Two police officers stood guard at the front of Amelia's ward, their eyes scanning the hallway with a mixture of boredom and vigilance. They were there to ensure that Amelia didn't escape or cause any more trouble.Ava walked into the ward, her heels clicking on the linoleum floor. The inside was silent, the only sound was the soft hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. Amelia lay in her bed, restricted by chains that bound her wrists and ankles. She appeared to be sleeping, her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling with slow, steady breaths.But Ava knew better. She could see the faintest hint of a smile playing on Amelia's lips, a smile that said she was pretending, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.Ava's lips curled into a smile, a cold, calculating smile that revealed her true intentions. She knew that Amelia was not sleeping, that she was just biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to escape.Ava's eyes locked onto Amelia's face, her gaze piercing and intens
Ava's phone rang, shrill in the silence of the room, shattering the tense atmosphere that lingered after her confrontation with Amelia. She picked it up, her voice urgent and laced with concern after hearing Lisa’s voice over the phone. "What's wrong, Lisa?"Lisa's sobs echoed over the line, her voice barely intelligible, sending a chill down Ava's spine. Ava's eyes darted in fear, her grip on the phone tightening as she paced back and forth in the room. "Lisa, okay, where are you? What's happening?"Ava whispered, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios, her imagination running wild with thoughts of something terrible happening to her friend. "I'm coming over. Just stay there, I'll be right there."She cut the call, her movements swift and decisive, her heels clicking on the floor as she rushed out of the hospital. She hailed a taxi, her eyes fixed on her phone, willing Lisa to call back, willing herself to get to her friend as fast as possible.At the penthouse, Ava burst out of
Ava walked into the apartment, exhausted from the day's events. She saw Luke sitting at the dinner table, his eyes fixed on his PC screen. As she approached, he looked up and asked, "How's your day going?"Ava sighed, her hands on her hips. "As always, bad. And it seems Amelia is planning on escaping."“That we shouldn’t be worrying about,” Luke's expression turned serious. "So, don’t worry, you won't let her escape."Ava's smile was cold. "No, I won't. And even if she leaves prison, it would be so difficult for her."Luke's eyes softened. "Enough of that. Come sit on my lap."Ava paused, her hands still on her hips. But Luke's warm smile drew her in. He pulled his chair back, stretching his hands out to her. "Come here."Ava's resistance crumbled, and she let Luke drag her onto his lap. She settled into the warmth of his body, feeling a sense of comfort and security she rarely experienced.Luke wrapped his arms around her, his hands stroking her hair. "You're doing great, Ava. You're
The next day, Ava woke up to the warmth of Luke's body beside her. He was fast asleep, a peaceful expression on his face. They had shared a passionate night, their emotions raw and exposed.As Ava gazed at Luke, she felt a pang of uncertainty. Should she forgive Amelia and Jackson, let go of the past, and move on? But then her mind turned to her father's company and estate, still in Jackson’s grasp. Ava's determination hardened. She couldn't forgive until she had reclaimed what was rightfully hers.Ava sat up, her movements quiet so as not to disturb Luke. She reached for her phone and dialed Stanley's number. "Meet me at the office," she said, her voice low and urgent.After the call, Ava entered the bathroom, her mind already focused on the day ahead. She had a long bath, her thoughts racing with strategies and plans. She prepared herself for work, dressing in a sharp business suit, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail.As she left the bedroom, Luke stirred, his eyes opened lazi
The ride to Jackson's father's mansion was a long and arduous one, the tension building in Jackson's stomach like a twisted knot of fear. He couldn't bear the thought of being around his father, a man notorious for his ruthlessness and cunning. The mere presence of him made Jackson's skin crawl.As they approached the entrance gate of the mansion, Jackson's anxiety spiked. The gate was a grand, wrought-iron monstrosity, adorned with gold filigree and towering above the surrounding landscape like a sentinel. It was an expensive, ostentatious display of wealth, a testament to his father's excesses.The limousine glided smoothly through the gate and up the winding driveway, finally coming to a stop in front of the mansion's imposing facade. Jackson's heart sank as he gazed up at the sprawling structure, its walls seeming to loom over him like a physical manifestation of his father's oppressive presence.As he stepped out of the limousine, the first person to greet him was his Aunt Gloria
Mr. Timberlake's anger was unrelenting, his words dripping with venom. "Where did you go, boy? Why did you neglect me? Why didn't you tell me about the divorce? Why is Amelia rotting in jail? You're a disappointment, Jackson. A complete and utter failure." Jackson cowered, his apologies falling on deaf ears. "I'm sorry, father...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you... I meant to tell you but…" “But what! You imbecile. You’re just a waste of resources. There’s nothing I’ve not given you or done for you and what do I receive in return? Nothing but disappointment and failures.” Mr. Timberlake's rage only intensified his slaps and blows raining down on Jackson's face and body like a torrent. Jackson's cries of "Enough!" were ignored, his father's fury unyielding. “Father, Enough!” He yelled and Mr. Timberlake’s hands stopped midway in shock. Finally, Aunt Gloria intervened, her voice calm and soothing. "Let's all cool down, shall we? We should take things slowly. This isn't sol
Mr. Timberlake sat in silence for a while, pondering the weight of Jackson's words. Could it be true? Could Amelia have been deceiving him all along? Could John not be his son? He shook his head, trying to clear the doubts that had begun to creep into his mind. No, he couldn't let Jackson's accusations get to him. He needed to see Amelia, to hear her side of the story. He needed to know the truth. He picked up his phone and dialed a number, his mind racing with possibilities. "Get the car ready, I'm heading to the hospital to see Amelia," he barked into the receiver. "Yes, sir," his driver replied, his voice crisp and efficient. As he stood to leave, his sister Gloria stepped into his path, her eyes filled with concern. "Where are you going, brother?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle. Mr. Timberlake's expression turned cold, his jaw clenched in determination. "That's none of your business, Gloria. Just stay where you are and don't interfere with my business," he growled, hi
Amelia thought frantically, trying to come up with a convincing lie. But as she looked into Mr. Timberlake's eyes, she knew she couldn't escape the truth. She took a deep breath and whispered, "It's Uncle Smith. It happened a long time ago, even before I married Jackson. He...he took advantage of me, raped me, and then blackmailed me into keeping quiet." She covered her eyes, fear trembling in her voice. "I couldn't bring myself to tell Jackson. I was ashamed and scared. If there was a way to get rid of Uncle Smith, I would. I've been trapped in this nightmare for so long." The room remained silent, Amelia's heart pounding in her chest. She slowly opened her eyes, whispering, "Father..." Mr. Timberlake's expression twisted in anger. "Don't 'father' me," he growled, closing the gap between them. His hands wrapped around her neck, his grip tightening. "Who is the father of the child?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing. Amelia flinched, her voice barely audible. "It's...it's