Bloodied and bound to a chair, Mr. Woods stared helplessly at his daughter Diana, who stood beside Drake Lockman, her tears streaming down her face. A gag silenced her pleas for mercy, while her father endured a merciless beating by Drake's men. Drake Lockman, a man Mr. Woods once believed to be an ally, now reveled in his betrayal. "You betrayed me," Drake sneered, laughter echoing in the room. "I thought we were in this together." "I was being tortured," Mr. Woods gasped, struggling to speak. "I had no choice but to tell them something." "They should have killed you," Drake mused, a sinister smile curling on his lips. "But now, I get the pleasure of doing it myself." "Please," Mr. Woods pleaded, desperation in his voice. "Do whatever you want with me, but spare my daughter." Drake Lockman approached Diana, attempting to caress her head and wipe away her tears, but she recoiled from his touch. "I'll spare her," Drake hissed, leaning closer to Diana. "But only if you follow my ev

Steve settled onto Melissa's comfortable couch, savoring the orange juice she had graciously offered. With his leg still encased in a cast, Melissa couldn't help but wonder why he had gone through the trouble of coming over to see her. Why was he here anyway? Despite the questions swirling in her mind, she appreciated the gesture. Strangely enough, she felt a sense of comfort in his presence, grateful she was no longer alone with Ryan. "How's your leg?" Melissa inquired, breaking the silence. "Getting better," Steve replied with a nonchalant shrug. Then, his curiosity piqued, he couldn't help but ask, "By the way, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Steve gestured toward Ryan, who sat at the other end of the couch, wearing a polite smile that Steve secretly wished to wipe off his face. Apologizing, Melissa said, "I'm sorry. This is Ryan Winton, my new neighbor. Ryan, meet Steve Macklin, a... friend of mine." She smiled warmly, attempting to diffuse any tension. Steve

The words echoed in Jeremy's mind like a relentless drumbeat. "Did Elena deserve what she got when she was trying to protect you?" He couldn't escape the haunting question. Thoughts of Elena consumed him, leading him down a path of self-destruction, just as he had experienced when she died. His focus at work was slipping, and he found himself constantly losing his temper. It had been three days since Drake Lockman's call, but Jeremy could vividly recall every word that had been said. The memory of Drake's annoying voice replayed in his head, amplifying his frustration. Jeremy knew he had to handle Drake Lockman, no matter the cost. He reminded himself to be patient and find him. He wouldn't allow the threats to overpower him. Yet, beneath all the turmoil, Jeremy recognized the true source of his distress. It wasn't just Drake Lockman and his menacing words. It was the guilt that gnawed at his core, an unshakeable burden he carried within his heart. The weight of it all felt unbeara

Jeremy and Tony arrived at Steve's house, greeted by the butler who escorted them upstairs to where Tony was already seated, enjoying his pre-party drinks. "Hey, you made it," Steve exclaimed, a warm smile on his face. "Yeah, we did. Seems like we're a little early, though," Tony replied. "The party doesn't start until ten, but join me and have some drinks," Steve suggested enthusiastically. "Sure, why not? But remember, you still owe me big time. It was a real challenge convincing Jeremy to come here with me," Tony reminded him, a playful tone in his voice. Steve chuckled, brushing off Jeremy's presence. "Still haven't figured out what's bothering him?" he asked, seemingly oblivious to Jeremy standing right in front of him. "No, not yet. You know how he is, stubborn as a rock," Tony replied, shaking his head slightly. Steve joined in on the laughter, understanding Jeremy's nature all too well. Meanwhile, Jeremy chose to ignore their banter, finding solace in removing his jacket

Melissa walked out of the party, feeling overwhelmed and in need of some solitude. She decided to retreat to the gardens, away from prying eyes and potential embarrassment. She would return to the party later to search for Nicky's pearl earrings, but for now, she wanted to gather her thoughts. What was wrong with her? How could she forget she was still under the table, and why did she stare at Jeremy as if he were some irresistible dessert? It was all so foolish. As she tried to calm herself, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and was surprised to find Jeremy standing there. He was the last person she wanted to see at that moment, and she could feel her face reddening again. How silly. "Are you following me?" Melissa asked, her tone laced with rudeness. She didn't appreciate being followed, especially by someone who she was trying to hide from. "Calm down. We wouldn't want your face to change colors now, would we?" Jeremy replied, his voice tinged with teasing amuseme