As Bethany twisted the doorknob, it didn’t budge. Her eyes landed on a small passcode lock securing the door.She raised an eyebrow in confusion, but Jason, standing behind her, piped up. “You need a passcode. It’s...”Before he could finish, Fred walked in, gently pushing Jason aside.“You talk too much,” Fred said with a crooked smile, turning to Bethany.Jason shook his head and looked at Fred, his tone incredulous. “No, I was just telling her it’s—”Fred cut him off, covering his mouth with one hand and giving him a gentle shove toward the door. “Go meet Chantel. She needs you.”Bethany watched as Jason disappeared down the stairs, her curiosity piqued. What was behind that door that Fred had to send him away?“What’s behind there?” she asked, crossing her arms.Fred walked forward, hands shoved into his pockets. “We’re not married... so I don’t think you should be asking me that.”“Really?” Bethany raised an eyebrow.“Yeah.”She rolled her eyes and stared at the door again. “Inst
NATALIE'S HOMEBethany and Fred rushed to Natalie’s house, fear gripping them—mostly Bethany.“Natalie... I’m coming!” she yelled, breathless.But as they reached the entrance, they saw Natalie sitting on the floor, casually smoking a cigarette.Relief washed over Bethany, but confusion quickly followed. Wasn’t this the same Natalie who had screamed on the phone just moments ago, saying, “I need you now! Get here fast or I might die!”Bethany wore an exhausted frown and slowly walked toward her. “I thought you said you were going to die?”Natalie didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the cigarette between her fingers.“Nat!” Bethany’s voice was sharp now, frustration creeping in.With a groan, Natalie flicked the cigarette to the ground and threw her hands up. “Okay, okay! I might have overreacted on the phone.” She stood up and moved toward the porch, a sheepish grin on her face.“Might have?” Bethany threw her hands up in disbelief. “You made me scared out of my mind!”Fred followed the
Bethany shot one last look at him before jumping off the counter."You bastard!" she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. He grabbed her arm, pulling her back, but her anger made her stronger than even his firm grip could contain. She yanked her hand free, glaring at him with a smirk of defiance."I'm not angry," she spat. "Live your life. I'm just disappointed in you.""Bethany!" he yelled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. But it was too late; she was already storming out of the kitchen.Just as he moved to follow her, Natalie blocked his way, pushing him back into the room. She leaned closer and whispered sharply, "You better apologize to me for trying so hard to get you two back together. You ruined it."****SWISS HOTEL, 1 PMMinutes after the snowstorm stopped, Bethany didn’t hesitate to leave for the office. Anything to avoid seeing his dirty face again.How stupid had she been? Flirting with him, asking for an answer he’d already made clear years ago. She sig
NEXT MORNINGFred paced in his office, glancing at the clock. Two hours had passed, and he still hadn’t heard from Bethany. She was supposed to leave for her meeting abroad, but something about it felt... off.His mind raced, clouded with regret over the harsh words he'd thrown at her the previous night. It had distracted him so much that he hadn’t questioned the details of her sudden trip. But now, as he pressed the matter, little inconsistencies surfaced: she hadn’t taken any money for a flight, nor had she submitted the client documents for the England deal.The knot in his chest tightened. He hadn’t seen Stacy, his secretary, all morning. Instead, he dialed Natalie’s number—Bethany’s new friend might know something.“Hello, Natalie?”“Morning, Fred. I’m just about to enter Swiss!” she said cheerfully before abruptly hanging up.Fred stared at his phone, dumbfounded. “I knew hiring a gangster lawyer would bite me someday.”Before he could think again, the door swung open. Chant
Bethany staggered back, her hand tightly gripping Dean’s as Fred advanced toward them with a smug grin.“Stop! Please... just stop, Fred!” she yelled, her voice trembling.Fred chuckled darkly and took another step forward, his eyes narrowing. “What did you think, Beth? That you could just run away with this guy?” He gestured dismissively at Dean, his tone dripping with disdain.Bethany dropped her bags and spoke with a forced calming tone. “Why do you always have to be this way? You’re a monster, Fred.”“Oh, please!” Fred retorted with a hoarse laugh. “All men are monsters. Yet here you are, trusting him?” He jabbed a finger in Dean’s direction. “You barely even know him.”Bethany gasped, biting her lip. “You think breaking me would make me stop trusting people? Well, you’re wrong. Dean’s nothing like you.”Fred’s smile faltered, his voice hardening. “If it wasn’t for the deal we made, I would have freed you from his manipulative ways. He’s more of a demon than you realize.”Dean’s
Dean locked eyes with Bethany, who was nearly on top of Fred. To his surprise, she raised her hand and slapped Fred across the face."I can’t believe he was trying to grope me!" she exclaimed, feigning innocence. "I was just trying to talk to him calmly!"She jumped out of the car, her words hanging in the air."He's so full of himself," she muttered under her breath, hiding behind Dean for protection.Dean’s frown deepened, and he shot a glare at Fred. "Touch her again, and I’ll beat your ass!"Bethany nodded in agreement, her voice soft, but her eyes fierce. "Yeah..."They turned and walked away from the car, leaving Fred still in shock. He touched his cheek, still processing the slap."She’s crazy!" Fred muttered, his voice thick with disbelief.A DAY LATER FRED'S OFFICEFred entered his office with a smile on his face, which was rare for him. He was practically glowing—Bethany invited him for a drink later that evening, and he’d been smiling at his reflection in the mirror all
