Lyla’s POV“And where do you think you’re going dressed like that?” Mrs. Karev barked, her voice sharp and full of judgment. I could feel the tension in the room rise immediately, but I refused to let it affect me. I was done with being the subject of their games. There was a new layer of sarcasm in my voice when I replied, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.“To the supermarket, of course, to get groceries,” I said casually, adjusting my Rolex watch, feeling the weight of the fine jewelry on my wrist. My confidence was evident in every movement.“To the market? Dressed like this?” Sasha scoffed, rolling her eyes and gesturing toward me as though I were some kind of spectacle. She was clearly irritated, her discomfort palpable. It was obvious that seeing me look and smell so good, so put-together, made her uneasy. The air in the room was thick with their judgment.“Of course,” I shot back. “Or how else would you like me to dress? Like a street beggar? Or maybe you want me to look
Lyla’s POVChad didn’t look bad. In fact, he looked cuter than I had ever remembered him, even cuter than the last time I had seen him at the hospital. The way he stood there, his dark brown eyes now filled with a kind of vulnerability, was almost disarming. But I wasn’t ready to fall for it. Not again.“I didn’t know you were pregnant. You didn’t post it on your blog,” he said, his voice sounding almost too familiar, as if we were still friends—something I could never return to. There was no room for familiarity with a man who had betrayed me in ways too deep to ever forget.I stared at him coldly, a forced smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “You and your wife tarnished my image. You made the world hate me for no reason. You almost killed my blog with the lies you spread about me. So, what was there to post? So the world could drag me again?” I rolled my eyes, completely uninterested in whatever excuse he was about to offer.Chad's face faltered for a moment, but then he tried
Lyla’s POVI could feel my heart racing as Chad kneeled before me in the middle of the open space. I glanced around, hoping no one was watching too closely, but of course, they were. People were stopping, staring, some even pulling out their phones. This wasn’t how I imagined any of this would go. It certainly wasn’t how I wanted it to go.“Chad, what are you doing?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, though I could feel the frustration rising in my chest. “Please get up, this is not good. I know you’re sorry, but you don’t have to apologize like this. It’s going to ruin our reputations.”I tried to sound stern, but there was a flicker of emotion in my voice—something softer, something that reminded me of who we once were. He was still the man I had loved, the man I once trusted with all my heart. Seeing him kneeling before me now, in front of an audience, it just felt so… wrong. So out of place. He wasn’t supposed to be doing this. We were supposed to be beyond this, and yet here
Lyla’s POVThe tension in the room was suffocating. Jace stood in front of me, his body rigid with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. His dark eyes were locked on me, his brows furrowed in a scowl that made my heart race with both frustration and a strange satisfaction. I had never seen him so angry before, and somehow, that made me feel more in control. But the words that spilled from his lips were sharp and accusatory, each one hitting me like a slap to the face.“Do you have any idea what this will do to my reputation and the company?” His voice was strained, as if he could barely contain the rage simmering beneath the surface. “What the hell is wrong with you? What is it you're trying to do—frustrate me?”I was done being the silent one, the one who let him push me around and dictate everything about our relationship. This wasn’t about the company or his reputation. This was about his insecurities, his fear of losing control, and I wasn’t going to let him make me feel small a
Lyla’s POVJace left my room that night, but I could feel that something had shifted between us. He didn’t need to say it, and I didn’t need to admit it—he saw it in my eyes. The way I held myself, the way my gaze no longer softened when it met his. I had changed, and I knew it. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I wasn’t the same person I used to be. And Jace? He noticed. But I didn’t care anymore. I didn’t care that he knew.I had made a choice. If I wanted my man back, I needed to act tough. I needed to show him that I was no longer the same Bella who would roll over and let him walk all over me. I was done with that. But if things didn’t work out between us, that was okay too. The contract between us would eventually end, and I would be free to go my own way. I would move on, rebuild, and be stronger.I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to gather my thoughts. But then I remembered something. I needed to talk to someone, to bounce my thoughts off of someone who wouldn’t judge me.
