LOGIN(Rayner)I pull my car into the building.Same location that was texted to me.“Rayner!” Stefan calls. “I’m coming with you.”“No.”I stop immediately.“We can’t both go together. What if something happens in there? Who would call for backup?”“But Rayner…”“Trust me.”I place my hand on his shoulder.“I’ll be fine. I just need you to be here. I’ll go in there and understand their technique. Once you don’t see me after five minutes, call for backup. I don’t want anything happening to you.”I take a step to leave when a car suddenly stops right in front of me.Lorenzo.He steps down immediately.“Where’s she? What happened?”************It’s time to stop with the act.I already know I can’t afford to keep pretending.My mind flashes back to the moment one of the men tried to inject me.I immediately pulled the syringe away before the needle could fully go in.Then I let my body go limp.I had no idea who was behind all this or what I was walking into, but I knew I needed to get inside
(Maya)I laugh as the words roll out of my mouth.“Wait, what were you thinking?” I say, still laughing. “That the DNA result was real? That’s the truth?”I rake my fingers through my hair.“Actually, I really wished it was.” My voice lowers. “At least, I might have been so proud to know we have the same father. But…” I swallow. “None of it is true.”I turn back to her.She doesn’t seem shocked. Not even surprised. She just stares at me.“Wait.” My jaw drops. “You knew already?”A laugh leaves me.“You knew that the whole DNA thing was a lie? But you didn’t say anything. Why?”“Because I wanted you to confess to them yourself.”“What?”“After you claimed yourself to be my father’s daughter, I started gathering evidence against you. I even went as far as finding out that your mother wasn’t even faithful herself. She was just a secretary who wanted to use another man’s child to climb up, and since my mother never allowed it, she emotionally blackmailed my father into believing she’d bee
(Amara)“Leave me. Let me go!”I scream as the two men drag me through the hallway, but I can’t see anything. There’s a covering over my head, making everything dark.“Where the hell are you taking me to? Do you have any idea who I am?”I turn my head in different directions, trying to figure out where they’re taking me, but they don’t reply.They just keep dragging me along.Suddenly, they push a door open.The first thing that hits me is the cool air.This breeze…Why does it suddenly feel so chilly here?I’m placed into a chair, my hands tied tightly to the sides.Then silence.I no longer hear anything aside from the cool breeze blowing around me.“Is anyone there?”I panic.“Why aren’t you saying anything? How can you bring someone here without saying anything?”“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”A familiar voice rings out.The click of her heels begins to grow louder as she walks towards me.“Who are you?”I scream.“Don’t come any closer, or else…”She drags the black cloth off my head before I
(Stella)My body trembles, fear gripping me as I continue to stare at the entrance door.Rayner hasn’t come.My hand tightens around my bouquet.I just hope it’s not what I’m thinking.The whispers around me continue to grow.“The groom isn’t here.”“She’s not about to become one of those brides that’s left at the altar, is she?”“My goodness, it’s been over two hours now. I don’t think he’s coming.”My heart pounds harder.“Relax, Stella.”Helena taps my shoulder gently.“Maybe he’s stuck in traffic and that’s why he’s late.”“But Helena, he isn’t picking up his calls.”My voice shakes.“What if he’s decided to leave me at the altar? He’s going to abandon us. His child.”I let the words sting, making sure she understands what she stands to lose.And hopefully, it will make her start doing something about this.“You need to do something, Helena.”My voice tightens.“Because if Rayner decides to abandon us like this and bring shame by leaving me here at the altar, then I’m not going to
(Rayner)“The car is ready,” Stefan says, his voice thick.I know what he’s thinking.How am I possibly agreeing to this marriage?But what he doesn’t know is…My thoughts trail as I think about the message I received from Felix earlier this week.Us meeting up.Our conversation.And everything I have in place now.“Okay.”I nod.“Let’s go.”“Rayner…”He stops me.“Are you seriously going to do this? You’re going to forget about Amara and marry her? Marry Stella?”I give a little smile and say nothing.“Come on, man. I still can’t believe this. You never agreed to this marriage before, so what made you change your mind? You’ve always talked about how much you love Amara, how you wanted to be with her forever. And now you’re just going to give up? Let her get married to Lorenzo?”“That is never happening.”I finally let out the words.He blinks.“How? I don’t get it. What do you plan to do? You’re already getting married today, just as she is, so how are you going to stop that?”“What
(Lillian)I finally get back into my room, pouring myself a drink.Now this is getting much more interesting!I chuckle and walk straight to the large mirror in the room.My reflection stares back at me as a deep smile curls up my lips.In three days, Amara will finally be getting married and leaving this house.Now that’s one less person in Eleanor’s life.I take a sip, letting the sting glide down my throat.You can try all you want, Eleanor, but nobody is ever going to find the truth. Not about my involvement with the products or even causing the hotel to collapse.In fact, who would have ever guessed that everything happening now all began with me?A rush of memories plays through my mind.From the very beginning, I vowed to destroy the Roosevelts, starting with becoming a daughter-in-law in this family.My smile widens as I think back to how it all started.With that stubborn old man of this family.I portrayed myself as a well-wisher to Amara, helping her elope with the one she
(Amara)Morning comes, but it brings no relief.I wake with my chest already tight, the memory of last night pressing down on me like a weight I can’t push off. I don’t think there’s anything left that can truly hurt me after this. Not after knowing they spent the entire night together. In our bedr
(Amara)The drive back from the clinic had been silent, each of us lost in thoughts we couldn’t share. And now, standing here, the weight of what the doctor had said presses on me.“No.”The word leaves my mouth before I can stop it.I turn to face them. Felix and Selina stand behind me, side by si
(Amara)“Girl, a sick leave?” Maya’s voice rings through the phone.I’d called the office earlier to request one because right now, I can’t even face myself—let alone clients. “Don’t tell me you’re still floating on the moon from your time with Felix last night that you decided to cover it up with
(Amara)I want to speak. I want to say something.But the words refuse to come.My eyes stay glued to them instead.The way she stretches her hands toward him.The way he rushes to her side, holding her, asking if she’s alright.The way she nods gently, like a woman loved right, before leaning into







