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Emily felt a great surge of anxiety as she processed Hayley's request. A bead of sweat formed on her temples and her heart raced with apprehension, unsure of how to respond. She had anticipated this moment, acutely aware Hayley would inquire about her daughter. What the heck was she supposed to say? This was bad. If Hayley sensed that something was amiss, it would distract her from the competition coming up the next day, and Emily couldn’t afford that, especially considering Freya might arrive later with Daisy. Although she remained uncertain about that thought, she tried to reassure herself. Freya didn't pose any threats and Hayley had deemed her as family, so there was nothing to worry about, right? But deep down, a part of Emily knew there was everything to worry about. The thought of Daisy being in danger stirred deep anguish within her. Emily longed to believe that Daisy was safe with Freya. She tried to compose herself by reassuring herself of this."Hello, Em... I’m waiting,"
Hayley returned to the retreat the following, infused by a new sense of determination and joy bubbling within her. It was finally the long-awaited Day of the competition, a pivotal moment that would determine her future. Though she wasn't all that concerned about winning as now she had more than she could ever ask for, she remained determined to put in her best effort and aim for the prize. She had already crafted her first masterpiece for the competition. Having already completed her first masterpiece, she was now set to dedicate the next four hours to creating her second as two pieces were required for the competition. After dropping her off in the parking lot, Leonardo wished her good luck. He had wanted to accompany her inside, but she declined, wanting to avoid the scrutiny of the gossipers in the retreat. Before reluctantly leaving, Leonardo assured her that he would always be there for her if she needed him. With a grateful smile, she exited the car. As she walked to her room
Emily wasn't one to bawl her eyes out when things weren't going her way. She was a counterpoint of Hayley in terms of handling situations like a mature lady, but this time around, it was different. Her eyes bore the marks of a long night filled with tears, and a dull ache throbbed in her head as she rubbed her weary eyes.Upon lowering her hand from her eyes, a wave of loneliness flooded her as reality began to sink in once again that morning. A splitting ache slammed her head as she recalled the search for Daisy had been futile the previous night. Just as said before, Emily scoured the neighborhood for them when she couldn't find them at the first ten restaurants/ice cream shops she visited. All were to no avail as she was always met with negative responses. The neighbors around didn't tell her much as they claimed they hadn't seen anything. To compound Emily's frustration, Freya wasn't still taking any of her calls. Emily didn't know where she lived, so she hadn't gone there the
Lillian's heart twisted with envy as her eyes fell on the toddler, once again struck by the remarkable resemblance she bore to Leonardo. A DNA test didn't even need to be carried out first before anyone knew she was his child. The little one mirrored him so closely that it caused a sharp pang in Lillian's chest.She was jealous because her son lacked any physical traits of the billionaire, and she would always have to resort to using grey contact lenses and dyeing Ethan's hair black just so he'd have some features of Leonardo. But Daisy's own wasn't like that. Despite the toddler's hair being blonde, it did little to conceal the resemblance she shared with her father. For that, Lillian already resented her.To her, Daisy's existence was the reason Leonardo had turned his back on herself and her child. She felt Daisy was the cause of her downfall and the reason her son wouldn't receive any of Leonardo's affection. Lillian wasn't pleased with that and she also wasn't hesitant to harm Da
Leonardo's sank in disbelief as he processed the news. "What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean Daisy's been kidnapped? By who?!" He demanded sharply, his heart racing with trepidation as he struggled to accept the news. Emily sniffled on the other end. "I don't know Leonardo. But I think," She stammered, her voice breaking as she tried to speak. "I think by Lillian. She asked me to tell you this." "What?" Leonardo was shocked. "I don't know, Leonardo," Emily cried out. "Please, please, we need to do something about this immediately. I'm scared..." "How? How did this happen? Oh my God!" He massaged his temples, his heart clenching with pain at the realization that his daughter was in danger. "Freya. It was Freya." Emily sobbed. "Have you contacted the police?" Leonardo inquired. "No. She warned me not to involve the police; otherwise, she'd ensure we never saw her again..." "Alright. Thank you for informing me, Emily. I'll take it from here..." "Please, Leonard
Hayley squinted at the unfamiliar, pristine white ceiling above her, feeling disoriented as a throbbing ache pulsed through her head. The sharp, metallic scent that filled the air heightened her unease, causing her stomach to churn unpleasantly."Mr. Edward, I would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter... Thank you very much." A voice echoed from the far side of the room, but Hayley couldn’t discern who it belonged to as her mind remained clouded in confusion.Struggling to regain her senses, Hayley winced in distress before finally opening her eyes. The first thing that registered was the ward sign. She instantly understood she was in a hospital. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks and her heart raced as panic set in."Hayley," a familiar voice called softly, breaking through her fog. It was Rosalie, who hurried to her side, relief evident on her face as she approached Hayley. "Thank goodness you’re awake." She heaved out a sigh.As Hayley scanned the room, she n
Never in her life had she felt so betrayed. The overwhelming shock and heartbreak intertwined within her, leaving Hayley utterly devastated. A lone tear traced down her cheek as she grappled with Freya’s betrayal that was boldly revealed in the documents related to her agreement with her foster mother, Wendy Forbes. Hayley felt downtrodden.For a brief moment, Hayley was left speechless, her eyes fixated on the document in sheer disbelief."She’s working for Wendy, Hayley. I was completely taken aback when I also discovered this document," Emily’s voice cut through Hayley’s haze, gradually bringing her back to reality.However, Hayley remained in a state of shock, her silence betraying her struggle to come to terms with the situation. A wave of disappointment and pain surged through her as she reread the section where Freya consented to meet Wendy’s demands for a specific price."Now, here’s the interesting twist, Hayley," Emily pressed, her tone shifting to one of urgency. "You won’t
Her nerves unraveling with anxiety, Hayley heard a brief disturbance on the line before Lillian's voice finally resonated through the phone, reaching Hayley's ears."What is it?" Lillian demanded curtly.Hayley forced herself to maintain her composure as Lillian's voice echoed in her mind. Despite her rising anger, she responded with a calm demeanor."Where is my daughter, Lillian? Where is she?" She asked calmly.Lillian let out a soft laugh before answering. "She's safe... for now."Hayley's heart raced, anxiety flooding her senses. "What do you mean by that?""I have demands, Hayley. Demands that need to be met before I release her. Unfortunately, you aren't in a position to meet those demands for me, so I see no reason to continue this conversation."As Lillian prepared to end the call, Hayley's desperate voice stopped her in her tracks. "Please," Hayley implored, her stern expression softening. She shut her eyes, pleading earnestly. "Please, Lillian, I beg you, mother to mother,