"Of course! You were picked up from the streets by my brother." Uncle Mark replied in Grandpa Benson's stead, "You are not a Norton biologically! You are a Norton by charity," Uncle Mark repeated, his voice laced with bitterness and years of resentment. Mandy’s legs trembled beneath her, her vision blurred, and she nearly collapsed. Dwight, always attentive, caught her just in time, his strong arms steadying her fragile form. “Breathe, Mandy,” he whispered, his voice a soft command. Gerald’s mouth hung open, the shock etched deeply into his features—he too, did not know all the while. “So, Dad, you mean biologically, Mandy is not my cousin? Not Bella’s sister?” Before Uncle Mark could answer, Elsa, in her bittered demeanor, spoke up sharply. “Yes, she’s not,” she confirmed, her tone unfeeling and cold. Gerald spun toward his sister, disbelief clouding his eyes. “Elsa, you knew about this?” “I did, all along,” Elsa admitted nonchalantly. Mandy’s heart twisted painfully as her gaz
Dwight turned to Grandpa Benson, his jaw tight with disappointment. “Was there any need to bring this up, Father? You’ve upset her enough already. She’s cried too much, and that’s a risk to my child. It’s not fair.” Grandpa Benson was unmoved, his arms crossed as he twisted his lips. “That’s her business! Do you know how much I’ve cried because of her constant selfishness?” Dwight sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He motioned to one of his workers, ordering them to fetch the mansion’s key. When it was handed over, Dwight pressed it into Grandpa Benson’s hand. “I’m not transferring the property to you. But I'm giving it to you as roof over your head. It's a gift from you son-in-law.” He turned to Gerald, forcing a small smile. “Come by my office tomorrow. I’ll give you a job.” Gerald’s face lit up. “Thanks, man.” Just then, Elsa’s voice rang out, echoing across the room, sharp with determination. “Dwight, can you sponsor me to the School of Law in San Francisco? I want
Ramsey made it first, he pulled up to Cain’s apartment, his mind clouded with rage and grief. He climbed the stairs quickly, his footsteps heavy on the worn-out steps. As he reached Cain’s door, he knocked softly, a chilling calmness settling over him. Inside, Cain sat slumped on the couch, his eyes bloodshot from hours of crying. He clutched a bottle of beer in one hand, his heart shattered From Pamela's breakup with him. The sound of the knock barely registered in his alcohol-soaked mind. “Who the hell is that?” Cain shouted, his voice rough. Ramsey remained silent and knocked again, his patience thinning with each second. Cain stumbled to his feet, swaying as he walked toward the door. He fumbled with the lock, barely managing to open it with the beer bottle still in his hand. But before he could react, Ramsey shoved the door open with all his strength, sending Cain crashing to the floor. The bottle shattered against the hard surface, spilling beer everywhere. Cain, alrea
Mandy pushed open the door slowly, her finger resting on the trigger, ready for whatever—or whoever—was waiting on the other side. When their eyes met, an intense wave of bitterness and surprise surged between them. Ramsey was so shocked to see Mandy, she was the last person he expected to see, and could be the last person he sees, because Mandy would surely not pass on this opportunity to kill him. His hands trembled slightly, drained from the vicious fight with Cain. He was already tired, his energy sapped, his mind clouded with fear. Mandy, however, took cautious, deliberate steps toward him, her eyes burning with rage and determination. Neither of them spoke at first. The silence in the room was as sharp as the knife Ramsey held, both waiting for the other to make a move. But Mandy was in control regardless, and she knew it. She stepped fully into the kitchen and shut the door behind her, her finger still resting on the trigger. “Knives down! And knees down!” she commanded
Ramsey quickly turned back when he heard Mandy’s scream. His heart raced as he saw her crumpled on the floor, clutching her belly. He rushed over, scooping her into his arms with trembling hands. Panic set in as he realized the gravity of the situation—Cain’s corpse was still lying in the house, and if anyone heard them or came to investigate, it would be over. They couldn’t afford to draw attention to themselves. “Mandy, please, lower your scream, I've got you, okay?” Ramsey whispered urgently, his voice barely steady. Mandy groaned in pain but didn’t protest. She was too weak to help herself, now. Ramsey carried her out of the house, carefully maneuvering past Cain’s lifeless body. He hurried to his car, gently placing Mandy in the passenger seat. His mind was in overdrive as he sped toward the hospital, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Once they reached the hospital, Ramsey rushed inside, and called for help. Nurses quickly placed Mandy on a stretcher and wheel
Mandy groaned in agony, her body convulsing as sharp pains wracked through her. Dwight sat beside her hospital bed, his face pale with worry, gripping her hand tightly. He tried to stay strong, but the helplessness clawing at his chest made him feel powerless. Every breath Mandy took seemed to echo the ticking clock of her life, and he feared each breath might be her last. "It's going to be okay, Mandy. I’m right here with you," Dwight whispered, his voice trembling slightly. He wiped the sweat from her forehead, hoping his touch could provide some comfort. "You’re strong, you’ll get through this." Mandy squeezed his hand weakly, her face pale and drenched in sweat. The pain was unbearable, stabbing at her from the inside like a thousand knives. Tears welled up in her eyes, not just from the physical torment, but from the fear that she might lose everything—her life, her baby, her future with Dwight. "It hurts so much, Dwight," Mandy gasped, her voice barely audible. "I don’t w
