LOGINDAMIAN’S MANSION — FOYER — 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. “Wow,” Damien said, looking him over. “You look great. Like a real Blackwood.”Leo stopped halfway down the stairs and gave him a cold look. “I’m not a Blackwood.”Damien’s smile faded slightly. “Leo—”“I’m a Favino,” Leo said firmly. “Stop trying to change that.”Damien took a breath and nodded. “Okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. You look great, that’s all I meant.”“Then just say that next time.”Leo continued down the stairs and walked straight past him.Damien quickly followed. “Your headmaster, Mr. Harrington, is expecting you. He’ll give you a tour of the school, introduce you to your
Ariana’s face flushed slightly. “About a week.”“A week?” Amelia stared at her in disbelief before letting out a small laugh. “Riri, that’s fast. Really fast.”“I know,” Ariana admitted with a nervous shrug. “But he’s been really supportive. He helped me through a lot when everything started falling apart.”Amelia glanced at Marco again, studying him carefully. She didn’t 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 didn’t want to ruin that moment.“Hi, Marco,” she said, keeping her voice polite but guarded. “Nice to meet you.”Marco smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you too, Amelia. Ariana has told me a lot about you. She says you’re more like a sister than a friend.”Amelia returned his smile, although there was still a hint of suspicion in her eyes. “That’s sweet of her.”She looked at his crutch and bandaged leg before turning back to Ariana. “But can you give us a few m
Ariana flinched and pulled the phone slightly away from her ear as Amelia’s angry voice filled the room.“Amelia, please—”“I left my son in your care!” Amelia shouted. Tears immediately filled her eyes as she paced across the room, her free hand trembling as she ran it through her hair. “I trusted you, Ariana! Out of everyone, I trusted you with my child!”“It’s not what you think!” Ariana quickly replied, her voice filled with panic.“Then what the hell is it?” Amelia demanded. Her voice cracked as another tear slipped down her cheek. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you betrayed me too. I thought you were my friend!”“I am your friend!” Ariana insisted, her voice rising with desperation. “Amelia, please, just listen to me. I can explain everything.”“No!” Amelia snapped. She shook her head furiously as she wiped the tears from her face. “I don’t want to hear another excuse. You betrayed me too!”Ariana closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.“After everything I’ve b
DAMIEN’S MANSION — LEO’S ROOM — 7:00 AMMorning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Leo’s 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. “Leo? Are you awake?” 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. “Leo, we need to leave soon. School starts at eight-thirty.”Leo sighed before getting up and opening the door.Damien stood there holding a tray of breakfast, looking almost nervous.“I made breakfast for you,” he said, forcing a small smile. “Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and orange juice.”Leo 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
SAINT VICTORIA HOSPITAL — VIP SUITE — EVENINGAmelia stood frozen in the doorway, her mouth hanging open.She stared at the room in disbelief. This didn’t look like a hospital room at all. It looked more like an expensive five-star hotel suite.The floor was polished hardwood, partly covered by a thick cream-colored rug. A large, comfortable bed sat in the middle of the room, covered with fresh white sheets. There were fresh flowers on the table, expensive chocolates beside the bed, and a soft robe hanging neatly on the bathroom door.Amelia slowly turned around, taking everything in.She had spent months in a cold prison cell, sleeping on a thin mattress and eating food that tasted like cardboard. She had dreamed of freedom every single day.Now she was standing in a room that looked like something from another world. “What the hell is this place?” she whispered.She took a few steps inside and looked around again.“This is not a hospital room. This is a freaking palace.”She walked
ALEXANDER MANSION~ NEW YORKAlexander Blackwood stormed through the marble halls of his mansion, his anger practically vibrating through his steps. The maids and staff froze as he passed, their whispers trailing behind him. He reached the Master bedroom, flinging the door open.“Vivian!” he shoute
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
ALEJANDRO MASTER BEDROOM ~ NEW YORK The phone had been buzzing nonstop.Alejandro walked into the master bedroom, holding it up. “Mi reina, your phone has been ringing non-stop.”Amelia pushed herself up against the pillows, exhausted. “My phone? Are you serious? I thought I had it with me all alo







