Amelia's POV

"I am sorry, Ms. Kale, but we are trying our best. Your brother seems like he doesn't want to wake up." Sighing heavily, I took those painful words in check.

Nodding at him, I stared at my brother's body lying lifelessly on the bed. IVs were attached to his body. I am also running out of money now.

My ex-husband was doing everything in his hands to destroy us. To make me helpless, but I can't. I can't give up; I have to be strong for my brother.

"Don't worry, brother. Your sister wouldn't give up like you. I will fight till my last breath. I will." I said, kissing his pale hand before taking a deep breath and walking out of the hospital.

I don't even know where I should go now. I don't even have a job anymore. Our business is not doing well, and Liam did an excellent job destroying it.

I only work for a week or hardly a month in any place as I always get fired, and I know who is behind all of this.

After two weeks, we again have a trial, and the case is just kept on going against us. I can't believe Liam can ever play so dirty. I feel ashamed that once I loved that man more than myself, I even forgot my worth.

"Amelia." I got startled hearing my name. A familiar face appeared in front of my face making me smile slightly.

She instantly hugged me tightly, almost jumping on my body, earning a huff from my lips.

"Lily. How are you? You came back." She pulled back and stared at me with a glare. I was left stunned when I witnessed a tear escaping her eye.

"Hey. Lily, why are you crying?" I gently wiped her wet cheek, making her grab my hand.

"You were going through all of this alone. You didn't even care to inform me. Come on, Amy, aren't we are friends? I thought we were like sisters."

"Yes, Lily, you are like my sister. How can you even question me about something like this?" She shook her head before grabbing my wrist and pulling me into a garden near the hospital.

***

"Tell me, Amy, why am I not informed about all the pain you're going through alone? It's even been six months since you talk to me. Do you have any idea how worried I was? But you know your ignorance did a good job. That I decided to visit you and finally came to know about everything."

I looked down. I wanted to tell her. She's the only one with whom I could share my pain, but in all of this mess, I forgot about her.

"I am sorry, Lily. Forgive me. In all of these problems, I forgot to tell you this. I am sorry." She shook her head, grabbing my hands.

"Don't be. I can understand. Yes, I was upset, but I can understand that it's not easy to handle everything, especially on your own. Tell me about our little boy. How's he doing?"

I shook my head as tears gathered in my eyes. "No progress. The doctor is saying it seems like he had given up. And…"

My throat tightens as a sob gathers in it. She instantly pulled me in her arms. And within seconds, I burst out crying.

"I can't do this, Lily. I am losing my strength every second. Liam, he had destroyed everything. What should I do, Lily? I sobbed, clutching her jacket as she rubbed my back.

"That bastard. Don't worry, Amy. I am here for you. We will fight for our little Prince." Shaking my head, I broke the hug and wiped my tears away.

"The lawyer had already told me that chances of our victory are none. Liam had done everything in his power to win this."

"I don't even have a job anymore. I need money for my brother, to pay for the lawyer, for my basic needs. Liam is trying everything to make me beg from him. I do not want that to happen."

"And you wouldn't," she said, grabbing my shoulders and staring straight into my eyes.

"I want to help you. But I am nothing against the Stones. We need someone who could show him his place, someone who could help you financially and with your brother's case? And only a powerful person just like Liam can do it."

I stared at her telling her that we didn't know any influential person except Liam, but instead, she gave me a small smile.

"You trust me, right?" I nodded without any hesitation, making her grin happily with my answer.

"So, listen to me. I know one person who's not only powerful, but many people worship him. Don't worry. You don't have to do anything wrong. He's Luca's boss, and I heard he needs help with something. I can't explain everything because I think it's better if he explains it to you. I will send you his address."

This sounded cryptic as I was about to accept an offer from a man I even do not know.

But do you have any choice? A voice in my head taunted as I again sighed heavily. "Amy, you said you trust me, then do this. He's the only man who can help you to fight against Liam."

I looked up at her curious eyes before nodding my head, making her smile gratefully. I know Lily will never let me do things that could harm me. I trust her.

And I am ready to do this. I will do this for my brother, parents, and myself. I have to do this.

"Alright, let's go somewhere. We have a lot of catching up to do. I missed you so damn much. Even Luca was asking about you."

Lily and I were friends from diapers. We are like sisters. But when I got married, she also found the love of her life, Luca. That guy was the most polite man I had ever met. He was so much in love with her.

Lily had to move away with her husband as Luca got a job away from home. I did miss her a lot. We called each other almost every day, but after all this mess, I forgot about her.

***

The next day I got Lily's message. I somehow knew this address. It is near the company of the Stones.

