It was a bright and sunny Wednesday afternoon.Adrian Lewis was settled in his office, seated comfortably behind his large mahogany desk at the center of the room. His hand practically navigated the mouse control as he scrolled the computer before him, reviewing the mid-year estimated sales book of his company. He exhaled exasperatedly, realizing business wasn't as good as it used to be. He couldn't help but wish RosArts had agreed to partner with them, maybe things would have been different then. His current executives weren't contributing much profits or benefits to the company, and it plagued Adrian as he couldn't bring himself to fire them. It wasn't their fault, after all. Pushing his thoughts aside, he continued his routine.As Adrian continued scrolling for a while, a gentle knock on his door disrupted his concentration. He paused, pressing the response button with his eyes darting to the entrance to see who it was.The door swung open, revealing a man dressed in a plush navy
**TWO DAYS LATER**It was Daisy's Birthday Celebration at Hayley's house.The adults walked around freely, conversing and chatting with themselves, while the kids played amongst themselves gleefully. It was already three hours into the birthday party. They sang Daisy a birthday song, cut her cake, and had also just given her their separate birthday gifts. But despite the high spirit, the toddler was already feeling tired.She walked over to Hayley and yawned wearily, informing her mother she wanted to sleep. Hayley had gone to tuck her in bed.Returning to Clara a few minutes later, they settled on the couch, chatting. They had put behind their differences for the sake of Daisy's special day."She's it now, Nina. Daisy's six!" Clara exclaimed in awe, taking her wine glass from the table. She raised it. "Let's toast to you for being the best single mom in the world."Hayley chuckled, also raising her glass. "Cheers! Thank you, Clara." They sipped from the glass, savoring the moment."
"... I need your help, please."There was a moment of silence as Hayley awaited her response to her plea. She finally spoke up after a minute, her voice sailing into Hayley's ears through the phone."Okay... What do you need my help with?" She asked flatly. Hayley let out a heavy sigh, feeling her racing heart slowly calming down. She elaborated. "Before I make my next move, I need to know why Leonardo is really here. I don't want to act irrationally." Emily was quiet as she contemplated for a moment before eventually agreeing in a softer tone. "Okay. I will help you, Hayley. I will help you get your long-forgotten revenge on those people. I will come up with a plan. But just know, this doesn't mean I've forgiven you for what you did..."Hayley politely interrupted. "Totally. I understand. I promise to make it up to you, Em. I'm serious.""You bet." Emily huffed, rolling her eyes.Hayley chuckled nervously. Changing the topic, she questioned curiously. "By the way, Em. What about m
Clara's heart pounded with shock as she exhaled sharply, palming her face as she processed what Hayley had just told her. She knew she had heard that name somewhere before, but she couldn't quite place it in that moment. As Clara's mind swirled with past memories, Hayley continued to apologize, her voice remorseful. "I am so sorry, Clara. I never meant to keep this from you. I just..."Clara cut in, lifting her head to match Hayley's gaze as she finally remembered. She asked calmly, "Leonardo Anderson. Isn't he one of the famous CEOs in that city... Uh, Clasold?"Hayley's face twisted with anguish as she nodded, her voice trembling as she lowered her gaze pathetically. "Yes, he is."Her response wasn't funny, but Clara soon found herself laughing incredulously, although there wasn't any humor in her tone. "You're joking, right? Aren't you, Hayley?"Hayley bit her lip, her eyes already brimming with tears of anguish. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."But Clara's tone remained composed as she
*Five years ago*"He lied to me, Nina. He betrayed me. He betrayed my trust. Why does everyone keep lying to me?" Clara asked tearfully, her eyes stung with painful tears as she looked at Hayley. "I don't understand--" Her voice broke, rendering her speechless as she collapsed on Hayley's shoulder and began sobbing.Hayley felt a pang of sadness as she watched her new best friend cry over a man, just like she had done a year ago when Leonardo had broken her heart."It's okay, Clara. Everything's going to be fine. Please, stop crying," Hayley consoled her gently, rubbing Clara's back soothingly.But Clara resisted, continuing to lament again."Nothing is going to be fine, Nina! I'm broken. Martin broke me. I'm tired of people lying to my face and keeping secrets from me. I'm not a child, they should tell me the truth. I can handle it. He should be able to own up to what he did..." Clara sobbed relentlessly, despite Hayley's numerous attempts to pacify her with words.She continued, her
Clara snapped, her patience wearing thin. "What do you want? Why are you here? To feed me more lies like you've been doing for the past six years? Or are you here to beg for a chance to explain, so you can continue deceiving me for another ten or twenty years, or whenever you feel like it's enough?" "Clara, please..." Hayley tried to speak. But Clara cut in sharply. "Please what, Nina? Oh, that's right, your real name isn't Nina... it's...Hayley. Hayley or whatever the fuck your name is, I want you off my porch. Your presence makes me cringe, and you don't deserve to be here," Clara retorted coldly. Hayley felt a pang of sadness as she stared at Clara, but she quickly shook off her hurtful feelings. Ignoring Clara's harsh words, Hayley extended her hand, offering the package she had bought to her. "Here. I brought you these... Ams Chocolate, your favorite. And..." Clara snapped irritably. "And you think this will pacify me? Change how I feel about you? You're sorely mistaken, ma
"-Your new boss," Adrian announced."What?!" Hayley exclaimed in shock and bewilderment. She stared at Adrian, unable to fathom what he had just said. "What do you mean he is my new boss?"Adrian chuckled softly, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at Hayley. "I know you're surprised, baby... he-"Hayley asked impatiently, cutting him off. "Adrian, please tell me this is a joke. Please." She looked at him, hoping for some reassurance.Adrian paused for a moment, his expression turning neutral before he responded. "I'm sorry to crash your hopes, baby. But no, this is not a joke. He is now a new executive in the company, in charge of the marketing department at MF Arts. I need you to guide him through the company policies before he gets accustomed to them." Adrian instructed with a small smile.Hayley couldn't believe her ears as she stared at Adrian, dumbstruck. She felt her mind spinning with disbelief. What the fuck was wrong with Adrian? She had been doing everything she could
"What is it now?" Adrian asked sharply, slightly annoyed as he answered the call after moving to the next room, a distance from Leonardo and Hayley."Hey, big brother. That is no way to talk to your twin sissy, is it?" Cassidy's playful voice sailed into Adrian's ears through the phone, causing him to sigh wearily. She added genially, "How are you doing?"He replied curtly, "I'm good. Thanks." He paused, waiting for her to get to the point, but she remained quiet. "Can you cut to the chase already? I'm busy," Adrian prompted impatiently.Cassidy hesitated for a minute before speaking in a small voice, "I just called to check on your well-being..." She trailed off."Yeah, right. Adrian knew there was more to it than just a simple check-up. His family members never called him unless it was to discuss important matters. They all knew he was a busy man who didn't have time for chit-chats. Adrian sighed heavily, urging her, "Spit it out now, will you? What do you want?"Cassidy fumbled ov
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