ANMELDENDaniel picked up on the third ring, sounding half-asleep. Valerie could hear the clinking of a spoon against a bowl in the background.âPlease tell me youâre calling with good news and not another crisis.âValerie hurried down the hallway, clutching her tablet. âDefine âgood.ââDaniel sighed as he mixed his cereal and milk together. âVal, itâs seven PM. I was about to eat. Can I at least finish my dinner before you ruin my evening?ââYou can eat while you listen.ââI am eating while listening.ââGood. Multitasking. Very impressive.âDaniel took another spoonful of cereal. âSo, what did you find?ââI ran a background check on Richard.âDaniel stopped chewing.There was a brief silence before he swallowed.âAnd?âValerie slowed her steps, a smile spreading across her face.âYouâre not going to believe this.âDaniel stirred his cereal again. âConsidering the amount of trouble you usually bring me, Iâm already preparing myself.ââRichard isnât his real name.âThe spoon stopped halfway to
MIGUEL FAVINO BASEMENT ~ OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY Miguel turned around. âSomeone she already trusts.âEnzo immediately caught on. âAriana.âMiguel nodded. âExactly. Amelia trusts Ariana more than anyone.âLucas folded his arms. âThatâs great and all, but Ariana isnât a lawyer. Unless she secretly went to law school while we werenât looking, I donât see how sheâs helping with the trial.ââI know,â Miguel said, giving him a look. âIâm not asking her to handle the case.âHe walked back toward the table and leaned against it.âI want Ariana to talk to Amelia. I want her to convince Amelia to give Valerie a chance.âValerie frowned. âYou want me to meet Ariana?ââNo.âValerie blinked. âThen why did you say that like I was supposed to understand?ââI want Ariana to talk to Amelia first.âValerie still looked uncertain. âBut Iâve never even met Ariana. What if Amelia thinks this is some kind of setup? She could easily think Ariana is working for you.ââThen we donât make Ariana show up with yo
ARIANA'S APARTMENT â 9:00 AMThe apartment was quiet now. The kind of silence that felt heavy and suffocating.Ariana sat on Marco's lap, her body still trembling from crying. Her face was buried in his chest. Her tears had soaked through his shirt. She looked broken, Completely and utterly broken.Marco held her tightly, his arms wrapped around her, his hand gently stroking her hair."Shh," he whispered. "It's going to be okay. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."Ariana's voice was muffled against his chest. "How do you know? How do you know everything is going to be okay?"Marco kissed the top of her head. "Because I'll make sure of it. I'll do whatever it takes to help you get Aiden back. I promise."Ariana looked up at him. Her eyes were red and swollen. Her face was pale. But there was a flicker of hope in her eyes."You really mean that?" she asked softly.Marco smiled gently. "I really do. I care about you, Ariana. More than you know."Ariana sniffled. "I care about you too, Ma
ARIANA FLORES APARTMENT ~ NEW YORK CITYThe tension in the room was suffocating. Ariana's chest heaved as she stood her ground, her hands trembling at her sides."Ariana," Marco said gently, reaching for her arm. "Calm down. Let's justâ""Don't tell me to calm down!" She yanked her arm away, her voice cracking with desperation. "They're trying to take my baby! My son! And you all think I'm some kind of monster?"Daniel laughed again, the sound cruel and dismissive. "See? This is what I've been dealing with. She's uncontrollable. She's violent. She'sâ""Shut up!" Ariana screamed. Her eyes were wild, tears streaming down her face, mascara staining her cheeks. "You're a liar! You cheated on me with three different women! You made one of them get rid of your baby because you didn't want the scandal! And now you think you can just take my son like he's some kind of prize? Over my dead body!"She lunged toward Daniel, her fingers reaching for Aiden, who was crying hysterically in his fat
Gabriella stood in the middle of the lobby, her phone clutched in her hands. Her face was pale. Her heart was pounding.Sofia grabbed her arm. "Gabriella, snap out of it! He's going to be here any minute. You need to pull yourself together."Gabriella's voice was barely a whisper. "I can't do this. I can't face him. He's going to know. He's going to see right through me."Sofia shook her firmly. "Listen to me. You are Gabriella Guerra. You have been lying to people your whole life. You are a master manipulator. You can do this."Gabriella took a shaky breath. "You're right. You're right. I can do this. I just need to think."Sofia nodded. "Okay. So what's the plan? What are you going to tell him?"Gabriella's mind raced. "I'll tell him I'm feeling sick. I'll tell him I don't feel well enough to go to the clinic today. That'll buy me some time."Sofia nodded. "Good. That's good. And then what?"Gabriella's eyes narrowed with determination. "And then I find a doctor who will fake the re
Ariana turned to Mrs. Houston, tears filling her eyes.âPlease, Mrs. Houston, you have to believe me. Iâm a good mother. I would never put my children in danger. I had no idea what my nanny was doing. If I had known about that party, I would have stopped it.âMrs. Houstonâs face remained serious. âI understand what youâre saying, Mrs.Flores , but the evidence against you is serious. Your nanny had a party with drugs and alcohol while your children were in the house. You were unreachable for hours, and right now, we have no proof that you didnât know what was happening.âShe paused before adding, âMy job is to protect your children.âAriana shook her head, tears running down her cheeks.âBut I didnât do anything wrong. You canât take my children away because of something I didnât even know about!âDaniel suddenly gave a cold laugh.âMaybe you should stop acting like youâre some perfect mother, Ariana. Everyone can see the truth about you now.âAriana froze.Slowly, she turned to him.
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







