ログインBLACKWOOD MANSION – SITTING ROOM – 4:00 PMDaniel stormed into the mansion without waiting for an invitation. He ignored the maid who tried to stop him and headed straight for the sitting room.Alexander Blackwood sat beside the fireplace, his stern eyes fixed on his eldest son. Catalina, Daniel’s elegant but calculating stepmother, sat beside him, while Damien lounged nearby with a glass of whiskey.Alexander frowned. “Daniel. I wasn’t expecting you.”Daniel loosened his tie. “Clearly. Otherwise, you might have prepared yourself for the news that your youngest son is having the worst day of his life.”Damien raised his glass with a smirk. “You don’t need to explain. I heard about your stupid decisions. Let me guess. Ariana won?”Daniel shot him a furious look.“What?” Damien asked innocently. “The entire city probably knows by now. You certainly made an impression in court.”“Keep your mouth shut, Damien.”Damien smirked. “Gladly. I wouldn’t want to interrupt your next brilliant plan
Judge Morrison struck his gavel. “Court is now in session. We are here to hear the motion to overturn Amelia Stone’s conviction. Ms. Rossi, you may proceed.”Valeria stood and faced the judge. “Your Honor, Amelia Stone was convicted based on manipulated evidence and false testimony. We now have financial records showing payments to witnesses, phone records linking the accused, and evidence that the original investigation was deliberately mishandled.”Adrian Moretti rose immediately. “Your Honor, the defense objects. Ms. Rossi is turning this courtroom into a public spectacle with unproven allegations.”Valeria glanced at him. “If bank records and phone records are allegations, Mr. Moretti, I wonder what you consider evidence.”A few people in the courtroom chuckled. Adrian’s smile tightened.“Evidence must be properly authenticated,” he replied. “And I intend to challenge every document she presents.”“Then you’ll have plenty to do,” Valeria said.Judge Morrison raised his hand. “Enou
NEW YORK CITY COURTHOUSE – OUTSIDE – 2:00 PMDaniel Blackwood sat in his car outside the courthouse, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes remained fixed on the dashboard. He had been sitting there for twenty minutes, unable to accept what had happened.He had lost custody of Aiden. He had lost the case, his reputation, and the right to see his own son until he completed a psychological evaluation and anger-management program. And all because of Ariana and that damn lawyer, Elena Castillo.“Fuck you, Elena,” he muttered, slamming his palm against the steering wheel. “You haven’t heard the last of me.”His phone rang, but he ignored it. When it rang again, he groaned in frustration and glanced at the screen. It was Marcus Webb, one of his business partners. Daniel almost declined the call, but he answered at the last second. “What?” he snapped.“Daniel, we need to talk,” Marcus said coldly.“I’m not in the mood for a
Marco hesitated, and the silence that followed made Alejandro’s stomach tighten. “Elena is alive.”Alejandro froze. For several seconds, he couldn’t speak, think, or even breathe properly. Elena was dead. Everyone had told him she was dead. So how could she possibly be alive? “What did you just say?” he demanded.“Elena is alive,” Marco repeated. “She was found twitching in the morgue. Someone noticed she was still showing signs of life, so they rushed her back to the hospital. The doctors stabilized her, but she suffered a severe head injury. She’s in a coma.”Alejandro’s mouth fell open. “Elena is alive?”“Yes, but the doctors don’t know when she’ll wake up. They can’t even promise that she will.”His fingers tightened around the phone. His eyes burned as tears gathered in them. His little sister had nearly been buried alive, and he hadn’t even been there. “Why the hell didn’t anyone tell me earlier?” he demanded. “How long has she been in the hospital?”“The situation has been cha
REDWOOD STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN ~ 5pmGabriella’s relief vanished instantly. “What?”The officers moved toward her, making her step backward in alarm. “Wait! Governor Patricia, I think you’ve misunderstood me. I wasn’t refusing to cooperate. I was only asking for a clean uniform!”“I understood you perfectly,” Patricia replied coldly. “You refused to put on the uniform and started arguing with my officers. Secure her so they can dress her and take her back to her cell.”Gabriella stared at her in disbelief. “You’re seriously going to handcuff me to a pole because I don’t want to wear that filthy jumpsuit?”“It’s not a punishment,” Patricia said calmly. “It’s the only way the officers can dress you without you fighting them. If you cooperate, this will be over quickly.”“I can dress myself!” Gabriella snapped, looking at the officers approaching her. “Just give me a clean uniform, and I’ll put it on!”“Mrs. Favino, stop resisting,” one officer warned.“I’m not resisting! I’m making a re
Alejandro stood on the tarmac, staring at the empty stretch of road where the police vehicle had disappeared. He could still hear Gabriella’s angry voice in his head, protesting as the officers dragged her away. He had watched them arrest his wife, but he still couldn’t understand how it had happened.He ran a hand through his hair and let out a frustrated breath. Their honeymoon was over, and Gabriella was now in police custody. How had the police found her? Who had told them she was at the airport?“Mr. Favino?” one of his associates called cautiously.Alejandro turned. The young man stood a few feet away, looking nervous. “Should I arrange transportation home?”“Home?” Alejandro repeated, his voice rising. “My wife has just been arrested, and you’re asking me about going home?”“I’m sorry, sir. I was only asking—”“Then answer something useful!” Alejandro snapped. “How did the police find her? Who gave them the information? And how did they get an arrest warrant without anyone war
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
KATHERINA APARTMENT ~ NEW YORKRyan’s voice dropped, turning cold. “Good. I’ll send you a secure line. Nobody can know we’re working together. Not Damien. Not the board. No one.”Katherina smirked and leaned back in her chair.“Please. Damien has so many problems piled on his head, he wouldn’t noti
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES~NEW YORK Vivian was signing documents when Mia burst into the office without knockingHer voice shook. “Vivian… he’s here.”Vivian didn’t even look up. “Who? Ryan again? Security knows what to do.”Mia shook her head fast, eyes huge. “No. Harrison Cole.”Vivian stopped moving
DANIEL’S PENTHOUSE – MORNINGDaniel paced the living room, holding a half-filled glass of Martell. His voice was sharp, bitter.“Lucas, do you know what that woman did? That so-called mother of my kids?”Lucas looked up from the couch, raising an eyebrow. “You mean Katherina your baby mama? What ha







