Se connecterMia looked at her freshly painted pink nails. A tiny bunny sticker sat on her ring finger. She gave a faint smile. “They’re pretty.”After what had happened last time, she had improved a little. At least now she could manage simple conversations with Lucas.As he carefully brushed on another coat of polish, Lucas spoke gently. “Mia, that dream you had wasn’t real. Nothing happened. Sarah didn’t die.”“She did,” Mia said flatly.“Why would you say that?”Mia slowly lifted her hand as if she wanted to touch his face. Lucas leaned closer without hesitation. “What is it?”When her fingertips felt the warmth of his cheek, she seemed to relax. Then she glanced around, making sure no one was nearby. Only then did she whisper in a trembling voice, “It was a nightmare. A nightmare. I was so scared. They killed Sister Sarah.”“Mia, none of that was real,” Lucas said quickly, trying to soothe her.He blamed himself. He should not have asked.But this was something Zachary and Sarah neede
The hospital gardens were filled with common, uninspired blooms, but the lush greenery provided a much-needed sanctuary from the sterile white walls.Steven pushed Scarlett’s wheelchair to the center of the garden, where the sunlight hit the grass in golden pools. He spotted a fallen blossom on the path, picked it up, and gently tucked it behind her ear.He took a few steps back, his eyes softening as he looked at her. Despite the hospital gown and the pallor of her skin, she was breathtaking. "Scarlett," he whispered, his voice thick with a sudden, raw sincerity. "You’re so beautiful."Hearing those words, Scarlett didn't smile. Instead, her eyes welled up, and she began to sob—a quiet, heartbreaking sound that tore through the peaceful afternoon. In a room high above, Scarlett’s father drifted awake to an empty suite. His assistant was likely back at the office, executing his latest round of orders.He glanced at the bedside table and saw a thermal carafe. A small sticky note w
“Then we have nothing to be afraid of,” Sarah said, her voice steady and unwavering. “It doesn’t matter who tries to move against us. You can trust me completely, Melvin, just as I trust you. Do what you need to do. Dig as deep as you have to. Don’t let the ‘what-ifs’ slow you down. Just know that I’m right here behind you.”Melvin hadn't expected her to be so resolute. When he first uncovered the discrepancies, a dark part of him feared that Sarah might turn her suspicion on him, too—that the sins of the father would poison the bond between the cousins.He realized now how wrong he’d been. He offered a self-deprecating smile, the tension finally leaving his shoulders. “I hear you. Thank you.”---City Hospital“Scarlett, you will not believe the chaos I ran into on my way here,” Steven said, bursting into the room with his usual frantic energy.Scarlett looked up from her bed, offering a thin, tired smile. “What did you see this time?”Steven dropped a bag of fresh fruit onto t
"I understand,” she whispered.But the hollow weight of those words followed her all the way home.The moment Sarah stepped through the front door, she pulled out her phone. As expected, every social media platform was in a total meltdown. The headlines were plastered with Mindy’s face and the "scandalous" abortion revelation. Half the internet was jumping to her defense, while the other half was gleefully digging up every piece of dirt they could find to bury her career once and for all.Sarah was still scrolling when Melvin walked in. He looked weary, a shadow hanging over him that had become all too common lately. Every time he looked at Sarah, he was reminded of the secrets their parents harbored. Though Uncle Shane claimed to be blissfully unaware of his wife’s schemes, Melvin wasn't buying it anymore.He had spent the last few days scouring the company’s records from the past two years. Beneath the surface of his father’s "peaceful retirement," Melvin had found a different st
Mindy immediately forced a bright, desperate smile and hurried to Mr. Hernandez’s side, looping her arm through his. "Mr. Hernandez! What are you doing here?"He didn’t answer. With a slow, deliberate movement, he peeled her hand off his sleeve as if removing an unwanted insect. His eyes, cold and piercing, locked onto Zachary."Zachary Reynolds,” Hernandez said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "I’ve heard much about the infamous Zachary Reynolds of the East Coast. A pleasure to finally meet—though I wish the circumstances were less... intrusive."Zachary met his gaze with a terrifying calm. He had never met the man, but the moment Mindy had uttered the name "Hernandez," the pieces clicked into place. There was only one Hernandez family powerful enough to command this kind of fear, and they hailed from the coast.Zachary offered a curt nod, his silence speaking volumes.Hernandez didn't seem to care. He turned his attention toward Sarah, his lip curling slightly. "Mr. Reynolds,
Sarah cast a long, searching look at Lucas before turning her gaze toward Mindy.Mindy was white-knuckling her microphone, her mind clearly racing to find an exit strategy. "I... I didn't..." she stammered. The poise she’d displayed during the first two questions had evaporated, replaced by a twitchy, visible guilt that everyone in the room could sense.Before she could dig a deeper hole, her manager stormed onto the stage, shoving the host aside with zero ceremony."That’s enough!" the manager barked, snatching the mic right out of Mindy’s hand. He stepped in front of her like a human shield. "These allegations are pure fiction. I’ve just confirmed with the organizers that this 'gentleman' went rogue with his questions. We have no idea what kind of conspiracy is behind this, but let’s be real—Mindy’s arrival on the East Coast is a threat to certain people’s interests. Clearly, they’ve become desperate enough to play dirty."Without waiting for a rebuttal, the manager hauled Mindy







