Masuk“They’re the top dogs,” the nurse replied quietly. “They’re the ones who control what happens behind these walls. The guards enforce the rules, but those women control the prison.”She paused for a moment. “Amelia Favino is one of them.”Sophia stared at her in disbelief. “That’s impossible,” she said. “She’s pregnant. She’s supposed to be weak.”Nurse Patricia slowly shook her head. “Pregnancy hasn’t taken away her power.”She folded her arms and looked Sophia straight in the eye.“Amelia has influence. She has connections. Most importantly, she has the respect of the inmates. If she tells someone to do something, they do it without asking questions.”The nurse’s expression turned even more serious.“If you ever say her name again the way you just did, today’s beating will seem merciful.”She swallowed hard. “You won’t survive the next one.”Fear washed over Sophia’s face.Tears streamed down her swollen cheeks. “But I can’t go back to that cell,” she cried. “I can’t.”Her voice bro
Finally, Marcus’s parents looked at each other.The anger in their eyes was still there, but the reality of the situation had overwhelmed them. They knew their son needed treatment. They knew the hospital bills would not wait.Slowly, both of them lowered themselves.They knelt in front of Gabriella. The entire room froze.Even Principal Hartley looked shocked by what she was seeing.Marcus’s father lowered his head, his voice filled with bitterness.“We accept.”A satisfied smile appeared on Gabriella’s face.It was not a smile of sympathy. It was the smile of someone who believed she had won.She handed him the check. “Good decision.”Marcus’s parents took it with trembling hands. They didn’t look grateful. They looked defeated.Gabriella calmly closed her purse and straightened her jacket.“I hope your son recovers quickly.”She turned away from them as if the matter was already finished.Then her eyes moved toward Leo, who was still sitting outside the office.Her expression imme
LEXINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — PRINCIPAL’S OFFICEGabriella frowned and folded her arms across her chest.“Of course it is a financial matter,” she said. “A child was injured. His family deserves compensation.”Principal Hartley looked at her calmly, but her expression remained serious.“No, Ms. Guerra. A child was seriously hurt because another child lost control. Money may help with medical expenses, but it does not solve the real problem.”Gabriella’s lips tightened. “My stepson needs to learn a lesson. I agree with that. But children fight. They get angry. Things happen.”Principal Hartley leaned back in her chair. “Leo did not simply have a disagreement with another student. He did not push him during an argument or accidentally hurt him.”She paused, choosing her words carefully. “He attacked Marcus with enough force to cause a serious injury.”Gabriella sighed as if she was tired of explaining herself.“I’m sorry, Principal Hartley, but Leo has always been difficult. He’s stubbo
The inmates watched in complete silence. No one stepped forward. No one looked away.Sophia’s heart pounded as she slowly shook her head.“No…” she whispered, panic filling her voice. “Amelia, please… don’t do this.”Amelia turned to face her, her expression calm but cold.“Don’t do what?” she asked.Sophia swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady.“We can talk about this. Whatever happened between us… we can work it out.”Amelia let out a soft, bitter laugh. “Talk?” she repeated. “Now you want to talk?”She took another step closer until they were only inches apart.“You had plenty of chances to talk before you ruined my life. Before you stole everything from me. But you never listened. You never cared.”Sophia instinctively stepped backward, her breathing becoming uneven.“You can’t do this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.Amelia’s eyes turned icy. “Can’t I?”She slowly looked around the cell block, making sure every inmate was watching.“Things work differently
CELL BLOCK C – CORRIDOR – 3:30 PMSophia walked through the long hallway of Cell Block C, her footsteps echoing against the cold concrete floor.The cells on both sides were small and worn down. Rust covered parts of the metal bars, and the air smelled like cleaning chemicals and old walls. Inmates leaned against their cell doors, watching the new arrival pass by.A woman behind the bars smiled. “Fresh meat.”Another inmate laughed. “Look at her. She won’t survive a week.”Sophia kept walking.She refused to look at them. She refused to let them see that their words affected her.Finally, she reached Cell 14 at the end of the hallway.She stopped and looked inside.The room was nothing like the places she was used to. It was tiny, with two narrow beds, a small sink, a toilet in the corner, and a small window covered with metal bars.Her stomach turned. “This is supposed to be a room?”Someone was already inside.A person was lying on the top bunk, facing the wall. Sophia could only
PRINCIPAL OFFICE ~ NEW YORK CITY Leo sat quietly in a chair outside the principal’s office.His knuckles were swollen and covered in small cuts. His uniform was dirty from the fight, and his face was streaked with tears he had tried desperately to hide.But he refused to cry anymore.He kept his eyes fixed on the wall in front of him, sitting completely still. He looked angry, hurt, and exhausted all at once.For the first time in his life, Leo had become the kind of student everyone was talking about.Inside the office, Principal Hartley sat behind her desk with the phone pressed to her ear.She was a strict woman with silver-gray hair, sharp eyes, and a reputation for being fair but firm. She had worked at Lexington Elementary for many years, and she knew Leo well.That was why today’s incident shocked her.“Yes, Ms. Guerra,” Principal Hartley said, her voice serious. “I need you to come to the school as soon as possible.”She glanced through the glass window at Leo. “He was invo
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina slipped Nicholas Hale’s card into her folder and closed it.Control. That was the word. And that was what she needed to hold on to.She straightened her blazer, smoothed her face, and returned to her desk as if nothing had happened. As if the air in the ro
Marisa jabbed a finger at Amelia. “Yes. You.”The room went quiet.Alejandro tensed. “Mother, don’t.”“No,” Marisa said, her voice cold. “You don’t get to shield her. Let me speak.”She stepped closer to Amelia. “You show up here… and suddenly the Guerras strike. You have ties to the Blackwoods. To
THE FAVINO ESTATE — LATE MORNINGThe house felt different after Marisa left.Amelia noticed it first.The servants moved softly, avoiding eye contact. Phones were kept on silent. Even the sunlight pouring through the tall windows felt restrained, like it didn’t want to interrupt whatever storm was
VIVIAN OFFICE~ NEW YORK Then she saw Mia’s expression puzzled, a little worried, waiting for her boss to recognize her own approval. Vivian’s survival instinct kicked in, cold and swift. She could not let Mia know.She forced a weak, dismissive laugh and rubbed her temple. “Oh, for heaven’s sake.







