FAZER LOGINSAINT VICTORIA HOSPITAL â VIP SUITE â EVENINGThe sound of the slap echoed through the luxury suite.Ameliaâs head turned with the force of the impact. For a few seconds, she simply stood there, too shocked to react. Slowly, she raised a hand to her cheek and stared at Ariana in disbelief, as if she could not believe her best friend had actually slapped her.Ariana was trembling. Tears streamed down her face, and the hand she had used to slap Amelia was still raised, shaking badly.âDonât you ever talk to me like that again,â Ariana said, her voice breaking. âYou have no idea what Iâve been dealing with. You have no idea how hard this has been for me.âNeither woman spoke for a moment. The room fell completely silent except for Arianaâs uneven breathing and the faint hum of the city outside the hospital windows.Amelia slowly turned her face back toward her. The shock in her eyes disappeared, replaced by cold anger.âDid you just slap me?âAriana swallowed hard, but she did not look a
DAMIANâS MANSION â FOYER â 8:00 AMLeo walked down the grand staircase wearing his new school uniform. He hated everything about it. The stiff collar. The expensive fabric. Even the way everyone in the mansion kept looking at him as if putting him in a fancy uniform had suddenly changed his life.Damien was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. The moment he saw Leo, his face brightened. âWow,â Damien said, looking him over. âYou look great. Like a real Blackwood.âLeo stopped halfway down the stairs and gave him a cold look. âIâm not a Blackwood.âDamienâs smile faded slightly. âLeoâââIâm a Favino,â Leo said firmly. âStop trying to change that.âDamien took a breath and nodded. âOkay. Iâm sorry. I didnât mean to upset you. You look great, thatâs all I meant.ââThen just say that next time.âLeo continued down the stairs and walked straight past him.Damien quickly followed. âYour headmaster, Mr. Harrington, is expecting you. Heâll give you a tour of the school, introduce you to your
Arianaâs face flushed slightly. âAbout a week.ââA week?â Amelia stared at her in disbelief before letting out a small laugh. âRiri, thatâs fast. Really fast.ââI know,â Ariana admitted with a nervous shrug. âBut heâs been really supportive. He helped me through a lot when everything started falling apart.âAmelia glanced at Marco again, studying him carefully. She didnât trust people easily anymore, especially after everything that had happened to her and Ariana. Still, Ariana looked genuinely happy to have him around, and Amelia didnât want to ruin that moment.âHi, Marco,â she said, keeping her voice polite but guarded. âNice to meet you.âMarco smiled warmly. âNice to meet you too, Amelia. Ariana has told me a lot about you. She says youâre more like a sister than a friend.âAmelia returned his smile, although there was still a hint of suspicion in her eyes. âThatâs sweet of her.âShe looked at his crutch and bandaged leg before turning back to Ariana. âBut can you give us a few m
Ariana flinched and pulled the phone slightly away from her ear as Ameliaâs angry voice filled the room.âAmelia, pleaseâââI left my son in your care!â Amelia shouted. Tears immediately filled her eyes as she paced across the room, her free hand trembling as she ran it through her hair. âI trusted you, Ariana! Out of everyone, I trusted you with my child!ââItâs not what you think!â Ariana quickly replied, her voice filled with panic.âThen what the hell is it?â Amelia demanded. Her voice cracked as another tear slipped down her cheek. âBecause from where Iâm standing, it looks like you betrayed me too. I thought you were my friend!ââI am your friend!â Ariana insisted, her voice rising with desperation. âAmelia, please, just listen to me. I can explain everything.ââNo!â Amelia snapped. She shook her head furiously as she wiped the tears from her face. âI donât want to hear another excuse. You betrayed me too!âAriana closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.âAfter everything Iâve b
DAMIENâS MANSION â LEOâS ROOM â 7:00 AMMorning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Leoâs room. The walls were still cream-colored, but Damien had already ordered ash-gray paint for the room. It was a small change, but it was one of the few things Leo had actually asked for.A knock sounded on the door. âLeo? Are you awake?â Damien asked.Leo sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the expensive school uniform laid out in front of him. The navy blazer, white shirt, gray trousers, and polished shoes looked completely out of place in his room.The Blackwood Academy crest was embroidered neatly on the blazer.He had never owned anything that expensive before. Another knock came. âLeo, we need to leave soon. School starts at eight-thirty.âLeo sighed before getting up and opening the door.Damien stood there holding a tray of breakfast, looking almost nervous.âI made breakfast for you,â he said, forcing a small smile. âPancakes, eggs, bacon, and orange juice.âLeo looked at the
Elena's voice dropped to a whisper as she added, "How much longer am I supposed to wait for you, Daniel? How much longer am I supposed to be your secret?"There was a long silence on the other end. Then Daniel spoke, his voice cold and dismissive. "You're not my secret, Elena. You're my lawyer. And you're a tool I'm using to get what I want. Don't confuse the two."Elena's face went pale. "What?"Daniel's voice was flat. "You knew what this was when you signed up for it. You're getting paid. You're getting what you want. Don't make this into something it's not."Elena's voice cracked. "I don't believe you. You don't mean that."Daniel's voice was ice cold. "I mean every word. Now focus on the case. Make sure Ariana loses. That's all I care about."The line went dead.Elena stared at her phone, her whole body shaking. Tears streamed down her face.She had just given Daniel everything. And he had thrown it back in her face.She was nothing to him. A tool. A pawn. Nothing more.She threw
DANIELâS PENTHOUSE â MORNINGDaniel paced the living room, holding a half-filled glass of Martell. His voice was sharp, bitter.âLucas, do you know what that woman did? That so-called mother of my kids?âLucas looked up from the couch, raising an eyebrow. âYou mean Katherina your baby mama? What ha
Alexander swallowed hard, trying to hold his ground. âThis isnât fairââVivianâs eyes glistened as she stepped closer, her voice low and shaky but filled with desire.âFair?â she whispered. âIâve been patient, Alex. Iâve stayed quiet while you buried yourself in guilt over her. Itâs been three day
MANHATTAN FAMILY COURT ~The courtroom was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner.Katherina sat at the long wooden table, her hands trembling as she stared at the papers in front of her. Jessica sat beside her, pretending to dab her tears with a tissue. Across the room, little Mira
âTwo days ago. Daniel and I were talking about the party, and we realizedâwhy wait? We love each other. We have a son together. We want to be a family. So weâre doing it now.â Ariana twisted her hands together. âAre you mad?ââMad? Are you kidding?â Amelia rushed forward and hugged her best friend







