INICIAR SESIÓN"Fine. Send me back," I said, clenching my teeth. "This whole mess started because of me, so I should be the one to end it."With another flash of golden light, I materialized inside the bathroom of the Reynolds estate. I glanced around the sprawling mansion, and the corners of my lips lifted slightly.Carter truly was the Protagonist of Destiny. In just five years, he had transformed himself into a formidable business tycoon, building an empire on a scale I could never have imagined.Hurried footsteps echoed down the staircase, followed by a sharp shove from behind."You're the new housekeeper, right? Hurry up and go downstairs. Mr. Reynolds is home."I stumbled forward and looked up just as Carter came toward me.The moment our eyes met, he froze in place. Then he slowly took a few steps closer and hesitantly reached out to my face."Audrey... Is it really you?"I looked at him carefully. Five years had changed him. He seemed more mature and distinguished now, but there was a
Those cruel words still reached Leo despite Carter's hands covering his ears.The boy stood frozen in place, unable to process what he'd just heard. The woman he'd loved and depended on for three years was telling him, without hesitation, that she had never loved him at all.Leo broke down and ran from the station.Carter immediately chased after him. I followed silently, hovering behind them as Leo finally stopped and looked up at his father through tear-filled eyes."Daddy... was that mean lady really my real mom?" Leo asked."She wasn't a mean woman," Carter said with a heavy voice. "She loved you with all her heart. She was your birth mother. She carried you for nine months and brought you into this world. No one loved you more than she did."Leo paused. "Does that mean... I'll never get to see her again?"Carter choked back a sob before finally nodding. Then he led Leo back to my casket. For the first time in his life, Leo stood before me and whispered, "Mommy... I'm sorry.
My body lay cold and motionless in the morgue.Only then did everyone seem to understand the horrifying truth. Through their own choices, they had pushed me into an early grave.Carter called the police and had Vanessa arrested on the spot. As the officers moved in to handcuff her, she screamed and fought back."How can you do this to me? I took care of all of you all these years! You were the ones who said you couldn't stand Audrey!"Leo threw himself forward, trying to stop the officers from taking her away. Vanessa grabbed him and clung to him as though he were the last lifeline she had left."Leo can't live without me. I messed up. I let you guys down, but Audrey is already gone. Leo can't lose me, either." She seized Leo's arm so tightly that he winced. "Leo, tell them. Tell them you need your mommy."Terrified and overwhelmed, the boy could only sob. Carter pulled Leo into his arms and glared at Vanessa with pure disgust."You're still trying to manipulate my son?" he spat
Vanessa's sobbing stopped abruptly.Panic flashed across her face as she gave Leo a hard shove. "What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I ever say something like that?"But Leo was far too spoiled to understand that he had just exposed her. Taking her reaction for some kind of joke, he tapped at his smartwatch and pulled up an audio recording."I recorded everything. Listen."Static crackled from the tiny speaker, followed by Vanessa's voice, clear enough for everyone in the corridor to hear."Leo, listen to me. Audrey is a bad woman who's trying to steal your dad and your grandparents away from us. You need to help me get rid of her, okay?""What should I do?""I'll tell you what. Tonight, set fire to her bedroom. If anyone catches you, just say you were playing around. Your grandparents spoil you, so they won't say a word. And I'll take care of the rest."...Leo proudly held up his smartwatch, completely unaware of the bomb he'd just dropped."See? I recorded it be
The entire corridor fell silent.Carter stared at Leo in disbelief before his hand shot out and struck the boy across the face."What did you just say? Who taught you to talk like that?"A bright red mark immediately swelled across Leo's cheek. He burst into tears, then glared defiantly at Carter through them."I didn't say anything wrong!" He stamped his foot and pointed first at Carter, then at Soren and Ida. "Didn't you all say she was annoying? Didn't you say she ruined our lives? So, why are you hitting me now?"Ida covered her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. "No, Leo. That's my daughter. She's your father's wife. How could we hate her?""Then why were you always talking bad about her?" Leo sniffed, crossing his arms. "And when I started the fire, didn't you see me do it? I even heard Grandpa say it would teach her a lesson."The corridor went silent again.Hovering nearby, I instinctively clenched my fists, expecting the familiar sting in my palms.Nothing happe
Carter stumbled backward, all color draining from his face."What did you say?" He grabbed the nurse by the sleeve, panic overtaking him. "What happened to Audrey? How could she suddenly be in critical condition? What went wrong?""Sir, please calm down," the nurse said quickly, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Was the surgical team not informed about her medical history? She has a severe pulmonary infection, and before we could even proceed with the procedure, she suffered a massive internal hemorrhage."Carter's eyes widened. "A pulmonary infection?"A terrible realization struck him, and a piercing ringing filled his ears. "From the fire? Please... I'm begging you. Save her."The operating room doors swung open again. The lead surgeon stepped into the hallway, pulled off his mask, and let out a long, weary sigh."I'm sorry," he said, bowing his head. "We did everything we could."Ida clutched her chest and staggered against the wall, struggling to breathe."No... That's