The sky hung low with gray clouds, casting a somber shadow over the cemetery as mourners dressed in black gathered around the gravesite. A light drizzle had started, as if the heavens themselves were weeping alongside the people. The air was thick with sorrow, and the quiet murmur of grief rippled through the crowd, punctuated by the occasional sob that broke the silence like a crack in a glass. Bella’s casket rested in the center of the open grave, draped in a blanket of white lilies and roses—flowers that spoke of innocence and purity. The atmosphere was heavy with loss, the weight of finality pressing down on everyone present. As the priest led the funeral prayers, the rhythmic sound of his voice contrasted sharply with the raw emotion etched on the faces of those gathered. Family, friends, and well-wishers stood in tight circles, their hands clasped, heads bowed, trying to find solace in the ancient words of prayer. Ramsey Wendel stood at the front, his tall frame shaking with r
"But what, doctor?" Dwight managed to ask although his heart where already drawing a map. “But, Mandy will never be able to become a mother again,” the doctor said sharply, her words cutting through his heart like a cold blade. “The rupture distorted her womb beyond repair.” Dwight felt his breath catch in his throat. His gaze dropped to the floor, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak. He had prepared himself for the worst, fearing that Mandy might not survive at all. But hearing this... it wasn’t the news he had hoped for, yet compared to losing her completely, it was still a relief. He exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts. "How is she, doctor?" Dwight asked, his voice barely steady, his eyes pleading for more than just clinical details. "She’s still unconscious," the doctor replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "But we hope she’ll recover soon." That hope was all Dwight needed for now. He watched as Mandy was wheeled out of the Theater to a new ward, her body frail and motion
The dining room was filled with an unspoken heaviness as Rachel, Elsa, and Uncle Mark gathered for lunch at the Norton's Mansion. Uncle Mark, leaning back thoughtfully, looked at each of his daughters with pride and empathy. Breaking the silence, he gently asked, “What’s the way forward, girls? Where do you see yourselves, now, after everything?” Elsa spoke up first, her tone determined yet reflective. “I’ve always dreamed of becoming a lawyer,” she began. “But I’ve seen what it takes to make a real name as one… the compromises, the shortcuts. I can’t become someone like Stefano McReynolds. Modeling, on the other hand,” she continued, a flicker of newfound confidence brightening her face, “it feels natural. I’ve realized it’s something I’m genuinely good at, and I want to give it everything I’ve got.” Uncle Mark smiled, his eyes warm with approval. “Elsa, whatever path you choose, know I’m standing behind you. Follow your heart, and the rest will fall into place.” Elsa’s cheeks
Dwight was just about to leave Mandy’s rehab ward when he found the doctor waiting at the entrance. He quickly stepped aside to speak with him, concern clouding his face. “Mandy’s recovery is going well, doctor,” he began quietly. “But she’s having episodes of memory loss. She can’t remember certain events… especially losing our child. What do we do now?” The doctor raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Does she remember having a baby at all?” “Yes,” Dwight admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “But she believes the baby is still in the incubator. I… I told her that, hoping it would ease her mind.” The doctor nodded, a plan forming in his mind. “In that case, there might be a way to help her continue healing,” he said carefully. “If she can’t recall losing the baby, then… adopt a newborn. Present it to her as her own child.” Dwight stared at the doctor in shock, the idea hitting him like a wave. “You mean… find a child and pretend it’s hers?” “Yes,” the doc
The atmosphere in the courtroom was thick with tension as Serena stood before the jury, her once-proud demeanor shattered. Today was her hearing, and she faced charges for the murder of little Bella, a robbery, and the ruthless crime she had framed Peter Allison for. Serena shifted uncomfortably, her hands vibrating as the judge prepared to read the verdict. The foreperson of the jury rose, casting a sharp glance in Serena’s direction before delivering the final judgment. “The jury has found you guilty of first degree murder. I hereby sentence you to twenty five hundred consecutive life sentences plus a thousand years.”She turned to face Serena, her face beet red with contempt like there was more of a personal grudge between them than a federal case. "Once you pass away, you will receive an attempted escape charge with an additional two hundred years added to your sentence which you will begin serving in the afterlife once you get hell." Her eyes were fierce and full of resentment
