Under the Veil I Rule (Amara) novel Chapter 850

Amara knew Larry wasn't bluffing.

If he merely wanted to threaten her, he could have declared he would donate everything and leave her with absolutely nothing.

Instead, he had calculated a precise compromise: ten percent.

With ten percent, she would still be fabulously wealthy, never having to work a day in her life. But it wasn't enough to give her a controlling interest or a seat as Chairwoman. This perfectly protected the Sullivan Group from the "scandal" of being run by a woman who had a child out of wedlock, while still ensuring his bloodline was financially secure.

He had thought of every possible angle. He was dead serious.

He valued the family's prestige and reputation too much to let an unwed mother and a fatherless child take the helm of his legacy.

Realizing the absolute finality of his decision, a bitter smile tugged at Amara's lips.

She left the Sullivan estate in a daze, her mind spiraling into total chaos. The conversation had completely dismantled her only strategy. She was backed into a corner with zero leverage.

Her options were stark: abort her baby immediately to inherit the empire, or keep her child and watch billions of dollars vanish into charity, leaving her with a fraction of her birthright. What the hell was she supposed to do now?

In a state of sheer panic, she drove straight to Elysia Moon's house.

Lucian Hale was there when she arrived. It seemed he had been staying over to take care of Elysia, as she was still recovering from her recent loss and desperately needed the support.

Amara managed a strained greeting. Her eyes immediately darted to Elysia.

Catching the unspoken urgency between the two women, Lucian tactfully excused himself, leaving them alone.

It was a brutal, lose-lose situation. No matter which path Amara chose, it was going to tear her apart. A suffocating silence settled over the room as both women wrestled with the impossible choice.

Finally, Elysia reached out and squeezed Amara's hand. "Ama... maybe you should seriously consider giving up the baby."

"I know how much you want this child. I know how long you've fought for it. But when it comes down to it, absolute wealth is the most powerful protection you can have. If you secure all of his shares, you achieve total financial freedom."

"I know you're already wealthy, but there's a massive difference between having money and having financial freedom."

"Right now, you have enough to live comfortably without working. But that kind of 'comfortable' has a ceiling."

"With the Sullivan Group's shares, you transcend that. If you want a private jet, you buy it. If you want to disappear to your own private island, you buy one. You can do anything you want, whenever you want, and you will never, ever have to look over your shoulder or worry about money again."