로그인Gwen planted herself in front of Lucille and spread both arms wide. "Daphne, if you have a problem, deal with me. Leave Lucy alone."Your family has gone beyond every limit. You agreed to the divorce, then tampered with the agreement. You took the child. Now you're standing there pretending you know nothing."Every one of you is absolutely disgusting. Having a family like the Prescotts in Coasthaven is an embarrassment to this entire city."Tell us where the child is, and admit what you did to that agreement. Lucy might still show you some mercy. Keep playing dumb, and you'll regret it."While Lucille confronted Daphne, Gwen received a message from Sven.Sven had tried calling Lucille, but her line had been busy, so he had sent the message directly to Gwen instead.Sven: [The security team currently stationed at the Prescott Group was hired entirely through a subsidiary of Lucille's brother's company. In other words, when it matters most, those guards will answer to Lucille, not
Daphne had been working late, fighting off the edge of drowsiness. Lucille's hands on her collar jolted her fully awake. Then she watched Lucille climb onto her desk, sending documents scattering across the floor.Her shock instantly turned to fury. She ground out the words through clenched teeth. "Lucille. What exactly do you think you're doing? This is not your place to run wild. What do you want?"Lucille yanked her collar higher, making Daphne stumble with the motion. "What do I want? I'd like to ask your family the same question. What do you want?"Daphne, I thought you were the only decent person in this entire family. It turns out you're the one who hid the most beneath the surface, and when you act, you sink the lowest."Where is Lily? Tell me where you've taken her."The rage burning inside Lucille had reached a white-hot intensity. Every second she spent without knowing where her daughter was, every second without confirmation that Lily was safe, stretched into what felt
Lucille was certain this led back to Gideon. She marched straight up to him and slapped him across the face before she had even finished the thought.Gideon did not flinch or step aside. The slap landed squarely, leaving the distinct imprint of five fingers on his cheek.Lucille trembled with fury, her voice ragged as she demanded, "Gideon, did you order this? Did you have someone take Lily?"Gideon remained silent.He already knew the truth, but he could not bring himself to say it aloud. If he admitted Michelle had taken Lily, he would be the one accusing her. He needed to learn exactly what had happened and bring Lily home before he said anything.Lucille pointed a trembling finger at him. "Say something! Gideon! Was it you, or was it someone in your family? Do you honestly think everyone in Coasthaven answers to the Prescotts? That you can do whatever you want?"I'm telling you, if Lily gets so much as a scratch, I will make every single one of you answer for it. Every one of
Gideon's heart lurched. "Michelle, what's that sound? Why am I hearing a baby crying?"Michelle's voice came back unhurried and completely at ease. "That's your daughter I'm holding. You never went to get the paternity test, no matter how many times people told you to. So I decided to help you out. I borrowed her for a bit."I just pulled two strands of hair from her head. She started screaming immediately. Honestly, she's awfully demanding for someone so small."I've already sent the samples and your toothbrush to the lab. The results should be back soon."Gideon could not believe what he was hearing. Daphne had already made a mess of things today, and now Michelle had taken Lily without telling anyone."Michelle. Have you lost your mind?" His voice shook with fury. "You actually kidnapped her? What exactly do you think you're doing? She is my daughter. I'm warning you, if you hurt a single hair on her head, I will never forgive you."On the other end of the phone, Michelle soun
But if Daphne was behind it, why?No one in the Prescott family had welcomed Lily's birth. Not one of them had ever shown her any genuine affection. So why would Daphne secretly alter the custody clause to place Lily under Gideon's control?That question could wait. They had caught the problem before any damage was done. That was what mattered.Lucille forced herself to set her anger aside and refocus. She told Gideon she would take care of it, then walked to the printing desk.The original electronic agreement was still on her phone. She printed three fresh copies on the spot.This time, she sent all three pages directly to Charles and waited for his confirmation before handing anything to Gideon to sign.From that moment on, Lucille became all business. She was composed, relentless, and absolutely certain.She moved Gideon from window to window as though he were luggage being checked instead of a person. He followed without protest, his dull, mechanical compliance telling her
Gwen slapped the service window frantically, trying to stop the staff. "Don't stamp anything! The divorce agreement has been tampered with. Something is wrong!"Her words made both Lucille and Gideon freeze.The clerk handed the documents back.Gwen snatched up the divorce agreement and flipped straight to the custody section. Her expression darkened instantly.She turned and hurled the agreement against Gideon's chest. "Gideon! I knew something was off. I knew you'd never agree to this divorce without some kind of trick up your sleeve, and here it is!"She looked at Lucille, fury blazing in her eyes. "Lucy, we need a new agreement. He pulled a fast one. He buried word games in the custody clause and changed the entire meaning."If this had gone through, custody would have reverted to him, and you'd need his permission just to see your own daughter!"Thank God I had the sense to photograph it and send it to Charles. Another few seconds, and you would have lost her."The room se
Inside a clothing store in a large shopping mall in Coasthaven, Lillian slept soundly in her stroller, clean, full, and completely out, while Nancy pushed her slowly along the aisles.Gwen stayed close to Lucille as she tried things on. Her body still had not fully recovered after the birth. Her ol
Gideon heard her laugh, and there was no warmth in it.Lucille yanked her wrist free. "Gideon, you don't have to hold anything back. Come at me. Use every card you've got."You want a fight? Fine. I've made my decision, and I'm not scared. Bring it. Whatever you've got, throw it at me."The light
Lucille would give up every comfort, vanity, and shred of dignity without hesitation for Lily. She could be unkempt, exhausted, hollowed out, and unglamorous. None of that mattered compared with her daughter's well-being. None of it came close.By now, Lucille worked the breast pump with the automa
Elaine was Lily's grandmother by blood. Yet Lucille could find nothing in her face, not a flicker of feeling for the child, only cold calculation.For five years in the Prescott household, every cent Lucille spent had come from her own pocket. Gideon had given her a card after the wedding, but Elai







