Masuk“Your mother’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, hasn’t she?” Zachary said coldly. “Dr. Seth’s next research focus happens to be Alzheimer’s treatment. His team will have a new targeted medication. We can make a deal.”Anthony’s unease deepened. “What kind of deal?”“I need the whereabouts of someone. Only Vivian knows. You get that information from her, and I’ll secure a portion of the Alzheimer’s medication for you. Fair trade.”“I…” Anthony hesitated, unable to decide.Steven stepped in smoothly. “Be smart. Vivian’s been sentenced to life. She’s never walking out again. And Old Mr. Wilson’s condition… you probably know better than we do how much time he has left.” His voice turned sharper. “Anthony, you don’t want the day to come when your own mother doesn’t recognize you, do you?”Anthony’s wavering gave Zachary a glimmer of hope.“Think carefully,” Zachary added evenly. “And one more thing. If you refuse, we’ll revisit the medication theft. You didn’t just steal it. You used
Lucas bent down to gather the scattered files from the floor, about to hand them back to Sarah.“You don’t need to,” she said, waving him off. Her trembling finger pointed at the photo in her hand. “It’s him.”The fear from years ago rushed back in an instant. Her voice shook. “It’s him. I recognize him.”Lucas did not understand why Sarah would know the scarred man Mia had described, but seeing her reaction, he chose not to ask. Some questions were better left unspoken.Zachary, however, did not look surprised. He reached out and gripped one corner of the page.But Sarah was holding it so tightly that it would not budge. Only when Zachary softly called her name did she snap out of it.“Huh? What is it?”Zachary gently took the file from her and studied it. “He’s been in prison six times. All for assault and violent conduct. But after being released a few years ago, he hasn’t been back.”Sarah nodded, then asked the question that mattered most. “Can we find him?”“Yes. As long
Mia looked at her freshly painted pink nails. A tiny bunny sticker sat on her ring finger. She gave a faint smile. “They’re pretty.”After what had happened last time, she had improved a little. At least now she could manage simple conversations with Lucas.As he carefully brushed on another coat of polish, Lucas spoke gently. “Mia, that dream you had wasn’t real. Nothing happened. Sarah didn’t die.”“She did,” Mia said flatly.“Why would you say that?”Mia slowly lifted her hand as if she wanted to touch his face. Lucas leaned closer without hesitation. “What is it?”When her fingertips felt the warmth of his cheek, she seemed to relax. Then she glanced around, making sure no one was nearby. Only then did she whisper in a trembling voice, “It was a nightmare. A nightmare. I was so scared. They killed Sister Sarah.”“Mia, none of that was real,” Lucas said quickly, trying to soothe her.He blamed himself. He should not have asked.But this was something Zachary and Sarah neede
The hospital gardens were filled with common, uninspired blooms, but the lush greenery provided a much-needed sanctuary from the sterile white walls.Steven pushed Scarlett’s wheelchair to the center of the garden, where the sunlight hit the grass in golden pools. He spotted a fallen blossom on the path, picked it up, and gently tucked it behind her ear.He took a few steps back, his eyes softening as he looked at her. Despite the hospital gown and the pallor of her skin, she was breathtaking. "Scarlett," he whispered, his voice thick with a sudden, raw sincerity. "You’re so beautiful."Hearing those words, Scarlett didn't smile. Instead, her eyes welled up, and she began to sob—a quiet, heartbreaking sound that tore through the peaceful afternoon. In a room high above, Scarlett’s father drifted awake to an empty suite. His assistant was likely back at the office, executing his latest round of orders.He glanced at the bedside table and saw a thermal carafe. A small sticky note w
“Then we have nothing to be afraid of,” Sarah said, her voice steady and unwavering. “It doesn’t matter who tries to move against us. You can trust me completely, Melvin, just as I trust you. Do what you need to do. Dig as deep as you have to. Don’t let the ‘what-ifs’ slow you down. Just know that I’m right here behind you.”Melvin hadn't expected her to be so resolute. When he first uncovered the discrepancies, a dark part of him feared that Sarah might turn her suspicion on him, too—that the sins of the father would poison the bond between the cousins.He realized now how wrong he’d been. He offered a self-deprecating smile, the tension finally leaving his shoulders. “I hear you. Thank you.”---City Hospital“Scarlett, you will not believe the chaos I ran into on my way here,” Steven said, bursting into the room with his usual frantic energy.Scarlett looked up from her bed, offering a thin, tired smile. “What did you see this time?”Steven dropped a bag of fresh fruit onto t
"I understand,” she whispered.But the hollow weight of those words followed her all the way home.The moment Sarah stepped through the front door, she pulled out her phone. As expected, every social media platform was in a total meltdown. The headlines were plastered with Mindy’s face and the "scandalous" abortion revelation. Half the internet was jumping to her defense, while the other half was gleefully digging up every piece of dirt they could find to bury her career once and for all.Sarah was still scrolling when Melvin walked in. He looked weary, a shadow hanging over him that had become all too common lately. Every time he looked at Sarah, he was reminded of the secrets their parents harbored. Though Uncle Shane claimed to be blissfully unaware of his wife’s schemes, Melvin wasn't buying it anymore.He had spent the last few days scouring the company’s records from the past two years. Beneath the surface of his father’s "peaceful retirement," Melvin had found a different st







