LOGINSAINT VICTORIA HOSPITAL â NICU â 6:30 PMAmelia was wheeled into the NICU. The room was quiet, filled with the soft beeping of monitors. Tiny babies lay in incubators, connected to tubes and wires. And there, in the corner, was Mateo.Her heart swelled as She slowly got out of the wheelchair and walked to the incubator. Mateo was still small. Still fragile. But he looked stronger. His skin was pinker. His breathing was steadier.Amelia pressed her palm against the glass. "Hello, my little warrior," she whispered. "Mama's here."Mateo's tiny fingers moved. His eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he looked at her.Amelia smiled through her tears. "I love you, Mateo. I love you so much."Ariana stood beside her, tears streaming down her face. Valeria watched from the doorway, her eyes soft. "He's beautiful," Ariana whispered.Amelia nodded. "He's perfect." She stayed there for an hour, just watching him breathe. Just watching him fight.She had lost so much. But she still had him. She sti
Gabriellaâs face crumpled as she looked at Alejandro. âI donât know what happened,â she said through her tears. âElena came into the bathroom to speak to me. We were talking normally, and then she said she was going back downstairs.âAlejandro stared at her. âThen what happened?ââShe turned to leave, but she suddenly slipped.âGabriella pointed toward the bathroom, her voice trembling. âShe fell so hard that her head hit the floor. I rushed over to her immediately and tried to wake her, but she wasnât responding.âAlejandro looked at his sisterâs body, his eyes filling with tears. âYouâre saying she just fell?ââYes,â Gabriella whispered. âI swear. One moment she was standing there, and the next she was on the floor.âShe wiped her cheeks and continued, âI called her name over and over, but she wouldnât answer me. I was terrified, Alejandro. I didnât know what to do.âAlejandro looked down at Elena, his face filled with disbelief and grief. âShe was perfectly fine a few minutes ago.â
Amelia smiled faintly. âI know Alejandro. He can be petty, cruel, and extremely unforgiving when someone makes a fool of him. Gabriella did exactly that. She lied to him, manipulated him, and made him believe a completely different story. Now he has every reason to make her regret it.âValeria shook her head slightly. âMaybe he will, but we canât depend on Alejandroâs revenge. Our priority is getting Ameliaâs conviction overturned and making sure Gabriella and Marisa face the consequences of what they did.âAmelia nodded, her expression becoming determined. âYouâre right. Iâve spent too many years waiting for someone else to fix my life. This time, I want to be the one who walks out of that prison.âAriana smiled. âAnd when you do, weâll be waiting for you.âAmelia looked at both women, tears still shining in her eyes, but this time there was hope behind them.âThen letâs make sure they can never take my freedom away from me again.âAmelia looked at Valeria. âWhatâs the next step?âVa
Sophia held her breath, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of the table. She had spent weeks imagining the worst possible outcome, and now every second felt unbearable. âThe charges against you for the murder of Rebecca Stein are dismissed due to insufficient evidence.âSophiaâs eyes widened before a huge smile suddenly spread across her face. âWhat? You mean Iâm free?âShe let out a breath she didnât even realize she had been holding and laughed in disbelief. âI knew it! I knew they couldnât convict me! I told everyone I didnât kill that woman!âBut before Sophia could celebrate any further, Judge Morrison continued. âHowever, this court has found sufficient evidence to establish that another individual may have been responsible for Rebecca Steinâs death.âThe courtroom immediately fell silent. Judge Morrison turned his attention toward AureliaâAurelia Voss, the forensic evidence presented before this court establishes that your DNA was recovered from underneath the victimâs finge
Aurelia stared at him while Richard walked toward the screen and brought up another file. âAfter Sophia Langston left Rebecca Steinâs apartment that night, our investigation uncovered evidence that Aurelia Voss went to Rebeccaâs apartment herself.âAureliaâs face went pale.âThatâs not true.âRichard ignored her and continued. âShe went there to confront Rebecca about something very personal. Rebecca had discovered that Aurelia was having an affair with her husband, Thomas Stein.âA loud murmur immediately spread through the courtroom.Aureliaâs mouth fell open. âNo.âRichard clicked again. Several screenshots of private messages appeared on the screen. âYour Honor, these are messages between Aurelia Voss and Thomas Stein. In these conversations, Ms. Voss repeatedly told Thomas that he needed to divorce Rebecca and be with her.âAurelia shook her head violently. âThose messages are fake!âRichard turned toward her. âAre you saying these conversations never happened?ââYes!â Aurelia cri
SAINT VICTORIA HOSPITAL â VIP SUITE â 8:30 PMThe VIP suite was warm and cozy. The curtains were drawn. A tray of snacks sat on the bed. Ariana had ordered pizza, chocolate, and wine. Well, grape juice for Amelia since she was still recovering.Amelia sat comfortably against the pillows on her bed, holding a slice of pizza in one hand. Ariana was sitting cross-legged on the couch, while Valeria was curled up in the armchair with a glass of grape juice. They were all still excited about everything that had happened at the wedding.âI still canât believe we actually did that,â Ariana said with a laugh. âWe crashed a Favino wedding, caused chaos, and walked out like we owned the place.âValeria smirked. âTechnically, we did own the place. The moment Amelia walked in, that wedding was finished.âAmelia laughed as she took another bite of her pizza. âDid you see Gabriellaâs face? I honestly thought she was going to explode right there in front of everyone.âAriana burst out laughing. âHer
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.âVivian!â he shoute
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina slipped Nicholas Haleâs 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. âYes. You.âThe room went quiet.Alejandro tensed. âMother, donât.ââNo,â Marisa said, her voice cold. âYou donât get to shield her. Let me speak.âShe stepped closer to Amelia. âYou show up here⊠and suddenly the Guerras strike. You have ties to the Blackwoods. To
THE FAVINO ESTATE â 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 didnât want to interrupt whatever storm was







