That condescending humiliation lit a fire in me. I gripped my bag strap. "Mrs. Vincent, Paul's choices are his freedom as an adult. As for whether I'm good enough, that's between Paul and me. Not for outsiders to judge."
"Between you and Paul?" Elizabeth let out a mocking laugh, like I'd told a joke. "His last name is Vincent. Everything he does affects the family corporation's stock price and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of employees. And you think it's just 'between you'? How ignorant."
She gave her assistant a look. The assistant pulled a check from a briefcase and held it out.
I glanced down. Five million dollars.
"Compensation," Elizabeth said, casually twisting the emerald ring on her middle finger. "Take this money and leave Hawaii. Go anywhere Paul can't find you. You can give the child a better life—as long as you vanish from the Vincent Family's sight forever."
Staring at that flimsy piece of paper, memories from six years ago crashed over me. Back then, Diana sat in Boston's most expensive café and threw down fifty thousand.
Looking at all those zeros, I almost laughed.
"Six years ago, you thought I was worth fifty thousand. Now it's five million." I smiled bitterly. "Guess inflation hit hard. My 'value' in your eyes went up, too. Should I thank you for your generosity?"
Elizabeth's eyes went ice-cold.
"But I'm afraid," I pushed the check away, "Tommy and I aren't going anywhere. Paul isn't merchandise. Neither am I."
I grabbed Tommy and turned to leave. But before I got far, two bodyguards blocked us again. This time, they dropped the fake politeness. One shoved my shoulder hard. Tommy burst into tears.
"You think this is some inspirational movie, Miss White?" Elizabeth stepped out of the car.
She walked toward me in those needle-thin heels, towering over me on the cracked sidewalk.
"I know you're stubborn. I know you think you can trap Paul with this kid," she leaned close to my ear, "but some things aren't up to you. You think changing your name, switching identities, erases your past?"
My heart stopped. Blood froze in my veins.
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Ella. Oh, wait, I should use your real name, shouldn't I?" Elizabeth slowly removed her left glove. "You changed your identity to escape certain things. Fraud, forged documents, illegal identity alteration. I've already contacted Immigration and the relevant agencies. One phone call and the evidence lands on a judge's desk."
Her words hit like a sledgehammer.
"Think I'm bluffing?" She watched my face drain of color, voice slowing deliberately. "You may not know this, but identity fraud is a federal crime in America. If convicted, you'll spend three to five years in prison. After your sentence, you'll be handcuffed and put on a plane, deported to wherever you were born. Your name goes in the system. You'll never set foot on American soil again."
She stepped closer. "And Tommy, the moment you're arrested, Child Protective Services steps in. A single mother suspected of fraud, no legal status, no fixed address—who do you think the judge awards custody to? The Vincent Family has the best lawyers, unlimited resources, and social standing. We'll file for emergency guardianship. While you're still in a holding cell, Tommy will already be on his way to Boston. When he grows up, he'll know his mother was a criminal. Someone who got deported. Think he'll want to see you then?"
She paused, looking at me with contempt. "So tell me, will you still have the right to talk about 'private matters'?"
My mind went blank.
I'd imagined she'd cut off Paul's money. Imagined she'd destroy my career. Even imagined violence. But I never thought she'd destroy me like this.
"You... you can't do this." My voice shook. I held Tommy tighter as he sobbed. "He's Paul's child..."
"He's the Vincent Family's shame first." Elizabeth cut me off coldly. "Unless he grows up with a different identity, in a more suitable environment. And that environment will never include you."
She climbed back into the car.
"Miss White, this is reality. You thought some trivial love could fight the entire Vincent Family? Naive." She lowered the window, giving me one last look. "Be smart. Take the moneyand leave. You'll keep your child and your pathetic freedom. Otherwise, you'll lose everything. You have one day to decide."
The black sedan roared to life and disappeared down the street.
The sunshine still blazed, blinding. But I felt like I'd fallen into a polar ice cave. I collapsed onto the cold cement, Tommy still crying in my arms.
I looked at my hands. These hands that tried to change fate through hard work. These hands that tried to hold happiness. Against absolute power, they were so weak. So small.
