FRED'S HOMEChantel paced around the living room, waiting impatiently for Fred to return so they could discuss everything she had planned for their wedding.She had tried calling Kate multiple times, but her calls went unanswered. Avery was unavailable too—off to meet her husband.Where was the whole family when there was a wedding to plan?Frustrated, she took her phone and dialed his number again, but he still wasn’t picking up.In a fit of rage, she threw her phone to the floor and screamed, “That bastard! How dare he not come home?”A sudden thought struck her, and she gasped. “Oh my God! What if he’s with that slut? Oh no! If I don’t get pregnant, she won’t either!”“ It can't happen! It will never happen! " Determined, she rushed out to her car, intent on heading to his office.*****THE ELEVATORBethany had been trapped in the elevator for almost 20 minutes, and her mind was racing.She banged on the elevator walls, yelling, “Help! Somebody, get me out of here! Get me out!”Fr
They glanced at each other for a moment, tension thick between them, before returning to their problems.Bethany bent to pick up her phone, her shaky hands fumbling as she clutched it tightly against her chest. Fred dialed a number with swift precision, his jaw tight as he spoke into the phone.Fred exhaled sharply, breaking the silence. “I know I said 48 hours,” he barked, his voice low and urgent, “but I need to get out of here. Now.” His words resounded in the small space, leaving Bethany frozen in her corner, her wide eyes darting toward him.Suddenly, the elevator doors parted with a soft chime. Standing in the doorway was Natalie, her blonde hair perfectly styled, an apple in her hand. She took a slow bite, her lips curling into a smirk.“You two didn’t even last an hour..amateurs,” Natalie said, her voice dripping with mockery. Her sharp heels clicked as she stepped aside, gesturing for them to exit. Fred shot her a glare as he brushed past, not bothering to respond.“A than
NEXT MORNING9 PMBethany was still shaken by what had happened yesterday. It was a hard choice to go to the office, but it wasn't up to her. She had to keep moving forward, even if it felt like the world was collapsing around her.She stepped out of her house and then noticed Ariel standing by her car, checking the trunk across the road.Confused, Bethany approached her a few steps forward and called out, “Do you need any help?”Ariel didn't respond. She continued inspecting her trunk with a focused look.Bethany muttered under her breath, “Your loss,” and turned to walk back to her car. But just as she was about to open the door, she saw Jason jump out of the car, dressed for school. He walked toward Ariel and appeared to be rubbing his stomach, almost as if he were hungry. He spoke to her, but Bethany couldn’t make out the words. Then, she saw Ariel yelling at him and he entered back into the car.Furious, Bethany stormed over and cleared her throat, placing her hand on her hip.
Suddenly, the last button was pressed and automatically he had been eliminated from the group.Fred was dumbfounded, his mind racing as he tried to process Natalie’s sudden change of heart. He couldn’t believe his step-sister could do something like this to him.Though she came from a family known for backstabbing and betrayal, Natalie had always been different—even more so than her twin brother, Dean.Could this be connected to what she said earlier in the hospital? Should he believe her?Dean snapped him out of his thoughts, jabbing his finger into Fred’s shoulder. “Finally… the little rat ate a bad snack and now has come crawling to me!”Fred felt disgust rise in him at Dean’s words, but he didn’t for a second take his eyes off Natalie, who had already removed her gaze from his.“Natalie… Why did you press that button?” His voice cracked as he took a step toward her, desperate for answers. But before he could get close, Dean shoved him back.“Stay away from my sister! You’ve brain
Fred tilted his head to see Dean standing before him with a grin on his face that was annoying to the core."I see you're already sulking in your loss. How did the raid of the hotel go?" Dean taunted.Fred clenched his hand into a fist and stood up to face him.But then Dean chuckled and put a finger on his chin, "Oh, I'm sorry. You couldn't be at the office because you'll be angry at your elimination!""Shut your fucking mouth. Who the hell let you in here?" Fred questioned, his face contorted with anger.Dean clicked his tongue and didn’t answer until his gaze met Bethany, whose innocent eyes were piercing into his.He said softly and started to take a few steps towards her, "Beth... You shouldn't be here!"Fred blocked his path and sneered, "Get back. If you go near her, I swear I'll kill you."He licked his lips and averted his gaze to Fred, "Haven't you hurt her enough? Does she need to be dragged into every one of our messes? You don't deserve her...""Hey..." Before Fred could
5 MINUTES LATERDean entered the sitting room with a smile on his face. He raised his gaze to see Bethany and Natalie staring out the window, watching the horses."Well... I'm back! You can leave!" Dean said in a low tone.Natalie nodded and was about to leave when he held her hand and whispered in her ear, "Tell her anything, and they will be dead!"She flinched, pulling her hand away from his, and kissed her teeth before walking out."So... you like the horses?" he asked, watching them together.She replied weakly, "Yeah.""You know... I could stare at your beauty all night long. If you listen to my demands now, there's a possibility I would reopen the hotel!"She raised her gaze and replied impatiently, "Really? Can you do that now? I hope you aren’t pulling my leg!""I can never, Bethany. Trust me, the hotel will be back in my hands. This is my way of showing loyalty and honesty!"Her gaze softened, and she asked, "So... what's the offer?"*****7 PMHer day was spent in Dean's ma
