Chapter 6: A Difficult Decision

The late afternoon sun casts long shadows over the cobblestone streets as Lila pulls up to the small daycare center. It’s usually a happy time of day—her chance to see Ava and Liam after hours apart. But today, something feels different.

When she steps inside, the worried expression on the teacher’s face immediately sets her on edge.

“Mrs. Montgomery,” the teacher greets, her voice a mix of concern and hesitation. “We need to talk about Liam.”

Lila’s heart skips a beat. “What happened?”

The teacher gestures toward the small infirmary at the back of the center. Lila’s breath catches when she sees Liam sitting on a bench, his head lowered, a small bandage covering a wound on his forehead. Ava is next to him, clutching his hand with her tiny fingers.

“Oh my God, Liam!” Lila rushes to him, crouching down to inspect the injury. Her hands tremble as she gently touches his face. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Liam avoids her gaze, his lips pressed into a stubborn line.

The teacher steps in, her voice low. “There was a fight in the class. Another boy said something, and Liam lost his temper. He… well, he hit the other child pretty hard. It took two of us to separate them.”

Lila’s heart sinks. “A fight? Liam, is this true?”

Liam doesn’t answer, staring at his sneakers.

The teacher continues, “We’re worried, Mrs. Montgomery. For his age, Liam has a lot of strength, and when he gets angry, he can do real harm. This isn’t the first time he’s had an outburst.”

“I understand,” Lila says quietly, her chest tightening. “I’ll talk to him. I’m so sorry this happened.”

She takes both children by the hand, leading them to the car. The drive home is tense, the air thick with unspoken words. Finally, Lila glances at Liam through the rearview mirror.

“Liam,” she begins, her tone firm but not unkind. “What happened back there? Why did you fight?”

Liam’s face hardens, his small fists clenching in his lap. “They were bullying us,” he says angrily.

“Bullying?” Lila asks, her voice softening.

“They said we’re orphans because we don’t have a dad,” Liam snaps. “And that you’re always too busy to care about us.”

The words hit Lila like a punch to the gut. Her grip on the steering wheel tightens, her knuckles turning white.

“That’s not true,” she says, her voice breaking slightly. “Liam, you know I love you and your sister more than anything in the world.”

“Then why don’t we have a dad?” Liam shouts. His outburst fills the car with a deafening silence. Ava looks between them, her small face crumpling in confusion.

Lila doesn’t respond. She can’t. Her throat feels like it’s closing, and her vision blurs with unshed tears.

As she tries to compose herself, her phone buzzes on the console. At first, she ignores it, but when it rings again, she glances down and sees her father’s name.

Her heart races with worry. “Dad?” she answers, her voice shaky.

Her father’s tone is heavy with stress. “Lila, I need to talk to you. It’s about the company.”

“What’s wrong?” she asks, her stomach knotting.

“It’s not good,” he admits. “The company is starting to falter. We’ve been losing clients and assets steadily over the past year. If this continues, we’ll be facing bankruptcy.”

Lila swallows hard, gripping the phone tighter. “What can I do, Dad?”

“I need you to come home, Lila,” he says, his voice pleading. “You’re smart, resourceful. Maybe you can salvage something—anything. I know you didn’t want to return, but this is our family’s legacy. We can’t let it all go.”

Her hands tremble as she grips the steering wheel, her mind racing. Going back to New York means facing everything she’s worked so hard to avoid—her past, Adrian, and the pain that still lingers like a wound that refuses to heal.

“I… I don’t know, Dad,” she says hesitantly.

“Lila,” he says firmly, “I’m counting on you. You’re my only hope.”

The line goes dead, and Lila stares at the phone, her heart heavy with indecision. Behind her, Liam and Ava sit quietly, the tension in the car thick.

As she drives the rest of the way home, one thought consumes her: Can I really go back and face it all?

When they arrive home, the silence between Lila and the kids is almost unbearable. Liam stomps into the living room, his small face set in a stubborn scowl, while Ava follows behind, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

Lila exhales heavily, setting down her bag. She knows she can’t let this tension fester. Taking a deep breath, she kneels on the floor to face her children, her voice soft but steady.

“Liam, Ava,” she begins, her hands gently resting on their small shoulders. “Listen to me.”

Ava looks at her with wide, curious eyes, but Liam avoids her gaze, staring at the floor with his arms crossed.

“You have a dad,” she says, her voice calm yet firm. “He’s busy, and that’s why you haven’t met him yet. But sooner or later, you will. Just not right now. Do you understand?”

Ava nods, her tiny hand reaching out to touch Lila’s cheek. “Okay, Mommy.”

Liam, however, doesn’t budge. His sharp gray eyes finally meet hers, filled with a mix of confusion and distrust. “Why can’t we see him now?” he asks, his tone cold and challenging.

Lila’s heart aches at his question. She takes a deep breath, forcing herself to hold his gaze. “It’s complicated, Liam,” she says gently. “But I promise, it’s not because of you or Ava. Sometimes, adults have things they need to figure out first.”

Liam remains quiet, his face unreadable, before he finally shrugs and walks away. Ava hesitates, her little arms wrapping around Lila in a quick hug before following her brother to their room.

Lila watches them go, the weight of her decisions pressing down on her like a stone. She knows Liam is smart—too smart for his age—and his questions are only going to get harder to answer.

After cleaning up and making sure the kids are settled in, Lila sinks onto the couch. She flips on the TV, hoping for a distraction, but the news broadcast pulls her attention immediately.

The headline flashes across the screen: “Montgomery Corporation Under New Ownership: Hale Industries Acquires Failing Assets.”

Lila sits bolt upright, her pulse racing. The screen shows Adrian Hale standing at a podium, his usual cold confidence on full display. The reporter’s voice drones on, detailing how Hale Industries has strategically acquired key holdings of the Montgomery Corporation, solidifying its dominance in the industry.

Her breath catches as the camera zooms in on Adrian’s face. His sharp, chiseled features are as familiar as ever, and for a moment, it feels like he’s staring directly at her through the screen.

She stands abruptly, grabbing her phone from the table and dialing her father’s number. It rings twice before he answers, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

“Lila,” he says. “I wasn’t expecting your call so soon.”

Her voice is steady, but her resolve is clear. “Dad, I’m coming home next week. I’m taking over the company.”

The line goes silent for a moment, and when her father speaks again, there’s a mixture of relief and hesitation in his voice.

“Are you sure, Lila?” he asks. “This won’t be easy.”

“I don’t care,” she says firmly. “I won’t let Adrian Hale take everything.”

As she hangs up, her reflection in the darkened TV screen stares back at her, determined and unyielding. For the first time in years, she feels the flicker of a fire she thought had long since burned out.

It’s time to go home.