Mandy stared at her phone screen. Still pondering on Davis words, she couldn’t believe what he had spilled out. Davis—her most loyal ally—had turned against her. His harsh words echoed in her mind: “You’ve used me, Mandy. Used me to kill, destroy… I’ve lost count of all the people we’ve hurt.” And just like that, he had cut the call, leaving her in stunned silence. For a few moments, Mandy was frozen, unable to move or process what had just happened. How could he do this to her? After everything? Her eyes welled up with tears as she replayed Davis’s words. **Innocent lives?** She shook her head, trying to block out the guilt that was creeping into her mind. No, this wasn’t her fault. None of this was. She had been pushed into this by circumstances. She had no choice. Why were men like this? First Ramsey, then Dwight, and now Davis? They had all betrayed her, each in their own way. And yet, she had done nothing wrong. At least, she didn’t think she had. Mandy let out a bit
Mandy stood frozen, the weight of Serena’s words pressing down on her like a boulder. “You really still think Alex Hermidez is the toddler you knew back then! awwn.” Serena hissed, her voice sharp and venomous. “And why did you let him find out you caused the fire? Foolish girl.” Mandy’s heart skipped a beat as the realization hit her. Alex had been there. He was still on the cliff when Dwight had spilled everything—He heard everything. The fire, Ramsey, the deaths… Alex had heard it all. How could she have been so careless? Serena’s voice interrupted her thoughts, continuing with a chilling tone. “You know, I’m proud of you, Mandy. You did something I wish I had the guts to do before I left—killing Ramsey. But… you left unfinished edges. That’s where you went wrong. You’re not cut out for this life, Mandy. You’re no hoodlum. You’re just a little fowl driven by your emotions." Serena snapped. "Keep crowing, little fella." With that, Serena ended the call, leaving Mandy standin
Mandy jolted awake in her hotel room, her heart was pounding in her chest. The room was eerily silent, the dim light of dawn creeping through the small crack in the curtains. She squinted at the alarm clock on the bedside table—5:26 AM. Too early, she thought, annoyed at herself for waking up so soon. Her body ached from the lack of proper rest, and she considered lying back down, desperate for more sleep.But then she saw it—a shadow.It moved behind the curtains, a tall, ominous figure shifting ever so slightly. Mandy froze, her breath catching in her throat. Fear surged through her veins. Her voice trembled as she called out, "Who's there?"No response. The shadow shifted again, and this time, her entire body went cold. She screamed, but the thick, soundproof walls of the hotel room trapped her voice. No one would hear her.The curtain slowly parted, and out stepped the figure. Tall, menacing, familiar.Mandy’s blood turned to ice as she recognized the man in front of her. It was
Cane stepped into Mandy's hotel room with a soft knock. His tall frame blocked out the light from the hallway as he smiled warmly, holding a small paper bag filled with snacks. Mandy, who had been pacing around nervously, immediately rushed to him. Her eyes were red and puffy from all the tears she'd shed throughout the morning. “Hey, I brought some snacks for you,” Cane said, his voice calm and reassuring. Without saying a word, Mandy threw her arms around him, clutching his jacket as if holding on for dear life. She buried her face into his chest, her body trembling with fear and uncertainty. Everything felt like it was falling apart, and Cane’s presence was the only thing grounding her. Cane gently rubbed her back, whispering softly, “It’s okay, Mandy. I’m here. We’ll figure this out.” After a moment, Mandy pulled back slightly, sniffling and wiping away the last of her tears. “I just... I can’t take all of this anymore,” she whispered. “Serena, Davis, Bella, Alex… it’s like e
Mandy’s hands flew to her mouth as Cane uttered the words that shook her entire world.“Davis is gay.”Her scream echoed through the room, piercing the air like a gunshot. She flinched backward, her mind spinning out of control. This couldn’t be real. It felt like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.“Gay?” Mandy choked out, her voice trembling. “How… how is that even possible?”Cane’s expression remained steady, though there was a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. “I know it’s a lot to take in, Mandy, but there’s more. I’ve been digging into Alex Hermidez too, and what I found out… well, it’s even more shocking.”Mandy stood frozen, her heart hammering in her chest as she stared at him. How could anything top what Cane had just told her?“Alex underwent surgery a year ago,” Cane continued, his voice serious. “The childhood friend you thought you knew… is dead. The person walking around with Alex’s face and identity is someone else entirely. I don’t know who it is yet, but the real A
Mandy’s heart pounded violently in her chest as the realization hit her like a tidal wave. "Ramsey might be alive." Her thoughts spiraled out of control, crashing into one another. She staggered back, clutching her temples, trying to make sense of everything. Cane, noticing her distress, reached out and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Mandy, I know this is a lot to take in.” But she barely registered his touch. Her mind was too broken, too overwhelmed. Was it fear she felt? Disappointment? Or just another burning reason to destroy both Davis and Ramsey? She couldn’t tell anymore. The weight of betrayal was suffocating her. Suddenly, she shook her head, her voice cracking as she spoke. “There’s still one thing I don’t understand, Cane. Alex Hermidez... Who is he? And what does he want? This doesn’t make sense.” Cane looked at her, his brows furrowed. “How did you meet him?” Mandy sighed, her voice trembling as she recounted the memory. “I met him at Eric Villagio’s lounge.
Ramsey’s heart raced with emotions as he paced the small, dimly lit room. The air was thick with the scent of damp wood and cigarette smoke. His fists clenched and unclenched, his mind still racing as he locked eyes with Davis, the man who held him captive. “When am I going to get out of this sleek game of yours?” Ramsey barked, his voice laced with frustration and anger. Davis just smirked, lounging comfortably in his chair like he was the king of the world. “You ain't going nowhere, nigga,” he said, his tone cool and patronizing. “Remember, everybody thinks you're dead. If you show up out there, they'll kill you for real, thinking you’re some kinda ghost.” Ramsey’s jaw tightened, his muscles tensing with the urge to punch something—or someone. “All these bullshits are crap,” he spat, throwing his hands in the air. “Why are you doing this to me, huh? Why? What’s in it for you?” Davis chuckled, a low, sinister sound that sent chills down Ramsey’s spine. “Me? I ain’t the one wh
Bella paced restlessly back and forth in her living room, the frustration mounting in her chest. It's been day since Ramsey promised he was coming home, and his absence was driving her insane. Her thoughts raced between worry and hope, wondering when she'd see him again. She clutched her phone, willing it to ring, for him to call and tell her everything would be alright. *Knock! Knock!* The loud rapping at the door startled Bella. Her heart leaped with excitement as she rushed toward the door. It had to be him. Finally. Ramsey was back. He had to be. With a beaming smile, Bella flung the door open, only for her face to fall immediately when she saw who was standing there. Mandy. Disappointment filled Bella’s eyes, and her expression twisted with rage. Without a second thought, she slammed the door shut in Mandy’s face, but Mandy was quick. She jammed her foot against the door before it could fully close. "Bella, please!" Mandy pleaded, her voice cracking. "Just hear me ou
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