FLASHBACK: 2 YEARS AGODEMAY SUPERMARKET Dean crouched behind a car, his gaze fixed on Bethany as she loaded bags of items into her car. He took a look at a photo of her on his phone and caressed the screen. "Don't worry, love... We'll be together soon!" he whispered, his voice filled with longing. Soon, he called a number and said. "She's trying to pack her things in the car. Be a stranger now and help her!" He hung up the call, and immediately, the man he hired had already arrived there and was helping her. "Until you're under my roof, I'll always be your watchman!" He said with a grin across his face.Just then, Natalie startled him, and he turned around to see her glaring at him with her hands on her hips. "You're doing this again. Stalking that innocent woman?" She said, concern laced in her words.Dean rolled his eyes and bit his lip as his gaze landed on Bethany's curvy body. "Nah, bro. If she was that innocent, she wouldn't have lured me in!" Natalie's expression twi
NEXT MORNINGBethany woke up at 7 am, her body automatically rising at the same time every day. She rubbed her temples, trying to alleviate the throbbing pain. Memories of the previous day flooded her mind.She got out of bed and began getting ready for work. The hotel had reopened, and she was eager to start her day. As she opened the wardrobe, she was surprised to see a collection of clothes in her size."Huh…." She stared at the clothes in disbelief.She selected a suit jacket and trousers and placed them on the bed. After taking a shower, she came out wearing a towel wrapped around her body.Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her. "You look hot!!" Dean's voice sent shivers down her spine.Bethany shrieked in fear and turned around to see Dean peeking out from the door. "Oh my God! What are you doing here?" She yelled, tightening the towel around her body.Dean's eyes roamed over her, his gaze making her uncomfortable. "What happened, sweetie? I can't come in!" He asked softly.
NEXT MORNINGBethany woke up at 7 am, her body automatically rising at the same time every day. She rubbed her temples, trying to alleviate the throbbing pain. Memories of the previous day flooded her mind.She got out of bed and began getting ready for work. The hotel had reopened, and she was eager to start her day. As she opened the wardrobe, she was surprised to see a collection of clothes in her size."Huh…." She stared at the clothes in disbelief.She selected a suit jacket and trousers and placed them on the bed. After taking a shower, she came out wearing a towel wrapped around her body.Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her. "You look hot!!" Dean's voice sent shivers down her spine.Bethany shrieked in fear and turned around to see Dean peeking out from the door. "Oh my God! What are you doing here?" She yelled, tightening the towel around her body.Dean's eyes roamed over her, his gaze making her uncomfortable. "What happened, sweetie? I can't come in!" He asked softly.
FLASHBACK: 2 YEARS AGODEMAY SUPERMARKET Dean crouched behind a car, his gaze fixed on Bethany as she loaded bags of items into her car. He took a look at a photo of her on his phone and caressed the screen. "Don't worry, love... We'll be together soon!" he whispered, his voice filled with longing. Soon, he called a number and said. "She's trying to pack her things in the car. Be a stranger now and help her!" He hung up the call, and immediately, the man he hired had already arrived there and was helping her. "Until you're under my roof, I'll always be your watchman!" He said with a grin across his face.Just then, Natalie startled him, and he turned around to see her glaring at him with her hands on her hips. "You're doing this again. Stalking that innocent woman?" She said, concern laced in her words.Dean rolled his eyes and bit his lip as his gaze landed on Bethany's curvy body. "Nah, bro. If she was that innocent, she wouldn't have lured me in!" Natalie's expression twi
5 MINUTES LATERDean entered the sitting room with a smile on his face. He raised his gaze to see Bethany and Natalie staring out the window, watching the horses."Well... I'm back! You can leave!" Dean said in a low tone.Natalie nodded and was about to leave when he held her hand and whispered in her ear, "Tell her anything, and they will be dead!"She flinched, pulling her hand away from his, and kissed her teeth before walking out."So... you like the horses?" he asked, watching them together.She replied weakly, "Yeah.""You know... I could stare at your beauty all night long. If you listen to my demands now, there's a possibility I would reopen the hotel!"She raised her gaze and replied impatiently, "Really? Can you do that now? I hope you aren’t pulling my leg!""I can never, Bethany. Trust me, the hotel will be back in my hands. This is my way of showing loyalty and honesty!"Her gaze softened, and she asked, "So... what's the offer?"*****7 PMHer day was spent in Dean's ma
