Mandy paced the living room, nerves on edge as she rehearsed her words. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting streaks of light that did little to brighten her mood. She had stayed up all night, wrestling with thoughts of Davis, his intense brown eyes, and the way his presence made her heart race and her thoughts scatter. She couldn’t hold it in any longer; she needed to know where she stood with him. When Davis finally emerged from his room, looking slightly disheveled but no less handsome, Mandy wasted no time. “Davis, can we talk?” He nodded, sensing the urgency in her voice, and they sat down on the couch. The air between them felt heavy, as if the words Mandy was about to say would tip their delicate balance. Mandy’s voice quivered as she began, “I need to know, Davis... do you feel anything for me? I mean, really feel anything? Because I can’t keep pretending that this is nothing. I thought I could handle it, just being around you, but it’s driving me insane.
Davis eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat. Ramsey Wendel stood in the shower, water cascading over his muscular frame. For a moment, Davis’s brain struggled to process what he was seeing. Was he more shocked by Ramsey’s presence, or was it the realization that Bella was once again betraying her sister? Or maybe, it was the undeniable fact that Ramsey, the man who had thrown Mandy out of his life, was now comfortably bathing in Bella’s apartment as if he owned it. Davis’s mind buzzed with questions. How long had this been going on? Was Bella really back with Ramsey, or was this just another one of their twisted games? His confusion gave way to anger; Mandy had trusted Bella, tried to protect her, and this was how she repaid her? He didn’t have long to ponder as the sound of approaching footsteps jolted him back to the moment. Bella’s soft humming grew louder, and Davis quickly ducked behind the half-open bathroom door, his heart hammering in his chest. He watched thro
Davis immediately sprinted down the hallway after weighing his options, his heart racing as Ramsey lunged after him, fueled by rage and determination. Despite Ramsey’s anger, his body betrayed him. Every move sent a sharp, familiar pain shooting through his bones—the lingering wounds from Mandy’s last attack had not fully healed. He was fast, but not fast enough. Davis slipped past Ramsey’s grasp, narrowly avoiding his outstretched arm. They tumbled into a messy struggle, grappling fiercely as Ramsey tried to pin Davis down. For a moment, it seemed like Ramsey would gain the upper hand, but Davis twisted his body just right, using his agility to break free. In the chaos, his expensive wristwatch snagged on Ramsey’s hand and fell to the floor with a metallic clatter. Ramsey groaned, clutching his side, pain flaring from his bruised ribs. Bella rushed over to him, her face twisted in panic, but by the time she reached Ramsey’s side, Davis had already vanished, disappearing into the
Davis could feel the weight of her words, and he knew this was no idle threat. Mandy was ready to fight back, and she wasn’t going to stop until Ramsey paid the ultimate price. "I'll tell you by morning" Mandy replied and left for bed. Mandy tossed and turned in her bed, her mind a whirlwind of rage and betrayal. She stared at the ceiling, imagining all the ways she could end Ramsey’s life once and for all. Her thoughts were dark and endless—a thousand schemes of revenge playing out in her head, each more dangerous than the last. But amid the chaos of her vengeful plans, another idea lingered, simmering beneath the surface: Davis. Mandy had grown tired of being alone, tired of feeling powerless, and part of her wanted to pull Davis closer, to make him hers in the most irreversible way possible. If she could pin her pregnancy on Davis, she could tie him to her life forever. It was a desperate, reckless thought, but Mandy was done playing by the rules. She threw back her covers a
Davis paced back and forth in his apartment, the tension in the room thick. His phone was clutched tightly in his hand, and beads of sweat formed on his brow. He needed this plan to go off without a hitch—literally. The sooner he figures something out, the closer he’d be to taking down Ramsey and his casino. With a quick swipe, he dialed the number to one of his trusted men. “Radee,” Davis barked, “You and the guys need to head to Ramsey’s casino now. I want eyes everywhere. If there’s anything we can use to cause an explosion, something subtle but deadly, I need to know. Got it?” “On it, boss,” Radee replied coolly. Davis hung up, his mind racing through all the potential scenarios. He wasn’t interested in a big, messy explosion that would draw attention. No, he needed something professional. Something Ramsey would never see coming. *** Radee and his crew of four walked into Ramsey’s casino. The neon lights outside buzzed softly, giving the place a vibrant glow. Inside,
Bella stepped into Eric Villagio's lounge, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room. She was eager to see Mandy, though part of her mind still swirled with the uneasy feeling she had after Ramsey’s sudden departure. The lounge was buzzing with activity, the low hum of conversations mixing with the clinking of glasses. It was the perfect place for a sisterly catch-up—or so she thought.As she approached the table where Mandy was seated, her pace slowed. Mandy wasn’t alone. A man, tall and handsome, sat across from her, chatting casually like they were old friends. Bella’s heart drummed. Who was this?Mandy noticed Bella’s arrival and waved her over with a big smile. “Bella! Over here!” she called out, her voice cheerful and innocent—too innocent.Bella’s brows furrowed as she walked up to the table, glancing at the man before looking back at her sister. “Mandy... what’s going on?” she asked, her tone careful. The last thing she expected was to see her sister with company—ESPECIALLY not a g
Mandy had slammed straight into Dwight Cullen—her husband. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at him. Dwight stood there, looking just as startled but with a nervous smile spreading across his face. His messy brown hair was slightly disheveled, and his worn jacket hinted at a man who’d been through too much too fast. For a moment, neither of them said anything.Mandy’s mind raced, a thousand thoughts flashing through her. Why is he here? How did he find me? What does he want now? Her body froze in place, muscles locked up, as if seeing Dwight had turned her into stone. Dwight cleared his throat, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. “Mandy... hey. I’ve been looking for you.”Mandy blinked, her heart hammering in her chest. Of course he’s looking for me. He can’t let go, she thought bitterly. But instead of saying any of that, she clenched her jaw, buckled up, and with an icy look, she hissed, “Get out of my way.”Without giving Dwight a ch
Bella’s scream pierced through the air, echoing across the lounge like a desperate cry for help. It wasn’t just the loudness of it—it was the raw pain in her voice that grabbed the attention of everyone around her. Strangers began to gather, whispering and shooting concerned glances in her direction. A few of them stepped forward, trying to console her, asking questions she couldn’t even process. "Are you okay?" "Do you know Mr. Ramsey Wendel?" "Are you related to him?" But Bella wasn’t hearing any of it. Her mind was too shattered. The man she had loved—the one she thought she had figured out—was gone. Dead. Just like that.Alex stood beside her, looking helpless, unsure of what to do. His face was pale, his hands shaking slightly, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t know how to comfort Bella. He didn’t know how to comfort *anyone*. Meanwhile, Mandy stood nearby, watching Bella’s breakdown, a slight smirk curling the edges of her lips. She sighed a sigh of relief—Her plans h
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