A Few Hours Later“Do you think Knight knows she’s working with the Bishop?” Mia asked as she lazily spread butter over her toast. The others shook their heads.Melody tapped her fingers rhythmically against the counter. “I knew something was off with that chick. But I didn’t think she’d be working for him.”Cady shook her head. “We need to do something now that we know her plan.”Mia and Joy nodded in agreement. “Exactly. We’ll tell Knight and see what he says,” Joy said, eyes lighting up. “Honestly, I’m craving some action.”As the conversation continued, Katherine rushed into the kitchen, practically vibrating with excitement. She ran straight to Cady, her mouth open but no words coming out.Melody raised a brow. “Will you just spit it out?”Katherine took a shaky breath. “There’s someone here to see you, Cady.”“Huh?” Cady looked up, glancing toward the doorway Katherine pointed at—but it was empty. “What are you talking about, Kat?”The girls exchanged curious looks. Then, someon
Earlier That Same DayAmelia stepped into her room, the door clicking shut behind her. Her heart pounded in her chest, fast and hard. She fumbled for her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then began dialing an unnamed number.She paced the room as it rang—once, twice—until finally, someone picked up.“We have a problem,” she said without hesitation.Silence stretched for a moment on the other end.“And what is it this time?” the voice replied, calm but tinged with irritation. Then again, who wouldn’t be?Amelia stomped her foot. “Donald wants to take me to the hospital—to make sure the baby really belongs to Kieran.”Another pause.“And... what’s the problem with that? It’s not like you’re faking the pregnancy.”“Oh, how I wish I was,” she muttered, glaring at her stomach. Then she lifted her head and stared blankly at the wall. “I can’t go out looking like this. Like... like some fat pig. And I am not going to keep wearing those ridiculous clothes you gave me. They’re hideous
Dr. Aiden was heading toward the hospital parking lot when the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He paused, frowning as he looked around. The lot was dimly lit, eerily quiet—and completely empty.He shook off the creeping feeling and continued walking. Just as he reached for his car keys, he sensed movement behind him.He spun around.A tall, dark figure stood inches away. The man smiled.“Night-night,” he said.Before Aiden could react, the butt of a gun slammed into his head. He collapsed instantly—but didn’t hit the ground. The stranger caught him mid-fall, slung him over his shoulder, and disappeared into the night.A few hours later, Aiden stirred, groggy and aching.His wrists and ankles were tied, and a foul-smelling sack covered his head. The darkness was total. His heart thudded wildly in his chest.He didn’t need to guess what was happening.He’d been kidnapped.But why?He didn’t owe money. He didn’t run with criminals. He was just a doctor.“Hello?” he called out
“Mrs. Caldwell, who do you believe did this?”Monica’s red lips curved into a smile as she turned toward the paid reporter. But then her eyes drifted to the back of the gathered crowd—and the words died in her throat.She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Who she was seeing.Her eyes widened. The color drained from her face.There—standing calmly at the back of the crowd—was a woman who was supposed to be dead.Delores Sanchez.She leaned against a wall, a scarf wrapped around her hair, but her face was exposed. And she was smiling—right at Monica Caldwell.Monica stood frozen, shaking.Delores looked amused, watching as the smile slid off Monica’s face and her skin turned four shades paler.Jimmy and Mark turned to look at their mother, suddenly quiet. Her horrified expression didn’t go unnoticed. Jimmy stepped a little closer.“Mom,” he said softly.But Monica didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Her entire body trembled like a leaf in the wind.The crowd started to murmur, reporters glan
Genesis jumped from her seat like it had caught fire. Her eyes locked onto Kieran’s, and she shook her head—fast, frantic—signing, No one. Nobody.But he didn’t believe her.Kieran stalked forward, eyes dark and dangerous. His gaze flicked between Genesis and Melissa—sharp, calculating. His voice was quiet, but every word landed like a blade.“Who. Kissed. You?”Before Genesis could even think of lying again, Melissa stepped forward quickly, voice high and falsely cheerful. “It’s nothing, really—it wasn’t about her. We were just talking about some random book stuffs. Just girl stuff. Harmless.”She let out a nervous laugh.She tried to defuse the ticking bomb in front of her.Kieran turned to her—slow, deadly—and that laugh died in her throat.“Sit. Down.”Melissa froze.“I said,” he repeated, “sit down.”Her knees gave out as she backed away and sank into the nearest chair, like her soul had just been yanked from her body.Kieran turned back to Genesis, stepping into her space until
The dining table was unusually quiet. Well—almost quiet. One person seemed to be in an annoyingly good mood.“Ahhh, oh my God, that is so funny! I don't know why people hate Love Island—it's all about drama, lies, and fake people pretending to be in love.”She laughed again, completely unaware of the irony.Across the table, Daisy clenched her fork so tightly it looked like she might throw it at Amelia just to escape the noise.Eliana noticed and quickly stepped in. “Come on, honey. The school bus is here.”She helped Daisy down from her seat, but the girl didn’t stop glaring at Amelia. Amelia caught it, squinting suspiciously at her, then glanced under her chair and around the table like she expected something—or someone—to lunge at her.Once Daisy was out of the room, Amelia turned back to say something to Kieran, but he stood up without a word and walked out of the dining room.Genesis, who hadn’t touched her food, watched her husband leave. Her hand tightened around the edge of th