LOGINWENTWORTH CORRECTIONAL CENTER â CELL BLOCK D â EARLY MORNINGThe prison was quiet. The only sounds were the low hum of the lights and the occasional snore coming from the cells.Then Amelia screamed. "BLOOD! THERE'S BLOOD!"Her scream echoed through the entire cell block.Inmates jumped out of their bunks, startled and confused. Amelia sat frozen on her bed, both hands pressed against her stomach, Her face had gone pale, her jaw slack, her lips parted. Blood covered the sheets beneath her, spreading across the mattress. Her legs trembled, her knees shaking, as tears filled her eyes, spilling over and running down her cheeks in thin, wet streaks."Someone help me!" she cried, her voice cracking, her chin trembling. "Press the panic button!"Nobody needed to be told twice.The panic button was supposed to be used only for serious emergencies, but the sight of all that blood was enough to make everyone panic.Someone slammed their hand against the button, palm flat, arm swinging down h
The doctor's face went white. "Mrs. Guerra, I really think you should reconsider. This is a life we're talking about. A human being. Please, take some time to thinkâ"Gabriella's eyes were ice cold. "It's my body and my decision. Now do it. No more discussion."The doctor nodded weakly, his voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Mrs. Guerra. I'll schedule it for Tuesday."Gabriella grabbed her purse, straightened her shoulders, and walked out of the doctor's office without another word. Her heels clicked against the tile floor, sharp and final.But the moment the door clicked shut behind her, something inside her broke.She pressed her back against the cold hallway wall, slid down to the floor, and buried her face in her hands. And she sobbed. Ugly, heaving sobs that shook her entire body. Her carefully constructed walls came crashing down around her.She had lost everything. Her best friend. Her control. Her perfect plan. And now she was carrying a baby she didn't want."What is wrong with me
DANIEL BLACKWOOD MANSION ~ NEW YORK CITY Marco clawed at Danielâs wrist, desperately trying to free himself as Daniel held him by the throat.âYou put your filthy hands on my wife,â Daniel hissed, his face twisted with rage. âI gave you one simple job, and you betrayed me by sleeping with Ariana.ââBoss⊠pleaseâŠâ Marco choked, his face turning red as he struggled to breathe.Danielâs grip tightened. âHow dare you?âMarco shook his head quickly, panic filling his eyes.âHow dare you betray me after everything Iâve done for you?â Daniel demanded. âI trusted you, Marco. I gave you a place in my organization, and this is how you repay me?ââI didnât mean to betray you,â Marco managed to say between breaths.Daniel leaned closer, his eyes burning with anger.âBut you did.âMarco swallowed painfully. âPlease, boss. I swear I didnât mean for it to happen. Ariana told me she hated you. She said she wanted to leave you. She told me she didnât love you anymore.âDaniel stared at him for a long
DAMIEN'S MANSION â STUDY â 1:30 PMDamien sat behind his large oak desk, staring at the divorce papers spread out in front of him. He had been going through them for hours, but the words still felt cold and final.Property division. Custody arrangements. Financial settlements.Everything was written clearly in black and white.Damien picked up his pen and slowly uncapped it. His eyes stayed on the signature line as he took a deep breath.He was about to sign when his phone suddenly rang.Damien frowned and glanced at the screen.The name made his expression darken immediately.Arthur Langston.Sophia's father.Damien leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. He already knew what the old man wanted. Arthur had been calling him for weeks, demanding that he cancel the divorce and stand by Sophia.Damien let the phone ring.He ignored it.But a few seconds later, it rang again.His jaw tightened."Persistent old man," he muttered under his breath.The phone rang a third time.With
DANIEL BLACKWOOD MANSION ~ NEW YORK CITYMarcoâs face went pale, but he quickly shook his head. âI didnât.âDanielâs eyes narrowed. âYou didnât?ââNo, boss.â Marco swallowed hard and forced himself to remain calm. âI swear I didnât sleep with Ariana. I only did what you asked me to do. I got close to her, gained her trust, and made her believe I cared about her. Thatâs all.âDaniel studied him in silence.Marco continued quickly, sensing that he needed to convince him before the situation became worse.âShe was vulnerable, boss. She had just gone through the divorce, and she trusted me because I was there for her. But I never crossed that line. I wouldnât do that to you.âDanielâs expression remained strangely calm. âIs that what youâre going with?âMarco nodded. âYes.âDaniel gave a quiet laugh. It wasnât a friendly laugh.It was the kind that made Marcoâs stomach tighten.âYou really want to stand there and lie to my face?âMarcoâs heart began pounding. âIâm not lying.âDaniel rea
Daniel 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
âTwo days ago. Daniel and I were talking about the party, and we realizedâwhy wait? We love each other. We have a son together. We want to be a family. So weâre doing it now.â Ariana twisted her hands together. âAre you mad?ââMad? Are you kidding?â Amelia rushed forward and hugged her best friend
Alejandro stood on the sidewalk outside Ameliaâs towering apartment building. The crisp New York morning air did nothing to clear the fog in his head. His duffel bag felt like a brick in his hand, heavy with the few clothes heâd grabbed in a rush.Suddenly, cameras clicked around him. Paparazzi app
Alexander swallowed hard, trying to hold his ground. âThis isnât fairââVivianâs eyes glistened as she stepped closer, her voice low and shaky but filled with desire.âFair?â she whispered. âIâve been patient, Alex. Iâve stayed quiet while you buried yourself in guilt over her. Itâs been three day
MANHATTAN FAMILY COURT ~The courtroom was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner.Katherina sat at the long wooden table, her hands trembling as she stared at the papers in front of her. Jessica sat beside her, pretending to dab her tears with a tissue. Across the room, little Mira







