"Daddy!" Daisy wanted to shout, but Leonardo quickly signaled for her to remain quiet. “Shh, baby, please be quiet,” he urged gently.Daisy nodded in agreement, her excitement bubbling beneath the surface at the sight of him. Leonardo offered her a warm smile before leaning down to kiss her temples. Aware that time was of the essence, he swiftly stood up, moved around the chair, and began to untie her until she was finally freed.As soon as she was released, Daisy leaped up and rushed to wrap her arms around her father’s legs. “Daddy, I missed you!” she exclaimed, her small hands clinging tightly.Leonardo felt a sharp pang in his heart as he looked down at her. He knelt down and lifted her into his arms, cradling her close. “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry,” he said, filled with remorse, before embracing her tightly, a single tear of joy escaping down his cheek.They held each other for a brief moment until Leonardo was reminded that their time was running out. “How dare you!” a
Tears streamed down Hayley's face as her piercing scream reverberated through the air, shaking the ground beneath her. The anguish in her voice was a sharp reminder to Lillian of the chaos unfolding around them.Still engulfed with shock, Hayley collapsed to her knees, her gaze fixed on Leonardo, who lay on the floor fighting for his life as blood poured from his wounds. Hayley's heart felt as if it were shattering, the world around her fading until the sound of an approaching siren broke through the haze.Startled by the siren, Lillian instinctively darted her attention to the entrance, realizing the sound was alarmingly close. Without a moment to spare, she quickly retreated and dashed out of the room, determined to avoid any encounters with the police. She abandoned Hayley with Leonardo.As reality crashed back in, Hayley stood up again, her face flooded with tears as she moved closer to Leonardo. She knelt beside him, gently cradling his face in her hand. "Leonardo, please stay w
In a matter of moments, the entire area was swamped with cops, culminating in Lillian's arrest. The officers aimed their firearms at her, commanding her to lower her weapon while keeping a safe distance from the two women, poised to intervene at any sign of trouble from Lillian.Meanwhile, Hayley remained on the ground, observing the conflict unfold.She noticed the sense of defeat and reluctance flickering in Lillian's eyes as she continued to direct the gun at her. Hayley could read Lillian's expression, recognizing the simmering anger and confusion within her."Don't waste your time, Lillian. You can't win against them. It's over," Hayley stated calmly, her gaze fixed on Lillian with an icy intensity."Shut up!" Lillian retorted, tears streaming down her cheeks, though her face remained stoic."Put the gun down, Lillian. There's no point. You're surrounded," Hayley continued, undeterred by Lillian's defiance."I said shut up!" Lillian snapped, her finger tightening around the trigg
"...They have been apprehended, and the two women are currently in custody..." The newscaster's smooth and clear voice echoed from the television, resonating in Adrian's ears and causing him to frown as he processed the unexpected news. It was truly a shock to him.A wave of concern washed over his face as his thoughts shifted to Emily. He felt a surge of anxiety in his chest, wondering how she was coping after the incident involving Wendy and Lillian. The news revealed that a shootout occurred when Emily and Leonardo attempted to rescue the abducted child. However, it was reported that only Leonardo was found at the scene, wounded and subsequently taken to the hospital, while Hayley had gone to visit him shortly after Lillian's arrest. The absence of any information about Emily deeply troubled Adrian.His heart raced inexplicably at the thought of her. Since returning home from the hospital, he had been unable to shake off his thoughts of Emily. He realized his feelings for her had o
Alison was busy preparing to pick up Ethan, Lilian's son, from school, when the ongoing news being broadcast from the TV streamed into her ears, capturing her attention.It was past noon when she heard the report cumulating Hayley. She could hardly barely hear her ears as she directed her gaze to the TV, absorbing the details about Hayley's newfound success and fortune. It hit her like a thunderbolt, discovering from the newscaster that Hayley turned out to be Rosalie's long-lost heiress, and upon her return and their reunion, Rosalie had announced her as the heiress of the McKanne's fortune. Alison felt a wave of disbelief wash over her as she struggled to process the news. What? Hayley was an heiress? And on top of that, she had also won the Artists' Competition. Was this for real? A pang of envy and disbelief gripped Alison's chest as her eyes remained glued to the TV, although her thoughts were already touring her into oblivion. She wasn't sure how she felt about the news, but o