I reached the place Lily told me. A small yelp left from my lips when a small body got slammed against my legs. I instantly kneeled, helping the little guy to stand up.

"Hey, little boy, what are you doing alone here? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to run on streets?" I said, dusting his dirty clothes.

I tilted my head in confusion when the boy kept on staring at me with a weird gaze. I opened my mouth to ask him something, but instead, he whispered.

"Angel."

I raised my eyebrows as an amused smile appeared on my lips. This is the first time someone has called me this.

I gasped out when he suddenly slammed his tiny figure in my arms, making me hold him. "Hey, hey, what happened?"

Instead of answering, he held me more tightly, burying his face in my crook. What's with this boy? How can he be so comfortable with a stranger? His parents need to keep a keen eye on him.

"I knew it. My angel will come again. Mom told me my angel will come back."

I left more baffled about what he was even saying.

I tried to tear him away from my body, but he held me more tightly.

"Please don't leave me again. Please, angel."

His little whisper melted me right away. Suddenly I felt like I had become a mother. Shaking my head, I picked the boy up. He seemed to be 5 to 6 years of age.

"Alright, tell me where your parents are. They must be worried about you, right?" He hummed before pointing at the vast building. I frowned. It was the same company in Lily's text message.

Still baffled, I walked inside the company and met numerous people busy with their work. I approached the receptionist as the little boy refused to tell me further details.

But before I could take a step ahead, someone almost jumped on me. The girl was breathing heavily. A small sigh left from her lips like she was relieved. Her eyes were stuck on the guy in my arms. Maybe she's his mother.

"Young Master, where have you been? Your father is going crazy. Let's go." She tried grabbing him, but he held me more tightly, whimpering.

"Hey, hey, stop grabbing him. Can't you see he doesn't want to go with you? Tell me where his father is I will take him." The girl finally looked at me.

She gave me a rude stare before nodding her head and asking me to follow her. After a century, we finally reached his father's office.

The girl seemed too scared all of a sudden. We heard shouting inside the office. "Go inside with him. I have something to do. Bye, and be careful."

With that, she ran away, but the little guy didn't even budge.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in."

I cringed at that unnecessary shout of some hulk inside.

I entered the office and almost gasped at the mess. There was even a broken table.

"What the fuck do you want? Say it." He yelled, startling me, but the guy in my arms still seemed unaffected by all of this.

The man suddenly turned around, and as soon as his eyes fell on the guy, he let out a heavy breath and ran towards us.

Startled, I took a step back. He didn't even care to acknowledge my presence and gave his full attention to the little boy.

"Alex, where were you? Do you have any idea how worried I was? Look at me, Alex." I again cringed at the man's way of handling a kid.

But the little boy didn't react, not even a bit. It was almost like he was used to it. The man again yelled at him and, this time, tried to grab Alex, but I took a step back.

"Don't force him. This way, you will make him more stubborn." He finally turned his head, locking his dark gaze with mine.

"Who are you?"

The little man who was beside me started yawning and, in an instant, felt as sleep. It's a good thing that I was able to catch him.

"I am here to meet someone, but then I found your son outside, and he wasn't ready to leave me." The man threw me a nasty glare with a frown for no reason and then nodded.

"Who do you want to meet?" Before turning to him, I gently laid the little guy on the couch.

"I want to meet the owner. I am Amelia Kale. He had an appointment with me." As soon as I finished my words, something flashed in his eyes.

A smirk appeared on his lips as he nodded his head. "You're at the right place, Ms. Kale. And you're talking to the right person."

I frowned but then realized the meaning of his words. He stared at me, almost like studying me. He offered his hands to me.

"Xander Storm."

Author's POV

Amelia couldn't believe that the messed-up man in front of her was the owner of this and many other companies. His dark brown hair was messy. His eyes were darker than dark. Few buttons of his shirt were open, and the tie was on the floor, and the same goes for the coat.

While his sleeves were rolled up, revealing tattoos on one arm, his gaze showed something different. They were dark and emotionless, but the hardness was apparent in them, especially for her.

"I am sorry. I didn't know that you were." He interrupted her shaking his head before heading towards his seat.

"No problem. Take a seat, Miss. Kale. So we can start the discussion." She nodded before taking the seat in front of him carefully as she stepped on the broken glass.

"First, I want to confirm. Why are you accepting this offer? What's the purpose." He asked, not looking at her and opening the drawer.

"I want money. For my brother's treatment and to handle the case." Xander nodded his head before placing the file in front of Amelia.

"I don't care what's going on in your life Ms. Kale. The only thing I want from you is Honesty. I want you to be honest in your work."