Fred tilted his head to see Dean standing before him with a grin on his face that was annoying to the core."I see you're already sulking in your loss. How did the raid of the hotel go?" Dean taunted.Fred clenched his hand into a fist and stood up to face him.But then Dean chuckled and put a finger on his chin, "Oh, I'm sorry. You couldn't be at the office because you'll be angry at your elimination!""Shut your fucking mouth. Who the hell let you in here?" Fred questioned, his face contorted with anger.Dean clicked his tongue and didn’t answer until his gaze met Bethany, whose innocent eyes were piercing into his.He said softly and started to take a few steps towards her, "Beth... You shouldn't be here!"Fred blocked his path and sneered, "Get back. If you go near her, I swear I'll kill you."He licked his lips and averted his gaze to Fred, "Haven't you hurt her enough? Does she need to be dragged into every one of our messes? You don't deserve her...""Hey..." Before Fred could
Suddenly, the last button was pressed and automatically he had been eliminated from the group.Fred was dumbfounded, his mind racing as he tried to process Natalie’s sudden change of heart. He couldn’t believe his step-sister could do something like this to him.Though she came from a family known for backstabbing and betrayal, Natalie had always been different—even more so than her twin brother, Dean.Could this be connected to what she said earlier in the hospital? Should he believe her?Dean snapped him out of his thoughts, jabbing his finger into Fred’s shoulder. “Finally… the little rat ate a bad snack and now has come crawling to me!”Fred felt disgust rise in him at Dean’s words, but he didn’t for a second take his eyes off Natalie, who had already removed her gaze from his.“Natalie… Why did you press that button?” His voice cracked as he took a step toward her, desperate for answers. But before he could get close, Dean shoved him back.“Stay away from my sister! You’ve brain
NEXT MORNING9 PMBethany was still shaken by what had happened yesterday. It was a hard choice to go to the office, but it wasn't up to her. She had to keep moving forward, even if it felt like the world was collapsing around her.She stepped out of her house and then noticed Ariel standing by her car, checking the trunk across the road.Confused, Bethany approached her a few steps forward and called out, “Do you need any help?”Ariel didn't respond. She continued inspecting her trunk with a focused look.Bethany muttered under her breath, “Your loss,” and turned to walk back to her car. But just as she was about to open the door, she saw Jason jump out of the car, dressed for school. He walked toward Ariel and appeared to be rubbing his stomach, almost as if he were hungry. He spoke to her, but Bethany couldn’t make out the words. Then, she saw Ariel yelling at him and he entered back into the car.Furious, Bethany stormed over and cleared her throat, placing her hand on her hip.
They glanced at each other for a moment, tension thick between them, before returning to their problems.Bethany bent to pick up her phone, her shaky hands fumbling as she clutched it tightly against her chest. Fred dialed a number with swift precision, his jaw tight as he spoke into the phone.Fred exhaled sharply, breaking the silence. “I know I said 48 hours,” he barked, his voice low and urgent, “but I need to get out of here. Now.” His words resounded in the small space, leaving Bethany frozen in her corner, her wide eyes darting toward him.Suddenly, the elevator doors parted with a soft chime. Standing in the doorway was Natalie, her blonde hair perfectly styled, an apple in her hand. She took a slow bite, her lips curling into a smirk.“You two didn’t even last an hour..amateurs,” Natalie said, her voice dripping with mockery. Her sharp heels clicked as she stepped aside, gesturing for them to exit. Fred shot her a glare as he brushed past, not bothering to respond.“A than
FRED'S HOMEChantel paced around the living room, waiting impatiently for Fred to return so they could discuss everything she had planned for their wedding.She had tried calling Kate multiple times, but her calls went unanswered. Avery was unavailable too—off to meet her husband.Where was the whole family when there was a wedding to plan?Frustrated, she took her phone and dialed his number again, but he still wasn’t picking up.In a fit of rage, she threw her phone to the floor and screamed, “That bastard! How dare he not come home?”A sudden thought struck her, and she gasped. “Oh my God! What if he’s with that slut? Oh no! If I don’t get pregnant, she won’t either!”“ It can't happen! It will never happen! " Determined, she rushed out to her car, intent on heading to his office.*****THE ELEVATORBethany had been trapped in the elevator for almost 20 minutes, and her mind was racing.She banged on the elevator walls, yelling, “Help! Somebody, get me out of here! Get me out!”Fr
Bethany tried to process the words he had just uttered. "Did he steal your father? Are you guys brothers? Please… answer me!" she yelled, but he remained indifferent. "I've told you countless times about my dad…” He trailed off, and his eyes softened. She stepped back, unable to recall when he had told her about his dad. When had he ever told her about his father? She couldn’t recall a single moment, and the realization hit her like a punch in the stomach.Shaking her head violently, she replied, her lips parting a bit, "No… you didn’t tell me about your dad. You lied to me! You told me your dad died when you were born!" A deep sigh escaped him, and he reached for her face, his fingers hovering just inches from her skin. But she recoiled, stepping back with a mix of fear and fury in her eyes.“Wow! All those times, I was living a lie. Why did you keep your dad away from me?” Her harsh tone demanded answers, yet he didn’t reply and stepped forward. “I want to know the trut