Lyla’s POVSasha and Mrs. Karev were both furious when they saw Mrs. Maddy and the other maids standing in the entryway. They hadn’t expected Mrs. Maddy to return, and that fact alone sent Mrs. Karev into a boiling rage.“And who the hell asked you to come back? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to leave and never return!” Mrs. Karev barked, her voice dripping with venom. As she spoke, I descended the staircase, each step controlled, graceful, and filled with an undeniable aura of authority. My presence alone made the room still.My hair, which I had left loose over my shoulders, no longer concealed in a bonnet or scarf like they were used to seeing me, framed my face perfectly. The red gown I wore hugged my curves and subtly emphasized the baby bump that had been growing over the past few months. I moved down the stairs with purpose, feeling the weight of every eye in the room on me.“How dare you!” Mrs. Karev spat, her eyes widening in disbelief. “How dare you call her b
Lyla’s POV“What the hell is happening here?” I barked, my voice trembling with a mixture of confusion and anger as Sasha and Mrs. Karev threw my suitcase in front of me. The audacity they had was almost laughable. They expected me to cower in fear or, even worse, beg them for mercy. But that wasn’t going to happen. Not now. Not ever.I stood there, arms crossed, trying to calm the storm brewing inside of me. But it was hard. Really hard. I had put up with so much from these people already, and now they were crossing a line I hadn’t even known existed.Mrs. Karev, in all her self-righteous glory, glared at me. “You have to leave this house immediately! You’ve overstayed your welcome. Since you think you can do whatever you like, you might as well pack up and leave.”I couldn’t help myself. I burst out into uncontrollable laughter. It was the only reaction I could muster. It was just so absurd. There they were, thinking they had the upper hand, trying to push me out like I was some kin
Lyla's POVBack inside my room,I was just pacing around thinking of how manipulative Mrs. Karev could be just to continue having Jace under her control.How evil could she be and not to think of Sasha, a spoilt brat who's been forced by her mother and Mrs. Karev to marry a man who doesn't even give a fuck about her?I thought she was smarter, how dumb could she be?. No wonder Jace doesn't even pay her any mind.I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't hear the several knocks on my door.I was brought back to reality when Mrs. Maddy tapped my shoulder softly.Ma'am, I understand you're worried,I heard everything while I was in the kitchen.You don't need to give this people any chance to feel they've won.I _mean, I saw the fierce, bold and courageous beautiful woman a while back, who stood her grounds and made them understand the fact that no one can control her in her own house.Don't tell me that was all a farcade, don't let them see you this way, they'll definitely mock you.
Bailey's POV The guest bathroom was quiet, too quiet. Bailey stood over the sink, clutching her phone like it might burn her skin. Her thumb hovered over the number.“K.”No last name. No picture. No call history before now.She opened the contact.Nothing but a blank number. No clues. No metadata. Just one thing: the message had come from that number moments before the call was logged.Her heart thudded. She could hear laughter outside the door—her family, the new found peace. She didn’t want to disrupt that. Not again.But the name. "Protected Asset".Why her?There was a time when she believed everything Lyla told her. That they were simply survivors of a dangerous time. That they had gotten lucky. That the world was finally safe again. But the older Bailey got, the more her instincts sharpened—and they had been whispering for months now.There were gaps in her story.Memories that felt inserted. Emotions that didn’t align. And now this strange call that she didn’t make.Outside t
The Thanksgiving HourLyla's POV The scent of cinnamon and toasted rosemary drifted through the house like a calming melody, wrapping each room in a warmth that made time appear to stretch. The living room boomed with the soft hum of old jazz records playing on a speaker Lyla refused to replace. In the backyard, the kids laughed with joy, their laughter riding the swing set into the soft golden light of late afternoon.Inside the kitchen, Lyla stood over the mashed potatoes, her sleeves rolled up and her face dripping of sweat which she wiped off occasionally with her elbow.She stirred them methodically, humming along with the music while her apron—one Claire had gifted her years ago that read Master of the House—absorbs the chaos of cooking.“Hey!” Chad called from the stove at the other side of the kitchen. “Do sweet potatoes burn faster if you stare at them?”Lyla laughed. “Yes. The potatoes can sense fear.”Bailey entered with her hair up in a high ponytail and two pies balance
Bailey's POV The rain came down in a quiet drizzle as Bailey wandered the campus garden, the fog from her breath mingling with the early morning chill. Her textbooks were still in her bag, unread. Sleep had eluded her. Not from exams or stress.But because of that dream again.The same hallway. White tile. The same phrase clung into her memory like a scar.“She was never supposed to know.”She had not told anyone yet, not even Lyla. But last night, she had stayed late in the medical lab and submitted a sample for a DNA test—one she had been carrying around in her mind for months but never had the courage to confront.She will have the results by tonight.And a feeling deep in her chest told her nothing would be the same after that.Jace paced in the hidden room beneath the clinic. It had been two days since they found Becky’s twisted letter to Bailey, and still, the questions piled higher than answers.Lyla sat across him, surrounded by old files. A folder already damaged with water
