Hayley woke up the next morning feeling disheartened, still burdened by the weight of the abrupt break-up. She remained in bed, thinking about Leonardo and reminiscing about their happy moments together before all this happened. A sharp pain gripped her heart as memories of their last night together flooded back, the night she had chosen to end things with him.Goodness, she missed him terribly. She felt lost and didn't know how she was going to cope without him but she guessed she'd have to find a way now. According to Emily, she needed to find her inner strength if she was ever going to make Leonardo pay for his betrayal.Despite her anger towards him, tears streamed down Hayley’s face as her thoughts lingered on him. She missed his musky scent and the way he always addressed her by that pet name.The tranquility of her room was disrupted as Hayley's ears strained by the sound of her bedroom door being pushed open. Hayley quickly wiped away her tears, shut her eyes, and pretended to
"I am. Who's asking?" Hayley asked indifferently, her gaze fixed directly on the stranger. Emily and Daisy also stared at the stranger with curious gazes."Mommy, who's this woman?" The toddler asked with concern.Without sparing Daisy a glance, Hayley replied seriously. "I don't know, baby. But I guess we're about to find out."Seeing what was happening, the stranger playfully surrendered and replied. "I'm sorry, I come in peace." She dropped her hands, adding. "Actually, the lady over there said I should give this envelope to you. She said she's your fan and she's shy that's why she couldn't come to you herself?" The stranger added skeptically as she handed Hayley the envelope in her hand.Confusion washed over the trio's expression as they couldn't comprehend what this strange lady meant. When had Hayley suddenly become a celebrity crush? Emily questioned inwardly. Or could it be one of her work clients? Still stunned and confused, Hayley extended her hand towards the woman and rep
Seeing the strange lady had halted with her back turned to them arrogantly, Emily rose to her feet and called out to her, her voice filled with annoyance as it reverberated throughout the room.In a loud and assertive tone, Emily reprimanded. "You bumped into me and you couldn't even apologize? Is that how you behave wherever you are from?" She questioned derisively. Feeling a wave of mortification as she noticed Emily's irritation, Hayley attempted to calm her down by reaching out her hand and grasping Emily's gently. "It's okay, Em. Just forget about it..." She tried to speak.But Emily cut in sharply, turning her attention to Hayley. "No, it's not. I'm sick of these foreigners always getting on my nerves. She needs to apologize." She said with determination, her eyes sparkling with annoyance.Hayley swallowed and regarded Emily with a blank expression, momentarily rendered speechless before merely shrugging. "Okay, whatever you say then." Hayley knew better than to try and calm E
"What are you doing here?" The familiar voice of Clara Campbell sailed into Hayley's ears as she remained frozen at the entrance. She shuddered. Reeling back to reality, Hayley instinctively turned to face Clara, who regarded her with a disapproving glare, obviously not pleased to see Hayley. Their eyes locked for a moment in a silent clash of emotions, with Hayley replaying all the things Clara had also made her go through. Out of all the pain she experienced in the current chaos, it was Clara's betrayal that plagued her the most. Regardless, Hayley forced a smile to break out on her face as she snapped out of her stupor, averting her eyes. Her gaze slowly lowered to see two brown bags clutched in Clara's hands. Setting aside her thoughts, Hayley summoned the courage to address her old friend, replying to her initial inquiry. "Uh, I'm actually here to see Cassidy. Adrian's sister. Where is she? Is she here?" She asked politely. Incredulously, Clara scoffed in disbelief at Hayley's
"Another enemy?" Emily exclaimed, staring at Hayley in bewilderment. She didn't attempt to conceal her astonishment as Daisy had fallen asleep in the back seat. Hayley sighed wearily, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her as several thoughts swirled her mind. But eventually, she pushed them aside, not wanting to feel daunted by them."Regardless, I will still make them pay for what they did to me. I need justice." Hayley started after a moment, her tone serious. "Could you believe they showed no signs of remorse while I confronted them in there? Especially that bitch called Clara."Emily sighed and shrugged carelessly as she replied. "Yeah, well. I can imagine." She exhaled before adding. "But I'm glad you were finally able to stand up to them. I feel relieved, knowing you're no longer afraid of them."Hayley huffed, rolling her eyes. "Afraid of them? Was I ever? I wasn't. Out of my respect for Adrian, I've remained patient and tolerant towards them, but clearly, his deranged sis
The following day as Hayley prepared for her date in her room, Emily lounged on the bed, admiring her friend as they discussed the pressing issues at hand. The previous day, Hayley had managed to handle her encounter with Leonardo quite well, despite Daisy's presence. Though the toddler had been reluctant to let go of her father and clung onto him throughout, even insisting that he accompanied them inside, eventually Daisy relented after Hayley reassured her that Leonardo would return the next day. However, deep down, Hayley knew that was unlikely. She still harbored resentment towards him, and if it weren't for Ivy's earlier sacrifice on her behalf, Hayley would not have agreed to meet with her. Regardless, she had already resolved to reject any proposal that suggested reconciling with Leonardo. She was done with him; a cheater and a deceiver had no place in her life, especially someone who could lie to her face without remorse. "So, who do you think sent the note? It couldn't have
