Chapter 133: Her mother’s message
The screen flickered. And this time. Her mother appeared. Amara froze completely. For a moment, she couldn’t even blink.
"Mom..." Her voice cracked on the word.
Her mother was smiling in the video. Soft. Familiar. The kind of smile that always made Amara feel like everything would be okay, even when it wasn’t.
"You are a smart girl," her mother’s voice came gently through the speakers. "And I know only you will find this video." A small laugh followed.
Warm. Alive. "Why? Because you are my baby girl."
Amara’s lips trembled as she sank slowly into the chair again, as if her legs had finally given up. "I miss you..." she whispered, barely audible. On screen, her mother continued. "Your father left gold bars and jewelry... as an apology for his mistakes."
A pause. "But my dear... we can never fully understand what goes on in a man’s heart when he chooses to betray a good woman."
Amara’s eyes flickered with pain, but she didn’t interrupt. Because this wasn’t anger.
It was guidance. So she listened. "So I will tell you this," her mother said softly. "There are good men out there. But you, my precious girl... You don’t need anyone to save you."
Amara’s breath stilled. Her mother leaned slightly closer in the video, as if speaking directly into her soul. "You are enough on your own." A pause.
"Your father cut Amira out of his will... and asked me to do a DNA test. But I didn’t." Amara’s eyes widened slightly. "I didn’t," her mother repeated gently, "because it didn’t matter to me." Her voice softened further.
"But if a day ever comes where she tries to take everything from you..." A slight smile.
"I made sure you will still have this house." Amara slowly turned her head, almost in disbelief, looking around the hidden room again. The gold. The wealth. The silence of secrets carefully preserved for years.
"This room," her mother continued, "this house... everything in it... is for you, my baby girl." A pause.
"So you can always stand on your own two feet." Her mother smiled again, warm and certain.
"And always stand taller." The screen faded. Silence returned. But this time. It didn’t feel empty. Amara sat there for a long moment, unmoving. Then slowly... she stood. Her gaze moved across the vault again, but everything looked different now.
Not like betrayal. Not like secrets. But like something waiting. Something given. Something meant for her. Her hand moved to her stomach instinctively. A slow breath left her lips.
And for the first time that night. Her spine straightened. Not because the pain was gone. But because something else had taken its place. Strength. Quiet.Steady. Unshakable.
"I understand now," she whispered. Not to anyone in the room. But to herself. And the life growing inside her. "I don’t need to be saved."
A tear slipped down her cheek, but she didn’t wipe it away. Because this time... It wasn’t breaking her. It was changing her.
—
Amira found him where she always did when things turned messy. Too calm. Too sure of himself.
Sebastian sat back in the chair like the world was something he could lean on, not something that could collapse at any second. His phone rested lazily between his fingers, but his eyes lifted the moment she walked in.
He smiled. That same infuriating smile.
"You look stressed," he said lightly. "That’s not like you." Amira didn’t sit. Didn’t greet him. She stood in front of him like a wall refusing to bend.
"I want to know something," she said, voice tight. "Did you touch the will?" Sebastian raised a brow. "Which part of that sentence sounded polite to you?"
"Seb." he way she said his name made the air shift. He exhaled slowly, finally sitting up a little straighter.
"Alright," he said, gesturing slightly. "Talk." Amira’s jaw tightened. "Amara wants the lawyers to read the will tomorrow."
Silence. Just for a second. Then Sebastian leaned back again, as if amused.
"And?"
"I want what’s mine," Amira said quickly, sharper now. "I helped you, now you must help me. I’ve lost my sister. I deserve half of the Pedro future."
That made him laugh. Low. Unbothered. "Someone is feeling generous," he murmured. "I thought you wanted all of it." Amira’s eyes narrowed.
"This isn’t a joke."
"It never is with you," he replied smoothly. Then he tilted his head slightly.
"It’s too early," he added, almost casually. "I thought I could have someone change the names... make you Amara on paper and her Amira... but my people haven’t been able to get close enough to the will yet." Amira’s expression shifted instantly.
"Then you don’t have time." Sebastian studied her now, really looked at her. "I don’t have a few days," she pressed. "She’s reading it tomorrow." That finally got his attention.
A pause. Then. "Alright," he said, standing. "Calm down." Amira scoffed under her breath. "Calm down?" Sebastian already had his phone out. "I’ll make some calls."
Within seconds, his tone changed completely. Controlled. Calculated. The version of him that didn’t ask...he directed.
Amira watched as he paced slightly, speaking low into the phone, giving instructions that sounded less like requests and more like quiet commands wrapped in money.
"Speed it up."
"Whatever it takes."
"Shares are fine."
"Cash too."
"I want access before morning."
"And the will?" the man on the phone asked. Sebastian smiled faintly.
"It’s simple," he said. "Change a few letters... shift a few names... no one looks twice when they’re rushing." The man frowned. "That’s illegal."
He shrugged. "That depends on who wins."
A beat. Then he added, almost lightly, "And when Amira becomes the new CEO..." He paused just long enough for it to land.
"You get a seat on the board."
"Done."
He ended the call and turned back to her. Amira didn’t relax. She knew him too well for that. Amira held his gaze. Trying to read him. Trying to decide if this was power... or manipulation disguised as opportunity. Sebastian just smiled. Waiting. As if he already knew she would choose survival.