Chapter 16 - The Ironclad Boundary
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Instead of responding directly to Chloe, I immediately called Luke. An hour later, he was sitting across from my desk in the studio, reading the pale pink letter with a deeply analytical, entirely unreadable expression on his face.
"This is a highly volatile situation, Clara," Luke said, carefully setting the letter down on the glass surface of my desk. "I understand your empathy, but you cannot engage with this woman directly. James is dangerous and unpredictable when he is cornered. If he finds out you are communicating with her, he will redirect his rage toward you."
"I know, Luke," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "But I can't just leave her to be battered. I know exactly what that feels like. I know the absolute isolation."
"You aren't going to abandon her, but you are going to let me handle it legally," Luke stated firmly.
"What can you do?" I asked.
"I am going to have my firm's private investigator discreetly drop off a package at her workplace," Luke explained, leaning forward. "It will contain the contact information for the top domestic violence shelter in the state, a prepaid burner phone, and the business card of a ruthless divorce and separation attorney who owes me a massive favor. We will give her the tools to escape, but your name will never be attached to it."
"Will it be enough?" I asked, the lingering guilt heavy in my chest.
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"It is more than enough," Luke promised, his voice softening with deep respect. "Clara, you are a beacon of strength, but you are not a martyr. Your first, second, and third priority is Maya. You provide the map, but Chloe has to be the one to walk through the fire."
I nodded slowly, feeling the heavy burden lift. The boundary was set, and it was entirely ironclad.
