LOGINAnna sat on the cold stone curb by the roadside, her fingers trembling as she scrolled through the contacts on her phone. Name after name flashed across the screen, but with each swipe, a heavy, crushing realization settled into her chest. There was no one. There was absolutely no one in her life she could actually call for help.Anthony had been her entire world. He had systematically become everything she had, and now she was entirely stranded. Why did I let myself become so dependent on him? she thought bitterly, burying her face in her hands. Who do I call now? Where do I even go?"This is so fucked up," she whispered to the empty street, a tear escaping her eye. "Why is this happening to me?" Just when she thought she had finally found a sliver of genuine happiness, it had been ripped away, leaving her with nothing but ghosts and lies.Then, a desperate thought crossed her mind. It felt reckless, even stupid, but she had no other choice. With a numb thumb, she pulled up Jake’s co
"Hey, let me go!" Sasha shrieked, twisting violently against the metal cuffs biting into her wrists. The officers held her fast, ignoring her frantic struggles. "I didn't do anything!"Her desperate gaze scanned the area until it clashed with Anthony's cold stare. The panic on her face hardened into sheer malice. "You got them here, didn't you?"Anthony stepped closer, his jaw tight. "Why did you do it, Sasha? Why did you try to kill me?""I don't know anything about that," she snapped, tilting her chin up defensively."Don't bother denying it," Anthony replied, his voice flat. "I have all the evidence I need."Sasha's furious scowl slowly dissolved, twisting into a sharp, wicked smile. A breathless laugh escaped her lips. "You got lucky. That bullet was meant for you.""Why?""Are you seriously asking me that question?" she mocked, her eyes flashing with venom. "After everything you and your family put me through, you deserve to die. It's just too bad that woman was the unfortunate o
"Anna, I..." Anthony reached out, his hand hovering in the tense space between them."Why, Anthony?" Anna interrupted, her voice cracking as the first tears spilled over her lashes. She took a step back, shaking her head in sheer disbelief. "Why did you let my mother’s murderer walk right out of prison?""Anna, listen to me. Let me explain," Anthony pleaded, stepping forward to close the distance. "I don’t believe Naomi did it. The pieces don't fit."A bitter, hysterical scoff escaped Anna’s throat. "Really? You don’t think she did it? She had every single reason in the world to kill my mom!""Anna, you need to trust me on this," Anthony pressed, his expression entirely serious as he desperately tried to catch her gaze. "Naomi didn’t do it. If she were the one who pulled that trigger, I would have personally ensured she faced the ultimate punishment. You know I would.""Then who did it?" Anna demanded, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. "Who took her from me?"Anthony opened
The bedroom was silent, saved only for the rhythmic, gentle sound of Anna’s breathing. She had already fallen deeply asleep, her head resting securely against Anthony’s chest. Moving with absolute, painstaking caution, Anthony slowly slipped out from beneath her weight. He carefully adjusted the pillows to ensure she wouldn't wake up before gently gliding across the floor toward the counter.His eyes locked onto her bag. With a racing heart, he reached inside and pulled out Stella’s worn diary. He stared at the cover for a long moment, wondering if he should open it.Finally, he flipped it open.The initial pages were entirely filled with Stella’s mundane, personal thoughts, so he kept rapidly turning the pages over, searching. Suddenly, his eyes caught the exact passage he was looking for. Stella’s neat handwriting stared back at him:Will I eternally be punished by God for failing Anna? She isn't my biological daughter, but she will always be mine. Her real mother, Annabel, was so i
"You heard me perfectly clearly, Anthony," his father said, his voice deadly calm as he stepped into the light. "Stella is not Anna’s mother.""Stop talking bullshit!" Anthony roared, his fingers clenching into tight, dangerous fists at his sides. "You don’t know what the hell you're talking about. She is Anna’s mom!"A harsh, jagged laugh tore from his father’s chest. The old man shook his head, thoroughly amused by his son's explosive denial. "You can blindly believe whatever you want to believe, Anthony, but she isn't. And I didn't kill her." Annoyance suddenly laced his voice as his posture stiffened. "And besides... how exactly did your mother react when she first laid eyes on Anna? She was completely paralyzed with shock, wasn't she?"Anthony’s eyes stretched wide, the breath hitching in his throat. "What... what the hell do you mean by that?""Nothing," his father whispered, a twisted, mocking grin stretching across his face. "Just that the girl vividly reminds your mother of h
"Ma'am, you are completely mistaken," Anna said, her voice trembling slightly as she stepped back. "I... I have absolutely no idea who Annabel is."Anthony’s mother scoffed, her face twisting into a bitter, icy scowl. She took a step closer to Anna, her eyes drilling into the younger girl. "Annabel is—"Before the name could fully leave her lips, the heavy wooden door violently swung open. Anthony stepped into the room, his sharp gaze immediately scanning the tense space. The moment his eyes landed on Anna, the tight lines around his jaw softened."Anna, there you are," he said, breathing a small sigh of relief. "I’ve been looking all over for you."Anna swallowed the thick lump of anxiety in her throat, forcing a small, reassuring smile onto her face. "I just came by to drop something off for your mother.""Okay then," Anthony murmured. He turned his attention toward his mother, his posture turning rigid and professional. "Do you need anything else, Mother?"His mother frowned deepl
Anna’s eyes locked onto Elena’s. Elena didn't just walk in; she swaggered, a sharp, jagged smile cutting across her face that screamed trouble.“What a performance, don't you think?” Elena’s voice dripped with mock delight.Anthony’s knuckles turned white as he balled his hands into fists.“You int
The rain hammered down, turning the street into a grey blur. Anthony’s hands shook as the umbrella slipped from his grip, clattering onto the ground. He didn't reach for it. Instead, he pulled Anna closer, her body trembling against his chest.“It’s all over, Anthony,” she choked out. Her voice was
Naomi froze, the blood draining from her face as her gaze locked onto Anna. Her eyes darted frantically toward the corner where Elena had just disappeared, her chest heaving with a silent prayer that the shadow hadn't been noticed."A-Anna? What are you doing here?" The words caught in her throat,
"It’s been two days, Anna. Two days and—nothing. Her phone rings out, the calls just go to voicemail, and I...""That’s enough!" Anna snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "I know exactly what the two of you are doing. This is the plan, right? Use my mo