"I understand, Mr. Storm, but. What I mean is what I have to do." Xander sighed, remembering that Lily didn't tell her anything.

"You have to be a caretaker of my son. In every way possible. You have to take care of him as your son." Amelia internally sighed in relief as the work wasn't big enough; moreover, Alex already had some liking towards her.

Xander gulped before blasting a bomb on her head. He was unsure if she would refuse the offer after his following condition, but he needed to do it.

"And you have to marry me."

Amelia's head shot up within a second as she stared at the man with wide eyes and parted lips. Has he lost his mind? She wanted to scream in his face but decided otherwise.

"What are you saying, Mr. Storm. What does taking care of your son do with marrying you." She questioned, earning a blank look from him.

"This." He said, pointing at the file in front of her. He motioned her to read it, and she did.

She was shocked after reading the file. It was the will of his late wife. In that will, it was written that if Xander has to keep the custody of Alexander, his son. He needs to remarry. Otherwise, he will lose custody after Alexander becomes seven years old.

What the...

Amelia POV

What is this nonsense? How can she put this kind of condition? Alexander is Xander's son. Then why doesn't he have any right to his custody? This doesn't make sense. It is also stated that if Xander didn't marry before Alexander became 7, his full custody would be in the hands of Alexander's grandparents.

And Xander will lose the right even to meet the child. God, what was wrong with that woman when she made this will. This will doesn't make any sense.

"I know it's confusing and quite ridiculous too. But you don't know the whole situation. That's why it's not making sense to you. But to me, I know why my wife did that."

I glanced at him before reading the clause. It says that it's in Xander's hands who he wants to marry and how he wants to pursue the marriage. And if the marriage fails, then it is in his hands and his spouse's if they're going to separate, but no divorce can occur in the first year of the marriage.

I closed the file and looked up, meeting the eyes of the curious man who seemed to wait for my answer. I don't know anymore. Marry him. That's just impossible. I didn't know this man, plus I divorced a few months ago.

Even though my feelings for Liam had started to fade away, still marrying someone else and creating the same relationship scares me.

"I know what you are afraid of, Ms. Kale. But you don't have to. I have no interest in this marriage as well. Next month is my son's seventh birthday, and I don't want to lose him. He's the only one I have."

I looked at him with a frown. But this file says Alex does have grandparents. He seemed to understand my frown and chuckled.

"Yes, I do have parents, but they had left me when I got married without their permission. They disapproved of my marriage with my late wife and left me. But that's not an important thing here. The important matter is I want my son's custody as soon as possible."

"But why me. I mean, you just met me. You can marry a person you know or the one you can trust without any doubt, not a stranger like me."

I saw something flash in his eyes, but it faded right away as he leaned forward to the table, keeping his blank gaze locked with mine.

"That's why. You answered your question, Ms. Kale." I frowned at his words as he didn't break the emotionless eye contact.

"You are a stranger. You have no greed. You already told me that you only want money for your brother and his ongoing case. Moreover, you just got divorced from a man you still love."

This stopped my heart. I gulped, blinking a few times as I still didn't look away from his emotionless icy orbs.

"You don't care what I have. You don't care how handsome I am. You don't care who I am. You only care about your brother's treatment and victory in that case. Isn't it Miss? Kale?"

I wanted to tell him that I didn't love that sick bastard, but I knew it would be a lie. If removing the love from one's heart that was buried for so many years this easy, then life would have been so easy.

I still love Liam. I do, but I have left no heart to forgive him or think of having any relation with him again. He lost me the day he decided to cheat on me. He lost me the day he signed those papers. He lost me the day his ego won against his heart.

"You don't have to worry, Ms. Kale. Our marriage will only be for my son. You will be his mother. Give him your love and care. We will be married only in papers. I have no right in your life matters, and you have no right in mine. Our marriage will remain only as a contract."

"I wouldn't force you into anything. I am ready for this because I can see my son already likes you. And this marriage will remain still only for him. But if you ever want to leave this marriage, I wouldn't stop you, but you can't in the first year. The choice is yours."

I stared at the table blankly. What should I do? I never even imagined that I would think of giving the place that Liam owned for years to someone else one day.

Why Liam, why. What have you done? What have you put me in? Now I am this helpless to accept this stranger for the sake of my brother.

I am feeling like selling myself for money, clutching my fists. I bit my lip, stopping myself from bursting into tears. I don't want to be weak. I have to be strong. Yes, Amelia, you have to be strong for your brother. For his dignity. You have to be.

Looking up into his emotionless eyes, I took a deep breath before nodding.

"I will do it. I will marry you. And."

I turned my head toward sleeping Alex and mumbled my following words.

"I will be Alexander's mother."