Ivy was momentarily taken aback, rendered speechless by Hayley's words. She slowly nodded, responding with, "Oh, I understand."Hayley watched her closely as she pressed on. "It's no trouble, Hayley. I'm confident that Leonardo can provide you with the proof you need. I stand by my earlier statement, Leonardo is serious about you. He always has been and I don't think he would ever jeopardize what he has worked so hard to build with you. You might not know this but he loves you more than he loves Dana."Hayley's heart skipped a beat as she absorbed the sincerity in Ivy's voice. Curiosity got the better of her, and she questioned skeptically. "And how do you know all of this?"Ivy offered a gentle smile and replied, "Leonardo and I have been friends for a long time, Hayley. I understand and know him better than anyone else, and I know what brings him happiness. It's you, Hayley. You illuminate his life with your world." She pressed a smile on her face and added almost sadly. "I wish I c
For a brief moment, bewilderment clouded Hayley's features as she gazed at Emily in disbelief, her thoughts spiraling.After a moment, she collected herself and hurried over to Emily, snatching the note from her, and quickly scanning its contents. Her heart pounded as she registered the bold print on the card, confirming Emily's earlier statements. It was indeed another message from her enigmatic adversary, cautioning her to steer clear of her ex-husband. Hayley stood motionless, her mind racing to identify who 'L' could be. With the realization that the note was from 'L', she dismissed her initial suspicions that it might have been sent by Cassidy, Alison, or Wendy. The letter was clearly from someone who had either a close connection to Leonardo or who was in love with him.As Hayley remained frozen in thought for a moment, her mind coincidentally strayed to Ivy and she felt her heart skip a beat. A shudder ran through her as she recalled Ivy mentioning that her name was also 'Lisb
ONE MONTH LATER.[Court in Session.]"With this compelling evidence provided, I find it incumbent that you both witness the insides of a prison cell for fifty years, Mrs. Wendy Forbes and Miss Lillian Lopez. You both are hereby sentenced to fifty years in prison, for the crimes of attempted murder and kidnapping. Sentence to be executed immediately," The prosecutor and judge delivered the verdict, her tone unwavering. She was a ruthless prosecutor, one who had zero tolerance for convicts. As the prosecutor, Alexa McKanne made to return to her seat, she halted in her tracks as a shrill noise pierced through the courtroom."Nooo!!" Lilian emitted a heart-wrenching cry, her sharp voice reverberating throughout the courtroom and catching the attention of everyone present.The gathering erupted in murmurs, prompting the judge to call for silence.Meanwhile, Hayley, who was seated next to Leonardo across from Lillian and Wendy, caught Lillian's glare filled with contempt. Despite the palpab
A brief wave of disbelief washed over Leonardo as he stared at Hayley in astonishment. "What?" he blurted out absentmindedly, a hint of excitement seeping into his voice.Hayley felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she observed his reaction, realizing this was the first time she had seen his response to her pregnancy news."Are you serious, baby?" Leonardo asked, his eagerness palpable as his gaze shifted to Hayley's abdomen, contemplating whether she was teasing him or if she truly meant it.A genuine smile spread across Hayley's face as she rolled her eyes at his question. "Yeah, duh...""Mi reina!" Leonardo exclaimed, a surge of pure excitement bubbling within him. He could hardly fathom it. His joy was boundless as he reached for Hayley's hand, holding it gently.Hayley reveled in his excitement, her eyes filled with affection as he began to speak."Hayley Forbes..."She interrupted him, shaking her head playfully. "No, it’s Nina or Hazel now. I can't go by that name anymore, Leona
Hayley hurried with overwhelming joy and excitement toward Leonardo's room, with Daisy beside her. Her elation was palpable as she realized that Leonardo was awake; she could hardly contain her eagerness to see him. At the same time, Leonardo engaged in conversation with his brother, Lorenzo, who had remained by his side since the women had departed an hour earlier following his awakening. Leonardo had undoubtedly been taken aback to see his family upon waking. However, his initial surprise gradually shifted to confusion when he noticed the absence of both his woman and daughter. However, they had reassured him that Hayley had stepped out briefly and would return shortly, while Daisy was in another room with Rosalie and Emily. With this information, his anxious heart began to settle as he accepted their reassuring words. After a further thirty minutes had elapsed without Hayley's return, Leonardo's concern began to intensify. Unable to contain himself, he called out to Lorenzo, who
