ุชุณุฌูู ุงูุฏุฎููThe 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 thinkโ"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 Danielโs wrist, desperately trying to free himself as Daniel held him by the throat.โYou put your filthy hands on my wife,โ Daniel hissed, his face twisted with rage. โI gave you one simple job, and you betrayed me by sleeping with Ariana.โโBossโฆ pleaseโฆโ Marco choked, his face turning red as he struggled to breathe.Danielโs grip tightened. โHow dare you?โMarco shook his head quickly, panic filling his eyes.โHow dare you betray me after everything Iโve done for you?โ Daniel demanded. โI trusted you, Marco. I gave you a place in my organization, and this is how you repay me?โโI didnโt mean to betray you,โ Marco managed to say between breaths.Daniel leaned closer, his eyes burning with anger.โBut you did.โMarco swallowed painfully. โPlease, boss. I swear I didnโt mean for it to happen. Ariana told me she hated you. She said she wanted to leave you. She told me she didnโt love you anymore.โDaniel stared at him for a long
DAMIEN'S MANSION โ STUDY โ 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 CITYMarcoโs face went pale, but he quickly shook his head. โI didnโt.โDanielโs eyes narrowed. โYou didnโt?โโNo, boss.โ Marco swallowed hard and forced himself to remain calm. โI swear I didnโt 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. Thatโs all.โDaniel studied him in silence.Marco continued quickly, sensing that he needed to convince him before the situation became worse.โShe 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 wouldnโt do that to you.โDanielโs expression remained strangely calm. โIs that what youโre going with?โMarco nodded. โYes.โDaniel gave a quiet laugh. It wasnโt a friendly laugh.It was the kind that made Marcoโs stomach tighten.โYou really want to stand there and lie to my face?โMarcoโs heart began pounding. โIโm not lying.โDaniel 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.โPlease tell me youโre calling with good news and not another crisis.โValerie hurried down the hallway, clutching her tablet. โDefine โgood.โโDaniel sighed as he mixed his cereal and milk together. โVal, itโs seven PM. I was about to eat. Can I at least finish my dinner before you ruin my evening?โโYou can eat while you listen.โโI am eating while listening.โโGood. Multitasking. Very impressive.โDaniel took another spoonful of cereal. โSo, what did you find?โโI ran a background check on Richard.โDaniel stopped chewing.There was a brief silence before he swallowed.โAnd?โValerie slowed her steps, a smile spreading across her face.โYouโre not going to believe this.โDaniel stirred his cereal again. โConsidering the amount of trouble you usually bring me, Iโm already preparing myself.โโRichard isnโt his real name.โThe spoon stopped halfway to
MIGUEL FAVINO BASEMENT ~ OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY Miguel turned around. โSomeone she already trusts.โEnzo immediately caught on. โAriana.โMiguel nodded. โExactly. Amelia trusts Ariana more than anyone.โLucas folded his arms. โThatโs great and all, but Ariana isnโt a lawyer. Unless she secretly went to law school while we werenโt looking, I donโt see how sheโs helping with the trial.โโI know,โ Miguel said, giving him a look. โIโm not asking her to handle the case.โHe walked back toward the table and leaned against it.โI want Ariana to talk to Amelia. I want her to convince Amelia to give Valerie a chance.โValerie frowned. โYou want me to meet Ariana?โโNo.โValerie blinked. โThen why did you say that like I was supposed to understand?โโI want Ariana to talk to Amelia first.โValerie still looked uncertain. โBut Iโve never even met Ariana. What if Amelia thinks this is some kind of setup? She could easily think Ariana is working for you.โโThen we donโt make Ariana show up with yo
โTwo days ago. Daniel and I were talking about the party, and we realizedโwhy wait? We love each other. We have a son together. We want to be a family. So weโre doing it now.โ Ariana twisted her hands together. โAre you mad?โโMad? Are you kidding?โ Amelia rushed forward and hugged her best friend
Alejandro stood on the sidewalk outside Ameliaโs 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 heโd grabbed in a rush.Suddenly, cameras clicked around him. Paparazzi app
Alexander swallowed hard, trying to hold his ground. โThis isnโt fairโโVivianโs eyes glistened as she stepped closer, her voice low and shaky but filled with desire.โFair?โ she whispered. โIโve been patient, Alex. Iโve stayed quiet while you buried yourself in guilt over her. Itโs 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







