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,
The ringing of the phone abruptly stopped as Lillian's sharp voice cut through to Leonardo."What do you want?" She demanded.Leonardo's jaw tightened, his eyes burning with rage at the sound of her voice. "Are you out of your mind, Lillian? I thought I was clear last time. Where is my daughter?" He snapped."You have no right to raise your voice at me, Leonardo," Lillian shot back. "I’m the one in control here. What you should be doing is apologizing and asking what I want from you in exchange for your daughter."Leonardo glanced at Elliot, his eyebrows raised in inquiry. Elliot met his gaze and gave a thumbs-up, silently encouraging him as he continued to work on the computer.Leonardo turned his attention back to Lillian, determined to extend the conversation. However, he remained resolute in his refusal to apologize, convinced she had received exactly what she deserved from him."You know, Lillian, I've been wondering where you get your audacity. How dare you abduct my child?" He
A dazzling smile adorned Hayley's face as she styled her wavy hair with a hot comb that evening. Seated before an elegant dressing mirror in her room, she delicately applied light makeup while her body buzzed with excitement in anticipation of her date night with Leonardo. He was due to pick her up in an hour, yet she found herself uncertain about what outfit to wear. Just then, Emily entered the room, cradling Daisy in her arms.Catching sight of Emily's reflection in the mirror, Hayley chuckled as Emily paused, seemingly taken aback by her appearance. "Is that really you, Hayley?" Emily asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow as she stepped closer.Hayley laughed softly, dismissing the compliment with a wave of her hand. "Oh, please, don’t start, Em.""Mommy is beautiful!" Daisy chimed in, her face lighting up with an adorable smile.Hayley's heart melted at the compliment, and she turned to Daisy, responding warmly, "Oh, thank you, baby." She stood to plant a gentle kiss on Daisy's
While they were working in the prison yard that afternoon, Lillian occasionally stole glances at Wendy, who was positioned a few feet away from her. It had been three days since the court delivered its final verdict. And Lillian could attest to the fact that those days had been the most challenging of her life.They worked like lackeys in the yard, all day. She got bullied by her superiors; sometimes, she was denied dinner. While she had thought initially that she was resilient and could survive the prison life, now she was beginning to doubt her strength. Only three days had passed but it felt as though she had been trapped in there for decades. The relentless suffering felt overwhelming most times. Most distressing of all was the thought that her son would soon be placed in foster care, as she had been unable to secure her release from prison. Her last conversation with Leonardo had not gone well, and she was acutely aware that he would not intervene on Ethan's behalf.Lillian had o
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