"The Letter That Shouldn’t Exist"

Amber shocked when Amber recived the notice from Court😱

 It was a peaceful Saturday morning when Amber's world cracked.

She was in her cozy one-bedroom apartment, wearing an oversized hoodie and sipping herbal tea by the window. Her playlist hummed softly in the background—melancholic jazz, perfect for rainy mornings like this. Her cat, Saffron, slept curled near her feet, purring in rhythm with the rain outside.

The knock at the door was calm, innocent. Not the kind that warns of chaos.

Amber opened it and found a man in a gray uniform, holding a large yellow envelope.

“Amber Simone?” he asked.

“That’s me.”

“You’ve been served.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

But he had already turned and walked down the hall.

Amber closed the door slowly, staring at the envelope in her hands. Her name was written across the front in bold, typed letters, under the seal of Family Court, County of Westbridge.

She opened it with trembling fingers.

Inside were two crisp documents — one official summons, the other a supporting motion.

Amber began reading aloud, her voice growing hoarse with each line:

"You are hereby ordered to appear before the Family Court regarding case number 78F-216, concerning the guardianship, paternity, and custodial rights of the minor child known as 'Kai.'"

Her heart stopped.

“Kai?” she whispered.

"This court believes you may possess material information or history relevant to the child’s parentage and welfare, and are therefore being summoned for witness testimony and potential investigation into prior contact with the parties involved."

She dropped the papers.

“No… this isn’t possible.”

Amber collapsed onto the couch, mind spinning in a thousand directions. She hadn’t seen Shayla in years—not since they had a falling-out over a “favor” Amber refused to do. Shayla had always been secretive, manipulative, like a spider spinning lies with golden thread.

And now… the courts were calling her?

She picked up the supporting document again and read more carefully. It listed two names: Anthony M. Carter and Rolonda E. Wells — the petitioners. And one more name under scrutiny: Shayla Renee Martin.

And then, there it was.

A date.

A year that jolted Amber like a bolt of lightning.

2019.
The summer Shayla had called her frantically, asking for help—sobbing about a man who’d found out too much, a child that might not be safe, and a desperate need to “fix it all.”

Amber had said no. She didn’t want to be involved. She had her own mess to clean up at the time.

And now, the past had come for her.

Suddenly, she remembered something. Something she had buried deep:

A letter. A handwritten note Shayla left behind that night—crumpled in Amber’s kitchen trash can. Amber had dug it out when she sobered up, intending to destroy it, but ended up hiding it in a shoebox at the back of her closet.

Amber raced to the bedroom.

She yanked the box down, fingers tearing through its contents. Old receipts, faded photos, her mother’s rosary.

And there it was. Folded, yellowed slightly with time.

The letter.

She read it again, aloud, now realizing how damning it truly was:

“Amber, if anything happens to me, know that Kai was never supposed to exist. I lied. Not just to Anthony. To everyone. I never wanted a child, not after what happened to Zane. I don’t even know if the father is who I think it is. Just burn this. Please. And don’t tell anyone.”
—S

Amber’s hand shook.

“Zane?” she whispered. “Who the hell is Zane?”

She stared at the letter like it was made of fire. This—this was why she was being summoned. Someone must have traced her connection to Shayla, maybe found old texts or emails. And now the court wanted the truth.

But the truth was explosive.

Amber felt tears sting her eyes. Not because of the court appearance… but because she had a terrible feeling:

This wasn't just about custody anymore.

This was about who Kai really was.

About a history much darker than anyone had dared speak aloud.

And if Shayla’s secrets came to light, it wouldn’t just be her who went down. Anyone connected—including Amber—would be dragged into the flames.

---

Across Town: Meanwhile at Anthony’s Apartment

Anthony sat at his desk, flipping through documents with Rolonda by his side. They were finalizing their legal binders, preparing for court. Everything was in motion—witnesses, investigators, sworn statements.

“She was closer to Shayla than anyone,” Rolonda said, tapping on Amber’s name. “If anyone has evidence of manipulation or neglect, it’s her.”

Anthony nodded slowly. “Do you think she’ll talk?”

“We’ve subpoenaed her. She has no choice.”

Anthony stared out the window, unsure whether he felt victorious or terrified.

What if this trial unearthed more than he was prepared for?

---

Back in Amber’s Apartment:

Amber picked up the phone.

She scrolled to a contact she hadn’t used in a long time.

"Detective Milo Hayes"

He owed her a favor.

And if the things she knew about Shayla ever reached open court… someone might try to silence her first.

And she wasn’t going down without protection.

---

To Be Continued…

Would you like the next chapter to focus on the first day in court, where secrets begin to explode under testimony? Or a flashback revealing who Zane really was — and what Shayla did to him?