Ms. Carter spoke gently. “Sometimes he seems distracted. Like his mind is somewhere else. Is everything okay at home?”Amelia’s fingers tightened on Leo’s little hand. For a moment, her mind flicked to Damien, Katherina, the chaos of the Blackwoods… and the dangerous stage two plan that was already in motion.Her voice came out steady, though. “Everything’s fine at home. He just thinks a lot just like his mama.”Leo giggled, oblivious to the tension, and pulled out a crayon drawing from his backpack. “Look, Mama, I drew us! You, me, Uncle Miguel and a big house.”Amelia stared at the childish sketch four stick figures, all smiling. For a second, her heart ached with the reminder of what she was fighting for.She kissed his cheek. “It’s perfect, baby. Absolutely perfect.”Two mothers at the far end of the room spoke in hushed voices.“Did you hear about Blackwood Group?” one whispered.“Yes. Something about fraud and suspension. Honestly, these big names think they’re untouchable.”Ame
Dance Studio – Water BreakAmelia leaned back against the wall, catching her breath. She took a slow sip of water, then turned to Ariana with a sly smirk.“Girl, stage two is where the real fun begins. We expose them and to do that, we need solid evidence on Katherina.”Ariana blinked, wiping sweat from her forehead. “Evidence? What kind of evidence?”“The kind that can’t be denied,” Amelia said, lowering her voice. “And that’s where you come in.”Ariana nearly choked on her water. “Me? Oh, really?”“Yes.” Amelia nodded confidently.Ariana folded her arms across her chest, skeptical. “And how exactly am I supposed to do that?”Amelia leaned in closer, her tone matter of fact. “Daniel has a private lake house in the Maldives. That’s where the evidence is. If my source is right, there are video files and maybe even documents hidden there. Enough to burn her image completely.”Ariana’s jaw dropped. “The Maldives?!” She let out a disbelieving laugh. “Amelia, how the hell am I going to con
Katherina stormed into Daniel’s apartment without knocking, slamming the door behind her. Her eyes were blazing, her voice trembling with rage.“What the hell, Daniel?” she shouted. “So while you were busy digging inside me, you were also busy building your stable life with a girlfriend? You told me you loved me! You told me you wanted to be with me!”She grabbed his hand and pressed it firmly against her belly. Her voice cracked.“What about the babies in my womb? Do you even care? Do you even know they’re twins?”Daniel froze, his eyes widening. “Twins?”Katherina let out a bitter laugh, tears welling in her eyes.“Exactly! You don’t even know. That witch has bewitched you. You don’t care about me anymore you don’t care about us!”Daniel yanked his hand back, his expression turning cold.“Stop with the fake tears, Katherina. You caused this. I gave you every chance I told you to leave my brother Damien. I promised I’d take care of you. I told you countless times he doesn’t love you.
“Yes, we know each other,” Katherina sneered, letting out a sharp laugh. “She’s my secretary. And now look at this…. Blackwood drama getting messier by the damn day.”Daniel’s jaw tightened as he turned to Ariana. “You worked for my father’s company this whole time, and you never told me?”Ariana slowly slid the lipstick across her lips, unbothered and almost teasing.“Please,” she said, her tone cool. “You never asked. You just assumed I had some fancy corporate job. Truth is you didn’t care enough to know where I really worked.”Katherina’s eyes flashed, her hand instinctively covering her belly.‘So let me get this straight,’ she said, her voice edged with fury. ‘While your father is out there announcing his marriage, the two of you sneak in here?’Her gaze snapped towards Ariana, cold and accusing.“Tell me, Daniel… what is she? your latest fling?”Ariana’s eyes sparkled, but she kept quiet, waiting to see what Daniel would say.Daniel shifted uncomfortably, then stepped forward,
Ariana’s back pressed against the cool restroom wall, her breath coming fast as Daniel’s lips found hers in a deep, hungry kiss.“Instead of being out there at the main event, we’re hiding in the bathroom,” she whispered between kisses, her lips brushing his.Daniel smirked, his hand sliding down her waist. “I know, baby… but I can’t get enough of you in this sexy gown. You’re driving me insane.”Her laugh was soft, nervous, but filled with heat. “Daniel… have you ever done this? Had sex right in the middle of an event?”His lips trailed down her neck, making her shiver. “No… but the thought of it with you? It’s the hottest thing I can imagine.”Ariana bit her lip, her pulse racing. “We’re really doing this? What if someone notices we’re gone?”He lifted his head, his eyes dark and sure. “I don’t care about my brother’s wife’s party. I don’t care what my father has to say. The only thing I care about right now” his fingers tugged her gown’s strap down slowly, “is making you feel good.
The intercom buzzed, and a familiar voice came through.“Hi, baby girl,” Daniel’s deep voice echoed from the speaker.Ariana smiled instantly. She pressed the button. “Give me a minute, baby. I’m coming.”She quickly slipped on her heels, smoothed down her dress, and opened the door. Daniel was waiting, leaning casually against the wall. The second his eyes landed on her, his jaw practically dropped.“Oh my God,” he breathed, grinning wide. “You look so damn sexy and beautiful.”Ariana’s cheeks warmed, and she swatted at his arm. “Stop it with the flattery, Daniel.”“I’m not flattering you,” he said seriously, his gaze sweeping over her. “That dress… wow. I didn’t think the one you ordered from Fashion Nova would look this good on you. I’m speechless.”Ariana rolled her eyes, though a shy smile curved her lips. “Well, thank you. But we’re late for the reinstatement party, remember? We need to go.”“Fine, fine,” Daniel said, holding his hands up in surrender. “But for the record, I cou