MasukAdrian drove back to the family estate.Just in time to cross paths with the car taking his father to the helipad.He stepped out, expression cold.Winston's brow furrowed. "What is it?"Prescott hurried over. "Sir, the old master's decided to head back to Rivermouth early."Adrian said nothing.Winston's frown deepened, voice sharp. "What's wrong with you? I'm asking."Adrian shook his head. "Nothing. Safe travels."Winston: "..."He muttered something unintelligible, then climbed into the car.He gave Prescott one last instruction through the window. "While I'm away, keep a close eye on this reckless son of mine. Report anything to me immediately."Prescott nodded, smiling. "Of course, sir. Don't worry he's not a child anymore."They watched the car pull away.Adrian turned a steady, probing gaze on Prescott.Prescott's eyes slid away instinctively.Adrian stepped closer. "Prescott. You're the elder here. I'll give you the chance to explain yourself."Prescott forced a laugh. "Young
"Ah! My baby, my stomach"Robin took an instinctive half-step back.Looked down at Vanessa, her face twisted in pain.Lily, gripping Robin's hand, said flatly, "Better call an ambulance. Wouldn't want to lose your golden ticket back home, would you?"At thatReal fear flashed across Harold's face.He scooped Vanessa up into his arms.Shot a furious glare at his wife, frozen in place. "What are you standing there for? Call an ambulance, now!"Mrs. Cole snapped out of it.Fumbled her phone out with shaking hands.Dialed emergency services.The three of them rushed out the door.Where Vanessa had fallen, Lily caught sight of a spreading pool of blood.She went momentarily still.Robin saw it a beat later.Stared, wide-eyed. "I thought she was faking it. I didn't actually think she'd bleed."Lily pressed her lips together.Whatever happened to Vanessa's child was on Vanessa. Not her problem.She thought about it for a moment.Then called the police anyway.To report that Vanessa, with bod
After introducing themselves, the officer got straight to it. "The two of you should be witnesses to last night's accident on Daybreak Road. We've had a report filed and have a few questions for you."Robin nodded automatically."I've got an elderly relative inside," she said. "Can I call my cousin out instead? I don't want to alarm her she just had heart surgery."The officer nodded, understanding.Robin hurried back and brought Lily out.The four of them stood at the gate.The officer went through a few questions. "According to the roadside cameras, you were stopped at the light when the accident happened. Did you notice anything off about the truck beforehand?"Robin answered, easy. "Honestly, Officer, it was pretty far off, and it was dark out. We were just glancing around while we waited at the light didn't even register anything until we heard the impact.""If we'd been staring straight ahead the whole time, people might start thinking we can predict traffic accidents."The offi
Beatrice stood frozen.Staring blankly at Nathan, unable to force out so much as a single word.He guided her, gently, over to where his father stood.His father barely glanced at her.Something seemed to seize in Beatrice's throat.She looked at him.At the faint red marks still visible at his collar, at how he'd clearly just rolled out of someone else's bed to be here. She forced the words out, halting. "Edmund Edmund was... Nathan did this"She didn't get to finish.Her husband cut her off sharply. "Watch what you're saying."The words landed like a slap across her face.Beatrice stood there, stunned into silence.Her fingers twisted into the hem of her coat, her eyes fixed back on the closed operating room doors.Her only lifeline now.Nothing but the sterile chill of the hospital hallway around her.The operating room doors swung open.Beatrice shot to her feet.A nurse rushed out, papers in hand. "Family of the patient?"Beatrice stumbled forward. "Me I'm his mother"The nurse h
Lily's eyes flickered, uneasy.Adrian's gaze cut sharply to Edmund's hand on her arm.He crossed the distance, one hand still in his pocket.Walked straight past themRight between the two of them.His shoulder caught Edmund's arm on the way through.Edmund pulled his arm back fast.Adrian disappeared into the men's room, expression unchanged.Lily gave Edmund a quick nod and slipped into the women's room right after.Edmund watched her go, a faint smile settling on his face, and stayed exactly where he was.When Lily came out to wash her hands at the shared sink, Adrian was already there, standing tall and composed in front of the mirror.She steeled herself and walked over."Mr. Sterling."She held her hand under the sensor tap.Water ran over her fingers.Adrian watched her reflection quietly. "Do you need help with something?"She realized he meant Edmund."He said he wanted to apologize to me, for his brother, on behalf of the family," she explained. "I told him it wasn't necessa
Robin stared, startled, at the man's profile. "Is that Adrian?"Lily pressed her lips together.Nodded.She hadn't expected to run into him here, of all places.A young woman stood beside him.Striking, composed, dressed head to toe in designer labels that somehow didn't look like she was trying too hard like the clothes had been made specifically to match her.Lily lowered her eyes.Just thenAdrian turned, looking faintly bored.Then caught sight of Lily standing behind Robin.His brow lifted slightly.He started walking straight toward them.Robin grabbed Lily's arm. "He's coming over."Lily's eyes flickered, uneasy.She looked up sharply.Watched, helpless, as he closed the distance.The woman beside him trailed after, curious.Lily grabbed Robin's arm and tried to steer them both awayAdrian's voice cut through, low and even. "Lily."Her feet locked in place.Her legs went heavy, leaden.Couldn't move an inch.A moment laterHe was standing right in front of them.Robin gave a sm