Despite her success in apprehending Lillian and Wendy, Hayley felt a deep sense of sadness and heartbreak as she remained by Leonardo's side on the hospital bed, staring at him pathetically as he lay motionless.Her eyes slowly trailed to the IV lines attached to his muscular arms and her heart shattered even more as she recalled his situation once again. Ever since his admission to the hospital the day prior, Leonardo had slipped into unconsciousness. Although the doctor had reassured Hayley he was going to be alright, Hayley was still filled with anxiety. It had been nearly twenty hours since he had fallen asleep and hadn't moved an inch. The soft sounds of his breathing, resonating from the monitor machine was the only thing that offered Hayley solace as she remained seated by his side.She watched him, concern etched on her face as she occasionally brushed back his luscious hair cascading down his handsome face. Hayley swallowed uneasily as she returned her eyes to him, her gaze
"I'm guessing you've all watched the news." Hayley started after the reunion, directing her gaze at Dana, who was now sitting beside Leonardo on the bed. Dana shifted her worried gaze to Hayley and nodded. "Yeah, we did. We had to catch the next flight to the city as soon as we heard. What's the Doctor saying about his condition? Is he going to be alright?" Dana asked, her tone filled with concern as she stared at Hayley hopefully. Hayley nodded, her expression neutral yet reassuring as she replied. "He's going to be fine, Ma'am. They were able to stop the bleeding before it escalated. He's receiving proper medical care, and for now, he's just resting. He needs some time to recover." Dana sighed wearily, absorbing the update before casting another glance at her son, who remained unmoved. "I hope he gets well soon. I hope he does." She exhaled exasperatedly. Hayley smiled softly and replied. "He will, Dana. Just give him time. He will." Dana nodded curtly, her eyes still fixated o
A momentary, awkward silence enveloped the trio as Hayley and Adrian's gazes remained fixed on each other, each moment stretching painfully. Hayley was obviously heartbroken, recognizing Adrian still didn't remember her at all. She couldn't believe all the memories they shared had all been erased from his mind. It was a painful realization.However, she inhaled deeply after a moment and forced a smile to appear on her face as she started, "It's good to see you, Adrian. I'm glad you're doing okay," Hayley said, her smile faltering as she averted his gaze.Adrian's response was curt. "Yeah, you too." He paused before adding. "And I apologize for not recalling who you are. My memory's quite messed up at the moment..." He apologized, seeing Hayley's devastation was palpable.Hayley lifted her gaze to him again, her eyes flickering between his face. She stared into his naive emerald orbs and her insides fluttered with warmth. At least he apologized for not recalling her. That was somethin
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
A momentary, awkward silence enveloped the trio as Hayley and Adrian's gazes remained fixed on each other, each moment stretching painfully. Hayley was obviously heartbroken, recognizing Adrian still didn't remember her at all. She couldn't believe all the memories they shared had all been erased from his mind. It was a painful realization.However, she inhaled deeply after a moment and forced a smile to appear on her face as she started, "It's good to see you, Adrian. I'm glad you're doing okay," Hayley said, her smile faltering as she averted his gaze.Adrian's response was curt. "Yeah, you too." He paused before adding. "And I apologize for not recalling who you are. My memory's quite messed up at the moment..." He apologized, seeing Hayley's devastation was palpable.Hayley lifted her gaze to him again, her eyes flickering between his face. She stared into his naive emerald orbs and her insides fluttered with warmth. At least he apologized for not recalling her. That was somethin