Chapter 4 - The Predator in the Shadows
Three days later, Amara was discharged from the hospital.
When a sleek black town car arrived to take her and the twins back home, Amara expected to return to her cramped, cracked-linoleum apartment on Elm Street. Instead, the driver took them to a quiet, tree-lined suburb on the north side of Columbus, stopping in front of a charming three-bedroom brick townhouse with a manicured front lawn.
"This isn't my address," Amara said, her eyes widening as the driver opened her door.
Nathan stepped out from the front porch, wearing a dark jacket. "Your old apartment had black mold and a broken heating system, Ms. Johnson. I owned this property through a corporate holding company. It was vacant. It's yours for as long as you need it."
Amara stepped out onto the sidewalk, holding Kira and Caden by their hands. "Mr. Pierce, this is too much. I can't accept charity like this. I don't know how I could ever pay you back."
"It's not charity, it's an investment," Nathan said smoothly. "And you don't pay me back. You recover."
For two weeks, life felt like a miraculous dream. The townhouse was fully furnished, the pantry was stocked with healthy food, and a private tutor came by twice a week to help prepare the twins for preschool. Amara felt her strength returning, her skin regaining its healthy color, and her laughter returning for the first time since her husband had abandoned her three years ago.
But dreams in Amara's world rarely lasted without a storm.
On a rainy Thursday afternoon while Nathan was visiting to drop off a new train set for Caden, a harsh, violent knocking rattled the front door of the townhouse.
Amara opened the door, and the color instantly drained from her face.
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Standing on the porch was Richard Vance—her ex-husband, a ruthless, low-level gambler who had walked out on her when she was six months pregnant with the twins.
"Well, well, well," Richard sneered, stepping onto the threshold without being asked. "Look at this luxury. I knew you were holding out on me, Amara."
