SWISS HOTELBethany arrived at her office, hoping the issue was financial and not related to her personal life.She made her way into Malcolm's office and found him fuming, sitting in his chair and glaring at her.She greeted him with a forced smile to maintain her composure. “Good morning, Mr. Malcom. I thought I wasn’t allowed into the office for two days!”He stood abruptly, slamming his hand on the desk. “You disobeyed me!”Bethany flinched, raising her hands slightly in a calming gesture. “I can explain, Mr. Malcom!”He stormed toward her, pointing a finger aggressively. “So you did it? Go on, confess! Confess now!” Her brows furrowed in confusion as her lips parted. “Confess to what?”“To giving Dean’s files to Fred! I told you to stay away from Fred, and now you’ve leaked the secrets of Dean’s company!”Bethany was stunned by the accusation. It seemed absurd and baseless.She placed a hand on her chest, shaking her head. “I can’t believe you’re accusing me of stealing files. I
Her voice cracked, trembling as she struggled to process the man’s words. Her heart raced, pounding in her chest as fear and panic surged through her. “What… where are you?” she stammered, barely able to speak.“I accidentally pushed Jason down the stairs,” the man admitted, his voice shaking. “You need to come to their mansion—no one’s at home!”The air left her lungs. This wasn’t part of the plan—this was chaos. Her son was hurt. “I’ll be there… oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening!” she cried, rushing toward the door and leaving everything behind, including Dean's fainting voice. Fred's MansionShe stood before the massive gates, noticing they were wide open. Something felt off, terribly wrong, but she pressed forward. Sprinting to the entrance, she froze in shock.The entire family was gathered there—Fred, Kate, Avery, Chantel, and even her boss, Malcolm. In the center of it all was the kidnapper she’d hired, tied up and glaring at her.Her stomach dropped. It was a tr
She laughed once more before throwing herself into the pool. She wasn’t bluffing when she said she’d do it.Fred’s eyes widened in shock, caught completely off guard by her impulsive act.“Bethany!” he shouted, racing toward the pool. Without hesitation, he dived in, swimming toward her with desperate strokes.“Fred, don’t! She wants to die!” Chantel screamed, her voice trembling with urgency.Fred ignored Chantel’s plea, dragging a soaked and trembling Bethany out of the water. Holding her in his arms, he carried her to the edge, his clothes drenched. Bethany dangled weakly in his grasp, coughing and shivering.As they stopped in front of Chantel, Bethany whimpered, her wet fingers brushing against Fred’s smooth face.“Take me home, Dean,” she murmured, her voice fragile and pleading.Fred's expression softened as he responded, “I will, sweetie,” before pressing a gentle kiss to her cold fingers.FRED'S ROOM"Mommy, can you hold my hand?” Jason’s small voice echoed in her mind.Beth
BETHANY'S HOMEShe woke up, disoriented. The events of yesterday replayed vividly in her mind."You have to agree to my terms and deal," Fred's voice echoed in her head.How could he say such a thing—to the mother of his child? It was cruel, and the weight of his words had forced her to cut her visit to Avery short. She had returned home to process his words. They were heavy, but today, she had to make a decision. A decision that will surely influence her life.Slipping on a crisp white shirt and a knee-length skirt, she stepped outside. A sleek car idled in the driveway, sent by Fred. He was annoyingly efficient, knowing she'd have no choice but to come.Still, the real question remained: could she make the right decision to protect her son?SWISS'S HOTELBethany stepped out of the car with a deep, steadying breath. Her mind whirled as she weighed the pros and cons of each choice.Her leg trembled, and she regretted ever wearing a short skirt.Her phone buzzed. Dean's name flashed on t
He kept his grip on her waist as he smiled, pulling her into a hug.Bethany froze, surprised at first. Her heart leaped with joy, a hope blooming in her chest that her son had recognized her and finally returned to her.She bent down, cupping his face with trembling hands, caressing it. “Your face… it’s so soft! You... remember me?” Her voice cracked with emotion.But his expression shifted suddenly, turning from happy to serious.“What? What is happening?” she asked, confused.He screamed with an exaggerated tone, “I call you Mom, and I get a treat! Thank you for your patronage!”Bethany’s breath hitched as he abruptly broke away from her embrace and ran off toward Chantel, who stood by the door holding what looked like a bottle of dog treats.Chantel strolled inside with a grin that spelled trouble. Jason rushed up to her, and Chantel tossed a treat into the air. He caught it effortlessly.“Yay! Good boy!” Chantel cheered, resting her hands on her knees.“Yay! Chantel is the best!”