Fear gripped Bethany and Fred like a vice as they rushed toward the commotion at the door.“What’s going on?” Bethany gasped, her eyes darting around the hallway.“Hey! Stop!” Fred yelled, bolting after a man who disappeared into the darkness. His heavy footsteps echoed, fading quickly.Bethany froze at the sight in front of her—Natalie sprawled on the ground, bruised and beaten. Her breath hitched as she dropped to her knees beside her friend.“Oh my God! Natalie! Are you okay? Who did this to you?” Bethany’s voice cracked, panic lacing every word. She gently shook Natalie, trying to keep her conscious.Natalie’s lips parted, but no words came out. She clutched Bethany’s arm weakly, her eyes fluttering shut.“Stay with me, Nat! Stay with me!” Bethany pleaded, her hands trembling.Moments later, Fred returned, panting heavily. “He got away! Damn it, I lost him!” He bent over, hands on his knees, before looking up to see Natalie’s condition. His expression darkened.“What the hell? Nat
REET RESTAURANTBethany, dressed elegantly in a white gown and black coat, stepped into the restaurant where Dean had made their reservation. Her posture was confident, a reflection of the strength she'd been rebuilding without Fred's help.She spotted Dean seated at their table and approached, taking the seat opposite him."Hey! I hope I’m not late. I had to…" She gestured vaguely behind her, leaving the sentence unfinished.Dean leaned forward, a warm smile lighting up his face. "Come on, sweetie, we’re past all that. Tell me….what’s been on your mind?"Bethany chuckled, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "You sound like my therapist!"Dean’s smile faltered for a moment. He reached across the table and pulled her chair slightly closer, catching her off guard."Wait…what?" she asked, her breath hitching."You have a therapist? I.... had no idea!" he whispered, his tone a mix of surprise and concern.Bethany rolled her eyes and tapped his nose playfully. "Used to. And I’m not ashamed o
"Natalie! Natalie!!!" Natalie blinked multiple times, realizing she had been daydreaming about what she planned to do. But something didn’t feel right. She knew she had to do this, but she didn’t want to see her best friend taken away. "Are you okay, Natalie?" Fred asked for the umpteenth time. She pursed her lips and gazed at him, giving a slight nod. "Yeah… I'm fine." "Are you thinking about Bethany? If you are… don’t worry. She’ll be fine, back to her senses, and hopefully not all—" At the mention of Bethany, Natalie clenched her fists. "Really? I feel like you don’t want her to remember me… what we had as best friends!" Shaking his head violently, Fred scoffed. "Are you crazy?" He laughed. "I’m going crazy for my best friend! All I want to know is why you wouldn’t want her to remember her past!" Shocked, Fred leaned in. "Are we supposed to have this conversation?! Don’t you remember when Bethany wanted to kill herself because of her past? Or have you forgotten her
Fred's eyes softened as he processed Bethany’s words. Who are you?His brows furrowed, and he stepped closer. “You don’t know me?” he asked softly.Bethany gazed into his eyes, tilting her head. “No… Are you the doctor?”Jill let out an awkward laugh while tucking Bethany in. “Oh yes, honey, he’s the doctor. But you ought to know me! High school… your home… your parent figure?”Bethany responded without hesitation, leaving both of them stunned. “I… really don’t know who you are. Can… can I see Maria?” she asked weakly.Jill and Fred exchanged glances before Fred exhaled slowly, palming his forehead.“We’ll be back, honey!” Jill forced a smile before dragging Fred out of the ward.Once outside, Fred yanked his arm away. “Stop controlling me!” he snapped.“I am not controlling you! But you had better fix this mess. What the hell is wrong with you?” She stomped her foot, her eyes blazing. “I knew you were no good—juggling two sisters like they were a pair of juggling balls. Do you have a
**AT THE HOSPITAL** Fred tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for two things—Dean to be caught and Bethany’s condition to stabilize. He stood up from his chair and glanced over at Jill, who was busy applying makeup. She hadn’t changed one bit. How could she be so carefree when her daughter was in the hospital? Suddenly, the doctor approached. “Mr. Fred?” Fred tilted his head, his voice laced with worry. “Doctor! How is she? Is she okay?” The doctor sighed. “She’s stable, but her memories are groggy. The last thing you should do right now is remind her of her past, present, or future.” “Can I see her?” Jill interjected, taking what felt like ages to get to her feet. “Yes… yes, you can. But remember, follow the rules if you want her to recover properly.” “Okay… thank you, doctor.” Fred gave a warm smile, then walked toward the ward without sparing Jill a glance. Inside, Bethany lay on the hospital bed, IV drips attached to her fragile frame. Taking a deep breath, Fred
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