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★★★★★"Damon, what is the meaning of this?" Cindy’s voice rang out, echoing through the grand hallway as she stormed into the dining room where Damon and Dante were having breakfast. Her eyes flashed with fury as she approached the table, her hand shaking as she slammed a stack of papers in front of Damon. "How could you do this to me? The moment Grandfather falls ill, you decide to take advantage, doing whatever you please. What have I ever done to deserve this?" Her voice broke, the anger giving way to a deep hurt that she struggled to contain.Damon looked up from his plate, his expression calm, almost indifferent as he sliced through a piece of bacon. "I've noticed some rather unusual transactions from your account, Cindy," he said coolly, barely glancing at the papers she had thrown down. "Large sums of money being transferred to someone I don’t recognize. I’m not interested in asking you where, or why, but as of now, you’re not authorized to make any further transfers. With Gran
★★★★ Cindy’s face crumpled, the weight of Damon’s words striking her like a physical blow. "You can’t just strip me of my identity, Damon. This name, this family—it’s all I have left. How can you be so heartless?" "You should be glad I’m not heartless," Damon replied curtly, his tone cutting through the air like a knife. "Otherwise, your situation would be far worse. The wealth you’ve been given should be enough to keep you comfortable for the rest of your life, but understand this—I don’t want you anywhere near me or my son ever again." Cindy’s breath caught in her throat, disbelief washing over her. "What? No... I can’t leave. I love you and Dante. I won’t go anywhere. I’ve sacrificed too much for this family. This is my life, Damon." "You never loved Great Grandpa," Dante interjected, his young voice shaking with anger as he finally spoke up. He turned to Cindy, his eyes filled with a mix of pain and resentment. "And you could never truly love us. If you ever try to hurt my real
★★★★★"Mom, why can’t I go with you to see Grandfather?" Payne asked, trailing behind her mother, her small hand tugging at her sleeve. "Since he’s not staying in the house anymore, there shouldn’t be a problem with me talking to him, right?"Jasmine paused, turning to face her daughter. Her innocent eyes searched hers, filled with a longing she couldn’t easily dismiss. She knelt down to her level, her voice gentle yet firm as she explained, "Sweetheart, I can’t be sure if Grandfather is in a condition to speak right now. He’s very unwell, and it might be hard for you to see him like that.""But if he can talk, you’ll take me next time? Promise?" Payne’s voice was a mix of hope and insistence, her young heart determined to see his grandfather.Jasmine smiled softly as she said, "Yes, Payne. If Grandfather is well enough, I promise I’ll take you with me next time.""Alright," Payne murmured, her voice tinged with disappointment. She sank into the couch, curling her legs beneath her. "T
★★★★ Jasmine approached the reception desk, her steps measured but determined. The hospital’s quiet atmosphere unsettled her, the sterile air tinged with a strange stillness. She cleared her throat softly before addressing the receptionist, a middle-aged woman with a no-nonsense demeanor. "Excuse me," Jasmine began, her voice steady though her nerves hummed beneath the surface. "I’m here to see Mr. Ronald Cooper. Could you please tell me which ward he’s in?" The receptionist looked up from her screen, her expression carefully controlled. She studied Jasmine for a brief moment, her gaze sharp and assessing, as though weighing her intentions. "First floor," she replied crisply, barely blinking. "Ward number 809. But make sure all your electronic devices are switched off before you enter. It’s hospital protocol." There was something in the receptionist’s tone—a slight edge, a warning cloaked in professionalism—that made Jasmine hesitate for a fraction of a second. But she quickly dism
★★★★Jasmine stood frozen, her heart hammering against her ribcage as the scene before her slowly sank in. "No... this can’t be real. I’m not seeing this," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she placed a trembling hand over her chest. Her once rosy cheeks had turned ashen, and her breath hung in the cold air like fragile wisps of mist. Her mind fought against the reality her eyes couldn’t deny, the sight of her father’s lifeless body sprawled out on the hospital bed.The doctor, his voice detached and clinical, broke the heavy silence. "His neck was broken, and there was significant internal bleeding in the brain. Those injuries were the primary cause of death."Jasmine snapped her head toward the doctor, her voice laced with a rising panic. "He was killed, wasn’t he?"The doctor met her gaze, his tone unwavering. "Such injuries aren't self-inflicted. Cancer wasn’t what ended his life."Her knees nearly buckled beneath her as she took in the cold, unfeeling truth. She turned b
★★★★★ Dante’s fingers hovered briefly over his phone, his thoughts racing as he dialed the number. The tension in his voice was unmistakable when the woman at the reception answered. "This is Dante Colley. I need to speak with my father immediately," he said, his voice cutting through the pleasantries, leaving no room for delay. The receptionist didn’t hesitate, recognizing the weight behind the name. "Yes, right away, Mr. Colley," she responded, quickly patching the call through to the boardroom where his father was entrenched in a high-stakes meeting. The boardroom was a sea of stern faces, the air thick with the unease that had settled in after the day’s shocking announcement. Among them, a middle-aged man who had been a loyal steward of the Colley family’s wealth for decades finally spoke up, his voice wavering with the gravity of the situation. "Sir," he began, addressing Dante’s father with a tone that mixed respect and concern, "I know I’m not in a position to demand answer
★★★★★ As Phil and Damon screeched to a halt outside the hospital, the tension between them was palpable. They barely managed to slam the car doors shut before charging toward the main entrance, their urgency clear in the hard set of their jaws. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with the sterile smell of disinfectant and the low hum of fluorescent lights. When they reached the reception desk, surprisingly it was a man sitting there instead of the woman who had guided Jasmine earlier. Phil leaned forward, his voice laced with an edge of impatience. "What is Ronald Cooper's ward number? And can you tell me if his daughter is with him?" The man, seemingly unfazed by the rush, glanced up briefly before turning his attention to the computer. His fingers danced across the keyboard with a disconcerting calmness. "Just a moment," he replied. After a few clicks, he finally spoke, his tone monotonous and detached. "Mr. Cooper was admitted five days ago, brought in by his daughter and mother. Th
★★★★★“Sir, I swear, I’m not lying,” the man gasped, his voice strained as Damon’s grip lifted him off the ground, his feet barely touching the floor. “I don’t know where she is. We saw her come into this room, but… but she never came out. I don’t understand it either, I—” The man’s words faltered as Damon’s hold tightened, his fear now mingling with confusion.Damon’s eyes blazed with fury, his voice low and venomous as he spat out his words. “She’s not a ghost. Someone took her, and you’re telling me you have no idea? In a hospital you work at? You think I’m going to believe that? You know this place inside out, and you know the people who run it. So start talking, or I’ll make you wish you had.”The man’s breath came in shallow, panicked gasps as he struggled to speak. “There’s… there’s a basement,” he choked out, his voice barely audible. “It’s… it’s hidden, behind that wall. It leads to a tunnel that goes straight to the road behind the hospital. The road… it goes to the docks by