Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Casey
Hawaiian sunshine always felt too bright to be real.
Paul showed up downstairs every morning at seven sharp, wearing that washed-out linen shirt, carrying two bags—one with breakfast, one with Tommy's toys.
Tommy got used to having him around. Every morning, he'd press his face against the window, and the second he spotted Paul, he'd shout, "Daddy's here!" Then he'd scramble down the stairs to let him in.
First thing Paul did was crouch down for a high-five, asking if Tommy slept okay, if he had any dreams. Tommy would ramble about some nonsensical dream, and Paul would listen like it mattered, even asking what happened next.
I'd stand in the kitchen frying eggs, listening to them talk in the living room, and sometimes I'd drift off, like mornings like this had been going on for years.
Weekends, he took Tommy to the beach. Tommy used to just splash around in the shallows. Now Paul taught him to lie on a board and wait for waves. He was still tiny, wobbling on that little board, but every time he caught a wave, he'd shriek with joy.
This past month, I almost believed this brightness was all there was. A happiness I hadn't dared hope for in six years. But this Wednesday afternoon, reality slapped me across the face and shattered the dream.
The air was suffocating. I'd just picked Tommy up from preschool. He was excited, showing me his gold star sticker, clutching my shirt. I was mentally planning dinner. Paul had reminded me that morning he'd be home early—wanted to take me to some new vegetarian place he'd found.
Then I turned that familiar corner and stopped cold.
Three black Lincolns sat parked along the quiet street, completely out of place. Polished to a shine, glaring in the sun. Men in black suits and sunglasses stood by the cars, hands folded, motionless, blocking the road I walked every day.
"Mommy, is that Daddy's car?" Tommy looked up, innocent.
My palms started sweating. I pulled him closer. "No, baby. It's not."
I tried to steer Tommy around them, just wanted to get home fast, but two of them stepped into our path. They didn't speak. Just stared down at me with that trained, cold look, like I wasn't a person, just an obstacle.
"Miss White," the one in front said, voice like ice. "Mrs. Vincent wants to see you."
I froze. Mrs. Vincent? Paul's stepmother? Elizabeth?
I felt Tommy's hand trembling in mine. He sensed something wrong. I forced myself to sound steady. "I don't know any Mrs. Vincent. If you don't move, I'm calling the police."
He didn't flinch. Just stepped aside slightly, gesturing toward the middle car. The rear window rolled down. A face with perfect makeup appeared.
"Miss White," she said, unhurried. "I don't like waiting. For the child's sake, I suggest you make the wise choice."
For the child's sake. The opening line people like her always used. The most effective threat.
I bit down hard, shielding Tommy as I approached the car. The closer I got, the more that expensive perfume mixed with the car's blasting AC hit me. Made me want to gag.
Elizabeth sat in shadow. She didn't even turn to look at me, just adjusted the velvet gloves on her hands.
"So you're the one who made Paul insist on abandoning the family business to stay on this fish-stinking island?" She finally turned, eyes scanning me with contempt. "Miss White, I assumed any woman who could turn Paul's head would have something special about her. Turns out his taste is pathetic."
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 money and 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.
I thought I'd escaped hell. Thought if I worked hard enough, if Paul loved me enough, we could build a home in this tiny refuge. But reality showed me the Vincent Family's shadow never left. It just waited for the perfect moment to strike the killing blow.
"Mommy, can we go home? I'm scared." Tommy hiccupped through his tears.
I held him tight. Tears finally spilled over. If I stayed, I'd lose Tommy. If I left, I'd lose my reason to live.
Six years later, facing the same choice, what the hell was I supposed to do?