Bethany stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as Dean leaned in closer, his lips brushing hers. The world around her blurred into nothingness—until her gaze shifted and landed on Jason standing a few feet away.Her breath hitched. The boy’s wide eyes stared at her, filled with an emotion she couldn’t place. Panic? Disgust? Confusion? Whatever it was, it made her chest tighten. With a sudden push, she broke away from Dean.“Jason!” she called, rushing toward him and ignoring the other two men in the room. She bent, reaching out to him with trembling hands.“You’re back. I missed you so much,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “How about we go home together? Would you like that?”Jason stepped back, his small hands clutching the leg of Fred, who stood protectively beside him.“Dad, can we go?” Jason’s voice trembled as he pressed himself further behind Fred. “I don’t like her!”The words struck her like a physical blow. She blinked, trying to process them. What? He did
NEXT MORNINGThe sun rose, and Fred walked out of bed at 7:00 a.m. sharp, like a robot. Within ten minutes, he got dressed and took a look at himself in the mirror, a smug expression playing on his face. Memories of the previous night replayed in his head, satisfying him to the core. He recalled how Dean had begged for help after he seduced Bethany. Bethany was his, and she would always be his. It had taken him two years to plan his mission, and it wouldn't be complete without Bethany. If Dean got in the picture, his plan would be ruined.Fred took his wallet and headed out to his car, planning another scenario to trap Bethany. Just then, Jason called out his name."Daddy! Please don't leave me!" Jason ran up to him and wrapped his arms around his legs. Fred chuckled and carried him in his hands."Why do you have to do this all the time? Get ready for your teacher, or you don't want to be homeschooled?" Fred asked.Jason pouted, "I wanna go with you and tease that woman. She might h
Bethany took one last good look at Dean before yanking her hands away from Fred's grip.Her eyes darted toward him as she summoned the courage to speak. "You might want to attend the meeting alone," she said firmly.Fred was taken aback by her audacity. How dare she leave him? Worse, how dare she leave with Dean?"So… where are you going?" His loud, angry voice cut through the tense air.With a sophisticated sigh, she replied, "I’m taking him to the hospital. You can start the meeting without me!" And with that, she left his office.MERCY HOSPITALBethany sat in the waiting area, ready to check on Dean and perhaps still make it to the meeting. It was the first time she had openly rebelled against Fred at work.Even though angering him wouldn’t endanger Jason, the fear of Fred’s bad decisions—driven by his thirst for revenge—lingered in her mind."Dean, please come out," she whispered under her breath.Moments later, Dean emerged and sat in a chair next to hers.A warm smile curved her
FLASHBACKFifteen-year-old Bethany was washing clothes, occasionally glancing at her mother, Jill, who was playing the role of a philanthropist—helping other women. They would come to their house, and Jill would hand them good clothes and money. But despite her mother's generosity, Bethany couldn't help but wonder why they still lived in near-poverty. Her mother wore expensive outfits, yet her father and she barely had enough to get by."Do a good job and come back for more. Don't you dare make me look bad. I trust you, sweetie!" Jill called out, waving goodbye to the women before turning toward Bethany.Bethany set the clothes aside, crossing her arms over her chest. She watched her mother approach, admiring the confidence she exuded."My pretty baby... You're going to inherit everything I have, and I couldn't be happier!" Jill beamed.A smile formed on Bethany's face. "Mom! Can I try on one of your dresses? I love how they feel on my body!"Jill arched a brow, her expression unread
OUTSIDE THE HOSPITALJohn was dragging Sarah’s hand outside as he came to a halt and pulled out his phone.Tired and frustrated, Sarah yanked her hand away and growled, “What the hell is wrong with you? What do you think you’re doing? And did you see that woman inside? Who wears a green shawl over a red dress? That’s a crime on its own.”Ignoring her, he fidgeted with his phone and kept dialing. His hands were shaking.“Why isn’t he picking up? Call him on your phone.”Sarah groaned and tried calling Dean, but the line wouldn’t go through. John was clearly panicking now. He ran a hand down his face and muttered, “We have to warn Dean. He shouldn’t be anywhere near the streets.”Frustrated, Sarah grabbed his collar and yelled, “For Bethany’s sake, tell me what’s going on! I thought Dean was scared of you. So why are you afraid of him?”John hesitated before answering, “Because… I’ve seen this before. Ten years ago, when he was in high school, he took my phone and connected himself to e
FLASHBACK: FIVE YEARS AGOBethany set the plate of food down on the dining table, her hands trembling slightly. Spaghetti and meatballs—Fred’s favorite. She knew it wasn’t the best meal for him before work, but she needed something from him.She glanced at the digital clock, tapping her foot impatiently. “Why is he taking forever? Sweetie, are you turning into a woman?” she called out mockingly.Sighing, she sat at the table, waiting. When Fred finally emerged, she blinked in surprise. He was wearing a pristine white suit—one she had never seen him wear before.“So? What do you think? Extravagant, right? I know, I know!” he laughed, twirling in place.Bethany pursed her lips. “Wow! You just pushed the word ‘bride’ right out of my mouth!”“Come on, Bethany. Be serious for once. My dad’s visiting the office today. I need to impress him and be on my best behavior.”Bethany bit her lip and stepped toward him, tugging on his collar. “Yes, baby. You rock that beautiful, sexy suit.”Fred smi
