Mag-log inMorning at St. Catherine's arrived with gentle light.Sunlight entered through the gap in the curtains, falling diagonally on the floor of room 412, touching the edge of the bed where Alina sat. Not lying down. Sitting—with her back straight and hands folded in her lap and the expression of someone who had made a decision before dawn truly arrived.She had been waiting since seven o'clock.When Ms. Fontaine knocked and entered with a warm professional smile, she immediately sensed something different. Not from Alina's appearance—hair still dull, skin still pale, IV line still attached to the back of her hand. But from the way Alina looked at her. Directly. Without avoiding."Good morning," Ms. Fontaine greeted while placing her bag on the chair."Good morning." Alina took a breath. "Can we talk alone? Without nurses. Without anyone outside the door."Ms. Fontaine looked at her for a moment, then nodded. She walked to the door, spoke briefly with the nurse outside, then closed the door
In the morning, Clarissa opened the door to wake her son. But she found Junior already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed with an unusual expression. Sullen. Pensive."Good morning, darling," Clarissa greeted cheerfully, putting on a perfect maternal smile. "Did you sleep well?"Junior didn't answer immediately. He looked at his mother with a gaze that made Clarissa slightly uncomfortable—a gaze that seemed to be searching for something."Mommy left last night," Junior said quietly.Clarissa's smile froze for a split second. "What?""Mommy promised to stay with me until morning. But when I woke up, Mommy wasn't there." Junior's voice was small, but there was a hurt tone in it. "Where did Mommy go?"Clarissa quickly recovered, kneeling in front of Junior and stroking his hair. "Oh, darling. I'm sorry. Mommy just went to the bathroom for a bit. Then Mommy ended up falling asleep in her own room because she was too tired." She smiled gently. "Mommy didn't really leave you, you know. M
Junior couldn't go back to sleep.He sat in the middle of the large bed, hugging the worn rabbit stuffed animal to his chest, staring at the closed bedroom door. Traces of tears still marked his cheeks, and the dreams. The dreams about Alina still felt real, as if they had just happened.Junior's head was filled with questions too big for a child his age.Why did the memories in his dream feel so warm? Why did Alina's face, who was supposedly a bad person, instead make him feel safe? Why in that dream did Alina teach him to write, read him stories, take care of him when he was sick—things that shouldn't have happened at all if Alina was really like what Mommy said?Junior didn't understand.But there was one thing he knew for certain. Something clearer than all that confusion.Mommy left him. The person who promised to stay with him until morning. But the moment Junior opened his eyes, the room was empty. Cold. Alone.Junior didn't like being lied to. He hated people who broke promise
Clarissa froze.That small voice—Junior's voice—made her blood instantly run cold.She turned quickly, finding her son already sitting up in bed, eyes sleepy but full of questions staring at her from within the darkness of the room."Mommy? What is Mommy doing?"Clarissa panicked. She hadn't expected Junior to wake up. Her mind raced, searching for an excuse."Oh, darling," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "Mommy is just... thirsty. Mommy wants to get some water."Junior frowned. His small eyebrows furrowed, unsatisfied with that answer."But there's a dispenser in the room," he said quietly, pointing to the corner of the room. "Mommy doesn't need to go out."Clarissa startled. She glanced toward the dispenser Junior pointed at, then quickly recovered."Ah, right. Mommy forgot." She gave a small laugh, a sound that sounded forced. "Mommy is still sleepy, so she didn't remember."She walked to the dispenser, poured a little water into a glass, and pretended to drink it. Then sh
Daniel arrived at the mansion close to midnight.The moment the front door opened, he knew his night would not end quietly.Margaret was already waiting in the living room, seated with rigid posture on the sofa, her expression cold and full of disapproval she made no effort to conceal.Daniel exhaled inwardly. He had no desire to deal with his mother tonight."Mama," he greeted her flatly, shrugging off his jacket. "What are you doing here this late?"Margaret rose from the sofa and walked toward him. "This is still my house, Daniel. I can come and go whenever I please.""Then goodnight. It's late." Daniel turned toward the stairs."I'm not finished."Margaret's voice stopped him in his tracks.Daniel turned slowly, his patience wearing thin. "What is it you want to talk about?"Margaret fixed him with a sharp look. "I've heard what you've been doing. You've been poaching business partners from the Montgomery Group. Attacking them openly."Daniel said nothing. His face stayed blank."
Daniel arrived at St. Catherine's close to nightfall. The corridor lights had already been dimmed, and the hospital felt quieter than usual. When he approached the nurse station on the fourth floor, a nurse looked up at him with an uneasy expression. "I'm sorry, Mr. Blackwood," the nurse said carefully. "Visiting hours are over. And there are instructions that all visits must go through the medical team's approval first." Daniel smiled faintly — a smile that was polished on the surface but never reached his eyes. "I understand," he said calmly. "But I'd just like to check on her for a moment." He fixed the nurse with an expression carefully constructed to look like concern. "Only a few minutes. You're welcome to accompany me inside if that makes you more comfortable." The nurse hesitated. But Daniel's reason sounded reasonable, and his offer to be supervised made refusal feel excessive. "All right," she said at last. "But only briefly, sir. And please don't tire the patient." "O
Mr. Harris hesitated briefly, then nodded and stepped away, clearing the path for Clarissa.Clarissa knocked on the door—twice, sharp—then entered without waiting for an answer.Alina stood at the window—still in the same position since the photoshoot began.Mrs. Helen sat on a chair in the corner
Day five since Alina was allowed to see Junior.Five days with the same routine. Measured. Controlled.In the morning—Alina went to Junior’s room when he woke up. Helped him get ready. Straightened his uniform. Walked him to the dining table where Clarissa already waited with a smile that was far t
CHAPTER 52Morning came too quickly.Or perhaps not quickly enough. Alina wasn't sure anymore. Time had felt strange since she'd been confined to her room—too slow and too fast simultaneously, like a broken clock.At exactly eight o'clock, the sound of a large engine woke her from restless sleep.A
Alina and Junior sat in each other's embrace for a few moments—silent, just feeling each other's presence.Then Junior pulled back slightly. Looking at Alina with an expression too serious for a six-year-old."Mama," he said softly. "Junior promises to be a good child."Alina frowned, stroking Juni