.Hayley returned to the hospital after delivering the lawsuit documents to the wardress at Wendy's prison. Approximately an hour prior, the prosecutor, Alexa, who was overseeing Hayley's case, had provided her with the papers following their meeting. Hayley then drove to the prison, where Wendy and Lillian were incarcerated, and handed the documents to the wardress, choosing not to visit any of them. That was the least of her concerns; her only interest in seeing them was during the court proceedings, where the judge would render his final decision. With a sigh of frustration, Hayley pulled herself back to the present as she made a right turn onto the highway, heading towards the hospital. She recalled that the love of her life remained unconscious when she left earlier, and a wave of anxiety washed over her as she wondered if he had awakened from the coma. Thoughts of Leonardo tightened around her heart, causing her anguish. Hayley eventually regained composure as she caught sight
Wendy collapsed on the ground, her head buried in her palms as she absorbed the news of Alison's sudden accident. It hit her like a thunderbolt, shattering her heart into pieces. Her daughter had been involved in an accident and according to what the wardress had mentioned, Alison had also fallen in a coma after the incident. Wendy swallowed, her face flooded with tears. Her heart ached painfully as she grappled with the reality. How could this be? How did this happen? She felt a pang of guilt constrict her heart tightly, knowing she was mostly responsible for the unfortunate circumstance that had befallen her daughter. If she hadn't gotten herself in trouble in the first place, none of this would have happened. With that, her cries intensified as she remained on the ground. "I'm very sorry, ma'am," The wardress tried to sympathize, her tone laden with pity. But that did little to console Wendy, whose thoughts were all over the place. Meanwhile, Lillian had also been shocked upon he
"What are you saying? He has a guardian! You can't take that action."Lillian's heart raced with anxiety as she absorbed the unsettling information relayed to her over the phone. Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, her hand trembled slightly as it pressed the receiver to her ear. Beads of sweat began to form on her temples, and her anger flared as the caller finished her statement.Her grip on the phone tightened, and Lillian shot back, her frustration palpable. "What do you mean by that? You can't do that! He has a mother! I am his mother!"She fell silent as the caller replied, a response that clearly unsettled her. Lillian started again. "Listen, you cannot do this to me. Ethan is my son. I’ll be out of here very soon. Just be patient, please." Lillian pleaded, a tear streaming down her cheek that she quickly brushed away.She listened closely to the caller's words until the line beeped, indicating the call had ended.Her heart shattered, and fresh tears flowed down her
Hayley headed out of the hospital as soon as she received the news about Freya's capture. Right after Lillian was apprehended, she had instructed an officer of the law to discreetly conduct a search for Freya, ensuring that she returned to the city in one piece so she could serve her fair punishment for her actions. Hayley was quite surprised by the speed of the development, however, that was the least of her concerns at that moment. A blend of satisfaction and annoyance brimmed within her as she headed out to the awaiting car, parked in the hospital lot. She had nearly forgotten Emily was trailing behind her until Emily's voice sailed into her ears, pulling Hayley from her thoughts. "Where are you going, Hayley? Who was it on the phone?" Emily pressed, her tone filled with concern. Realizing she hadn't shared the news with her, Hayley stopped midway and turned to Emily in an attempt to placate her confusion. "I'll be right back, Em. I need you to stay behind and watch my mother a
Hayley made her way to the restroom section of the hospital and leaned against the door once she stepped inside. Her heart raced, stirred by memories of her confrontation with Clara.Painful tears stung her eyes despite her efforts to remain composed and resolute. She felt she didn't deserve to cry. If anyone ought to shed tears, it should be Clara, not herself. She hadn't done anything wrong.With this resolve, Hayley sniffled back her emotions, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand before heading towards the sink to wash her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror afterward, her chest heaving. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled before further questioning herself if she had been too harsh on Clara or if she truly deserved what she got from her. Her thoughts were disrupted as the door to the bathroom swung open, startling Hayley. Without moving an inch, Hayley caught a glimpse of the person who had just walked in through the mirror and saw it was Emily."Hey, ar
Meanwhile, Clara watched in silence as she absorbed the affectionate scene unfolding before her. Occasionally, her gaze would trail from the newfound couple to Hayley, who watched with enthusiasm and joy. Clara felt her heart pricked painfully, once again remembering that she and Hayley were no longer friends. And it was all her fault. She literally betrayed Hayley. Abandoned her when she needed her the most and turned her back to her in her times of trial and peril. She wondered if Hayley was ever going to forgive her for her actions.Sure, she had only acted out because she didn't like the way Hayley's deception affected Adrian. But recognizing Hayley's other predicament with Wendy and Lillian, she had now come to understand why Hayley had lied to them about her identity in the first place. She was obviously running from something and just didn't want to get entangled with her past again. It was unfortunate that Leonardo had just shown up to thwart those plans of Hayley.Reflecting