Bethany walked slowly, her heels clicking softly against the pavement as she halted, her eyes darting around for Natalie. Funny enough, Natalie had promised to be with her. Yet she was nowhere in sight. A deep sigh escaped Bethany’s lips as she clenched her fingers. *Why does everything feel so wrong?* Fred always handled everything, but if he could lie about their son’s death, then he was capable of lying about anything. “But…I’m his mother. How could I not know the truth?”She was lost in thought when a voice jolted her back to reality. "Are you going to keep standing there?" Dean’s voice was sharp, impatient. "You’re his mother, aren’t you?" Bethany inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay composed. "That’s not what I asked you to say. Do as you're told." A chuckle slipped past Dean’s lips as he leaned against the hospital wall, folding his arms. "Really? Now that you have my secret, you want to use it against me?" A smirk curled on Bethany’s lips as she turned to fa
Fred creased his brows, worry etched on his face as he yelled, “Natalie got kidnapped?!”Bethany's mouth fell open. “Oh my God! What happened?” she repeated in shock.The voice on the other end hesitated before correcting itself. “Wait… did I say Natalie? I meant to say your wife… Chantel has been kidnapped!”That stutter set off alarm bells. Clicking his tongue, Fred replied coolly, “Really? Are you willing to let her out for five million dollars?”The voice wavered. “Yeah… yeah… that’s already too—Um… I mean, you can send it to her account! I’m sorry… I mean, my account!”A chuckle escaped his lips, but his sneer carried more disdain than amusement. “Why don’t you tell her to go to hell because I would never, in my life, bail her out for a cent?”Disgusted, he hung up and scoffed, “I can’t believe that bitch is trying to get attention. Haven't I already landed in a mess because of her?”Bethany nodded violently. “Yeah… you have!” Then, with an urgent gesture, she pointed toward the
She couldn't believe her eyes. The letter stated:"The blood sample that was given by Miss Bethany is no match to Jason's. She's not the mother of the child. We'd like you to prevent this occurrence from happening because it might damage the hospital's reputation!""Oh my God!!!" Bethany screamed as she staggered back and dropped the letter.Fred's eyes widened as he saw the letter fall to the floor."Bethany... why did you check it?" He breathed and Dean appeared.Bethany's hands trembled as if she had been electrocuted, her words fumbling, "I... what are... are they saying? I'm not his mom?!"Dean's brows creased into a deep frown as he realized Bethany had seen the letter.Fred stepped closer, attempting to reach for her, but Bethany spun around, her voice shaky, "It... says... says I'm not his mom!"Before anyone could react, she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.******WARD 109Natalie adjusted her nurse's mask and cautiously entered the ward where her children lay. It had bee
Bethany hurried down the stairs, her pulse racing at the sound of Jason's terrified screams. The dim hallway lights flickered as her frantic steps echoed against the stairs.At the foot of the stairs, Jason lay motionless. It was as if he had fallen—or worse, been pushed. A chill ran through her as she took in the scene.Her heart pounded against her ribs as she rushed to him, her voice breaking. “Jason! Jason!”His forehead was bleeding. With trembling hands, she cradled him. “Who…who did this to you?” Her scream tore through the silence, raw and desperate.A moment later, hurried footsteps thundered down the stairs. Kate and Dean appeared, their faces pale with shock.“Oh my God! Oh my God! Get the fucking car!”Kate hesitated, her expression unreadable before she scoffed, “But it's midnight. Just apply some spirit on his forehead.”Bethany's breath came in ragged gasps. Rage burned in her chest, a fire that spread through her veins. Clutching Jason protectively, she spun to face he
FRED'S HOMEAfter much deliberation, she finally found another place to stay. It wasn't the ideal home, especially since Fred wasn’t there, but she was willing to endure it—if only because Natalie was staying there for a while.She could still see it vividly: her house reduced to ashes, the acrid scent of smoke thick in the air, her own face streaked with tears. Now, she sat on the couch, lost in a daze she couldn't shake."What happened?" Bethany murmured to herself.She had been in the room for hours. No one dared to approach her—perhaps Natalie had convinced them to keep their distance, knowing how vulnerable she was.She sighed, her red, swollen eyes stinging from relentless tears. "What am I going to do? Was it just a coincidence that he pointed to the news at that exact moment?"She swallowed hard and whispered, "What am I going to do with my life?"As she drowned in her thoughts, Ariel strolled into the living room and turned on the TV, her presence loud even in silence."Now..
The gunshot fired and in an instant, Fred stepped in front of Bethany, shielding her with his body."Fred!!" Bethany screamed, her voice laced with shock and fear.Fred collapsed onto the floor, clutching his bleeding hand. "Call 955! Now! Fred!" she yelled, dropping to her knees beside him, her hands shaking as she tried to stop the bleeding.THE NEAREST HOSPITAL Bethany sat in the waiting area, her hands gripping the edges of the chair as if holding onto hope itself. Her heart pounded against her ribs. Would he be okay?This was supposed to be a fun night. How had it turned into this? And how had someone found them despite their supposed security? It wasn’t the first time Fred had been shot. A chilling thought crept into her mind—was it the same person?Suddenly, Leslie rushed in, her face pale. "Will he be okay? I... I’m so scared right now!"Bethany stared at the floor, absentmindedly running her fingers over the fabric of her dress. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, her expression s