Jace POV The next morning, the sun was already hot against the windows of Karev Medical & Wellness center. Jace had barely managed three hours of sleep.Lyla made him coffee while reviewing files. Neither spoke about the trapdoor, the lily, or the voice message just yet. Not until they had more information.The bell above the door chimed.Jace looked up—and froze.An elderly man in a tailored navy coat stepped inside. He walked with a slow, deliberate limp. Silver hair, sharp eyes. Something about him screamed military or something worse.The man held out a letter. “Dr. Jace Karev?”“Yes,” Jace said carefully.“I was told you’re the only one who can help.”Jace opened the letter.It was hand-written. “This man should be dead. On record, he is. But he isn’t. Help him—and you’ll start to understand what they erased from your past.Don’t trust the files.From_A Friend.”Jace gasped. “Who gave you this?”The man looked around nervously. “She told me to come here. A woman with short dark
Bailey's POV The emergency lights flickered in the archive room, throwing Bailey and Callum into crimson shadows. The girl—A-11—stood eerily calm between the cabinets.Bailey’s breath hitched. She couldn’t look away.Same height. Same build. Same eyes.But there was something off about her… like a reflection bent by time and darkness.“You’re lying,” Bailey whispered. “I don’t have a sister.”“No,” the girl replied coolly, “you have an upgraded prototype.”A-11 stepped forward, lifting a finger and tapping the metal case with a smug smile. “Everything you need to know about me is in there. Right next to the pages that say you were supposed to be terminated before age five.”Bailey recoiled. “Terminated?”Callum moved protectively in front of her.The girl chuckled. “Relax. You’re useful now.”Gunshots echoed again in the distance.“They’re coming,” she added. “You have two minutes before this place gets turned into ash. Make a choice, Bailey. Come with me—or die like the others.”Bail
Jace POVJace was overwhelmed at the quick completion of his clinic, one that he has always wanted to own but his father insisted he carries on with the family business after the demise of his elder brother.But right now, everything was finally falling into place and he couldn't be less excited.At last, he'll be able to practice as a neurologist, something he has wanted all his life.The morning air held the faint scent of rain, the pavement still damp from an early downpour. Jace stood just beneath the bronze plaque as the drill clicked off, leaving behind the last echo of steel on the brick.KAREV MEDICAL & WELLNESS CENTER Dr. Jace KarevThe words unscripted in gold glittered caught in the rising sun like a diamond carved into metal.He took a step back, arms crossed, heart beating just a little faster than he would like to admit. Not for the plaque—but for what it meant.A clean slate.He hadn’t told his father. He hasn't seen the need to. For once, Jace wasn’t chasing legacy. H
Bailey's POVIt was the beginning of the year in medical school,Bailey Turner had never been so excited as she would finally be a neurosurgeon, it's something she had wanted right from her childhood.She got to the gate and waited beneath the arch of St. Clair Medical School’s East Wing, the frosty morning air pulling at the tips of her chestnut hair. She gripped the strap of her schoolbag as though it were a soothing relief to the tension already building within her and gazed up at the building's glass exterior. Rain had created lines on the surface resembling ghost fingers. She took a deep breath.This wasn’t just any school. It was the dream Claire had whispered into her ear since childhood. It was the life that had almost been stolen from her again and again—by shadows, betrayal, and secrets that still clung to her skin like smoke.Now? It was hers.She stepped through the door, clutching the faded photo of her, Lyla, and Claire one last time before sliding it into her coat.Room
Becky’s POV “No, this is unacceptable. None of this makes sense,” Becky said, her voice raised as she ransacked her old hospital files. “If we are not her parents, then where did she come from?”Chad lifted a dusty box marked “Olivia – Birth.”Inside were photos, documents, the footprint card… and then—“Where’s the birth certificate?” he asked.Becky froze.“I… it was always there.”They tore through every folder, drawer, envelope. Nothing.Chad turned pale. “She must have taken it.”“Lyla?”He nodded. “She knew this day would come.”But Becky noticed something else in the box—a small piece of paper tucked inside a baby photo. It wasn’t handwritten. It was typed, and it was coded.It read:"Room 408. 11:47 p.m. Not the one she expected. Claire switched the vial."Becky’s eyes widened. “Claire again.”She immediately pulled out her phone from her purse and dialed a number. “Who are you calling?” Chad asked inquisively. “An old contact,shs said. Someone who worked night shifts that
Lyla’s POV Lyla rose from her seat. This time, her expression faltered —just slightly.“She was never supposed to be mine,” she began quietly. “When I found out Chad cheated, I was furious. I wanted out, but I couldn’t lose everything at once. I had just discovered he was infertile.”Becky stared at her. “So you stole—”“No,” Lyla interrupted. “I made a deal.”She turned to the judge. “That hospital wasn’t just where Becky was restrained. It was where I paid to have her artificially inseminated.”Gasps exploded in the courtroom.“What?” Chad stood again. “That’s not possible. That’s not—”“She signed consent while sedated,” Lyla said. “Technically, the paperwork was in order. I chose the donor. I ensured the embryo was viable.”Becky clutched the side of the wooden chair to keep herself from falling.“You turned me into a surrogate?”Lyla didn’t blink. “You were already falling apart. I gave you purpose.”The judge stared in horror. “This… This is a criminal offense. This is beyond