfortable.
Damian said nothing.
But something cold moved through his chest.
Amelia.
For years he had believed she was simply enjoying the life he provided.
He had never realized how many decisions she quietly handled.
Now she was gone.
And the company was beginning to shake.
Damian slowly walked to the window, staring down at the city below.
"Find Amelia," he said suddenly.
The room went silent again.
"Sir?"
"I want to know where she is," Damian repeated.
His voice was calm.
But his eyes were dark.
Meanwhile, inside the small apartment, I was still studying the documents when someone knocked on the door.
My body stiffened immediately.
No one should know I was here.
I slowly stood up and walked toward the door.
"Who is it?" I asked cautiously.
"It's Mr. Cole."
Relief washed through me.
I opened the door quickly.
My lawyer stepped inside, carrying a folder.
"I came as soon as I heard the news," he said.
"What news?"
He looked surprised.
"You haven't seen it?"
He placed the folder on the table.
Inside were several printed articles.
All of them about Blackwood Group's sudden financial trouble.
I exhaled slowly.
"So it's already starting."
Mr. Cole adjusted his glasses.
"Amelia... I must say something."
"What is it?"
"You were far more important to that company than anyone realized."
I gave a quiet laugh.
"Damian is realizing that now."
Mr. Cole nodded thoughtfully.
"Which means he may try to bring you back."
My expression hardened immediately.
"That won't happen."
I placed my hand lightly on my stomach again.
"I'm done with that life."
Across the city, inside a luxurious apartment, Vanessa Carter was pacing furiously across the living room.
Her phone was pressed tightly against her ear.
"How could the project fail?" she snapped.
The voice on the other end spoke nervously.
"It wasn't our plan, Vanessa. Someone exposed the weakness in the contract."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
There was a pause.
Then the man answered carefully.
"Amelia Blackwood."
Vanessa's hand tightened around the phone.
"So she's already fighting back," she whispered.
Her lips slowly curved into a cold smile.
"Good."
She ended the call and walked toward the window.
Far below, the city lights glittered in the evening darkness.
"You think you can destroy me, Amelia?" she murmured softly.
Her eyes darkened.
"I'll show you exactly what happens to women who try."
Her phone vibrated again.
A message appeared.
Damian is looking for Amelia.
Vanessa stared at the screen.
Then she laughed quietly.
"Perfect," she whispered.
"If he finds her..."
Her smile widened slowly.
"Then I'll make sure he finds something else too."
Back in my apartment, the evening had grown quiet.
Mr. Cole had already left, and I sat alone by the window again.
The city lights flickered outside.
My hand rested gently on my stomach.
So much had changed in just a few days.
But deep inside, I felt something new growing.
Not just the baby.
Strength.
Determination.
And a desire for justice.
Suddenly my phone buzzed on the table.
A message.
Unknown number.
I frowned and opened it.
The text was short.
If you want to know the truth about Vanessa... meet me tonight.
My heart skipped.
Another message appeared immediately after.
Come alone.
My stomach tightened uneasily.
Something about this felt wrong.
Dangerous.
But the message ended with one final sentence.
Because the secret she's hiding is bigger than you think.
I stared at the screen.
My pulse slowly quickened.
What secret?
And who sent this?
Outside my window, the city continued moving like nothing had changed.
But deep in my chest, I felt the uneasy sense that something far more dangerous was about to begin.
And somehow...
I had just walked directly into it.
