Mag-log inFor a brief moment, Damien couldnât speak. He had foolishly hoped that Leo might accept the Blackwood name. Maybe, with time, he would even accept him.But when Damien looked at the stubborn expression on Leoâs face, he knew better. Why would Leo accept the Blackwood name when, in his eyes, Miguel had been his real father and Damien was the man who had taken him away?âRight,â Damien said quickly, forcing his smile back onto his face. âOkay, fine. Leo Favino. Sorry. My mistake.âAmy looked between them, immediately sensing the tension in the room, but she quickly composed herself. She stepped toward Leo with a warm smile and held out her hand.âHello, Leo. My full name is Amara willams , but everyone just calls me Amy. Itâs nice to meet you.âLeo stared at her outstretched hand for a few seconds before slowly taking it. His handshake was brief and weak, and he pulled his hand away almost immediately.âYeah, hi,â he muttered.Amy didnât seem bothered by his cold response. She kept her
Ameliaâs terrified scream cut through the chaos.Everyone turned. Amelia was gripping the edge of her bunk with both hands. Her face had gone completely pale, and sweat covered her forehead.âWHERE ARE THE NURSES?!â she cried. âI THINK IâM LOSING THE BABY!âHer hands trembled as she looked down. Blood was spreading across the bunk, soaking through the thin mattress.Tanya covered her mouth with both hands. âOh my God!âShe immediately rushed to Ameliaâs side. âHelp her!â Tanya cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. âPlease! Somebody help her!âAmelia tried to speak, but her lips were trembling. âI⊠I canâtâŠâHer head dropped against the wall.âIâm so dizzy.âTanya grabbed her hand tightly. âStay with me, Amelia! Please!âWithin seconds, guards stormed into the cell block. âMOVE!â one guard shouted, pushing through the crowd. âEverybody back!âTwo nurses hurried in behind them, carrying a stretcher. âClear the way!âThe inmates quickly stepped aside. One nurse rushed to Amelia and chec
DAMIENâS MANSION â ENTRANCE HALL â MORNINGDamien stood in the large entrance hall, looking down at the little boy who wanted nothing to do with him. Leoâs small body was trembling, his eyes were red from crying, and his hands were tightly clenched at his sides.Damien had known this wouldnât be easy. He had expected Leo to hate him, but seeing the fear in his sonâs eyes hurt more than he had prepared for.He took a slow breath and tried to keep his emotions under control.âLeo,â he said gently, lowering himself slightly so they were closer to eye level. âI know I made mistakes. Terrible mistakes. I was influenced by my ex-wife, Katherina, and I regret listening to her. I regret the things I did because of her, and I wish I could go back and change them.âLeo stared at him without saying a word.Damien swallowed and continued, âI know saying sorry wonât erase what happened. I know I canât change the past, but I want to try to make things right. I want to be your father. A real father.
DANIEL BLACKWOOD MANSION ~ NEW YORK CITY Daniel returned to the foyer and calmly pulled out his phone. He glanced at the screen before selecting a number and putting the call on speaker.The call connected after a few rings. âElena,â Daniel said, a satisfied smile slowly spreading across his face. âYouâre the best lawyer Iâve ever worked with. Your plan worked perfectly.âHe leaned against the wall, casually adjusting his watch. âI have full custody of Aiden. Ariana is completely destroyed, and Marco will never dare cross me again.âThere was a brief silence before Elena finally responded. âYouâre welcome, Daniel, but donât celebrate too early. Getting custody was only the first step. If Ariana challenges the order, weâll need to be ready for her.âDanielâs smile widened. âShe wonât challenge anything.ââYou sound very confident.ââI am,â he replied, his voice calm. âAriana has lost everything. She wonât have the strength or resources to fight me now.âElena paused before speaking ag
WENT-WORTH CORRECTIONAL PRISON ~ NEW YORK CITYAmelia glared at Sophia, her face twisted with pain and anger. Even though she was clearly suffering, her voice was sharp.âShut up, you pathetic excuse for a woman. Youâre nobody. You always have been. The only reason anyone ever noticed you was because you were my shadow.âSophiaâs smile disappeared. âYour shadow? Please. I was the one with the money. I was the one with the power. You were nothing before Alejandro, and youâre nothing now.âAmelia let out a bitter laugh and held her stomach. âFunny. And yet, look at where you are now. Sitting in prison and carrying your gatekeeperâs bastard.âShe looked around at the other inmates before turning back to Sophia with a cruel smile. âAnd me? Iâm the top dog in this entire cell block. So tell me, Sophia. Whoâs the nobody now?âThe other inmates burst into laughter. Then someone shouted, âGatekeeperâs bastard, Another inmate joined in. âGatekeeperâs bastard!â Soon, the whole cell block was ch
DANIEL BLACKWOOD MANSION ~ NEW YORK CITY Daniel pulled the trigger.The gunshot echoed through the mansion, followed by Marcoâs scream. He stumbled backward and crashed onto the floor, both hands immediately flying to his leg. Blood slipped between his fingers as his entire body shook.âAH! Boss!âDaniel lowered the gun and calmly walked toward him. His expression was cold, his jaw tight, and his eyes showed no sign of pity. He stopped beside Marco and slowly crouched down, resting one arm against his knee.âLet me make something clear,â Daniel said softly.Marco looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes, his lips trembling as he struggled to breathe through the pain.âI gave you a script,â Daniel continued, his voice dangerously calm. âYou follow the script. You donât add scenes. You donât improvise. You do exactly what I tell you. Nothing more. Nothing less.âMarco shook his head desperately while pressing harder against his wound.âPlease, boss,â he begged. âI need a hospital. Pl
KATHERINA APARTMENT ~ NEW YORKRyanâs voice dropped, turning cold. âGood. Iâll send you a secure line. Nobody can know weâre working together. Not Damien. Not the board. No one.âKatherina smirked and leaned back in her chair.âPlease. Damien has so many problems piled on his head, he wouldnât noti
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES~NEW YORK Vivian was signing documents when Mia burst into the office without knockingHer voice shook. âVivian⊠heâs here.âVivian didnât even look up. âWho? Ryan again? Security knows what to do.âMia shook her head fast, eyes huge. âNo. Harrison Cole.âVivian stopped moving
Alejandro froze. ââŠThe what?âHis mother put down her fork slowly. âIsabella, donât you dare.âToo late.Aunt Isabella smirked. âEvery Favino man who refuses the family marriage law ends upâŠââIsabella!â his mother snapped.But Isabella continued proudly, ââŠbald by thirty five.âAlejandro gasped. â
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