Dwight picked a lighter from the kitchen and headed back to the living room.The flames from the lighter flickered in the dimly lit room as he approached Ramsey, who lay slumped and bound in the chair. Without a hint of hesitation, Dwight flicked the lighter, setting Ramsey’s hair alight in an instant. The fire crackled to life, devouring the strands and singeing his scalp, sending smoke spiraling into the air. Ramsey screamed, his voice hoarse, begging, pleading for Dwight to end it all. As the fire died, leaving Ramsey’s head charred and his spirit all but shattered, he let out a ragged sob. His skin, bruised and torn, showed a ghostly paleness beneath the streaks of blood. He could feel his strength slipping away, the life draining from him with each passing second. Desperate, he attempted to bite his tongue in a last effort to escape the torment, but his body betrayed him; his jaw trembled, teeth chattering too weakly to do any real harm. For a long moment, Dwight just stood th
Ramsey’s body shook, his tone barely concealing the fear behind his words as he looked up at Dwight, shackled and bound. He swallowed hard, watching Dwight rummage through the backpack filled with a disturbing array of tools, each promising a unique kind of agony. “What do you want?” Ramsey asked, forcing a calmness into his tone that belied the terror swirling inside him. Dwight chuckled darkly, shaking his head. “What do I want? really? Ramsey, you seem to have cheated the face death so often that you now think you're unkillable. Am I right?” He tilted his head, a sinister glint in his eyes. Ramsey attempted to use psychology to save himself. “I know you, Dwight Mendez,” he said, his voice feigning familiarity. “You’re not like me. You’re a good man, a better man. You’re not capable of killing anyone.” Dwight laughed, but it wasn’t the laugh of a man who found amusement. It was cold, devoid of warmth, and filled with pain. His gaze flickered to Hannah’s lifeless body sprawle
Dwight pulled into the driveway of his mansion, his mind set, heart hardened. This night, there was only one objective: justice for Mandy, for Bella, for everything Serena, Hannah, and Ramsey had taken from him. He strode inside, up the grand staircase, and into his private study. With quick precision, he unlocked his safe, pulling out a small, polished handgun. As he tucked it into his coat, his thoughts were interrupted by a quiet voice. “Sir,” one of the maids approached, her face filled with worry. “We’ve been searching for Clara for days. She’s disappeared without a word. We think…we think maybe she ran away with Hannah.” Dwight’s expression didn’t change; he simply gave a curt nod. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll find her.” The maid looked on, unsure, but Dwight had already turned, a cold resolve in his eyes. Tonight, he would tie up all loose ends. As he drove, Dwight made a stop at a small, dimly lit store, where he gathered an arsenal of tools designed to inflict slow, prec
The hospital room was dimly lit, quiet except for the steady hum of machines. Bella had been taken to the morgue, her tiny body lying cold and alone, while Mandy lay unconscious, her face pale and sunken, a single bandage wrapped around her head where doctors had inserted the tubes needed for her life-saving surgery. Dwight paced the hallway outside, his hands clenched, jaw tight. The doctor’s words echoed in his mind, each one like a hammer blow. Traumatic brain swelling. Ventriculostomy. Critical condition. He’d paid for the surgery without hesitation, willing to give anything, everything he had, to keep Mandy alive. But his heart ached with the weight of sorrow, an emptiness that seemed to stretch into every corner of his being. Finally, after endless hours, a nurse stepped out, her eyes soft with sympathy. “Mr. Mendez, Mandy’s surgery went well. She’s resting, but…” She paused, hesitant, before continuing gently, “Her condition is very fragile. You need to be prepared for when
With all the strength left in her bones, Mandy shouted “Bellaaaaaaaaaaaa!” She got up, trying to reach out to carry her baby, but the scene was too gory, the image of her scrambled daughter on the floor was too horrific. She fell backward, her body slumping to the ground before Dwight could reach her. Her head struck the pavement with a sickening thud, and she lay motionless, her face pale, eyes closed, as if the life had drained out of her in that single, heart-wrenching moment. “Mandy! No, please, Mandy…” Dwight’s voice was choked, his hands trembling as he knelt beside her, gently shaking her shoulders, begging her to open her eyes. His vision blurred with tears as he pleaded. But she didn’t respond, her stillness heavy with finality. Nearby, Ramsey was frozen, his eyes locked on the lifeless form of his daughter. It was as if his mind couldn’t process the horror before him, his body rooted in shock, consciousness slipping. His face was empty, expression hollow, every inch of h
After studying their faces, Serena let out a cold blooded laughter that showed mockery. Mandy, Dwight, Ramsey, Hannah—all stood frozen, watching her every move. Davis, desperate to put an end to this, bolted down the stairs from his balcony, reaching out to grab her. But before he could touch her, Serena twisted away, her scream cutting through the tense air. “Back off, Davis!” she snarled, brandishing the knife to Bella’s tiny neck. The crowd held their breath, their horror clear as Serena’s grip tightened on the little girl. “Davis, Let her do what she wants,” Ramsey urged, his voice shaking, "Please don’t make her angry, my Bella...” Serena’s lips curled into a satisfied sneer, feeling the control she held over them. Without loosening her hold on Bella, she began to back up the stairs, her eyes locked on everyone below. “I’m going back to Davis’s place,” she declared, her voice sharp with threat. “I'm going to pick up the Mendez company papers . I’ll take them with me—or th