Lyla's POVEverything was finally in place. The warehouse was packed with crates of the new drink, and the press had already arrived to cover the production of the latest strawberry-flavored beverage. It was an important day for the Karev family, one that would bring them both publicity and, hopefully, profits.Mr. Karev was present, of course, though he was accompanied by his mistress. Mrs. Karev, on the other hand, looked absolutely miserable, her frown unwavering throughout the entire event. It wasn't just because we had ignored her wishes—it was because the woman standing beside Mr. Karev, who was laughing and leaning into him, was none other than her old friend. The woman who had, years ago, swooped in to steal Mr. Karev away from her."Can you believe this?!" Sasha hissed, her voice dripping with disgust. "The audacity! Who does she think she is? Look at them! They're practically holding hands in front of everyone. This is not good for your image as the leader of the Universal W
Lyla’s POVI folded my arms across my chest, a habit that had become second nature when I was trying to hide my emotions. My arms were positioned firmly at breast level as I stared at Abel. A scoff escaped my lips before I could stop it.“What did you just say?” I moved closer to him, my eyes narrowing, trying to read his expression.“You heard me correctly, Lyla,” Abel’s voice was cold, almost mocking. “I’m going to tell my father and my uncle about Bailey’s kidnapping, and I’ll make sure they know exactly what you’re doing—all of this to get your sister out. How do you think they’ll react when they find out you’ve played them both twice? Do you really think the contract you have with Jace is enough to shield you from their wrath?”His words were meant to strike fear into me, but I wasn’t intimidated. I held his gaze firmly, my arms still crossed. I wasn’t afraid of him or his threats. Abel was many things, but he wasn’t someone who could rattle me. Not now, not after everything.Abe
Lyla's POV“Who were you talking to?” Jace’s voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. His anger was palpable, reverberating across the space between us. His hand clamped down on my arm, and for a second, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The grip was tight, almost possessive, and it reminded me of all the times before, when I’d felt trapped in this exact kind of moment—his fury, my frustration, the tension building between us. I fought to keep my composure, my chest tightening as I tried to pull away.“What are you talking about?” I snapped, my voice laced with irritation as I yanked my arm out of his grasp. The last thing I wanted was to be controlled by him in front of all these people. I didn’t need to explain myself, not to him, not anymore.“You better not play dumb with me,” Jace demanded, his voice rising. The more agitated he became, the more his grip tightened on my nerves. “I saw you talking to someone. Who was it?”“Let go of me!” I shot back, trying to break free. “Wh
Lyla’s POVI sat at the desk, the glow from my laptop illuminating my face as I finalized the work plan for the production. It was a delicate operation, and with the limited number of people available, we had to be meticulous. The fewer people involved, the better—it was a matter of discretion. And discretion was everything.I had spent the entire night working through the logistics, weighing every decision carefully. I knew we couldn’t afford any mistakes. The timeline was tight. While the original schedule predicted that this production would stretch over one or even two months, I had no intention of letting that happen. My goal was to finish within a matter of days, or at most, a week, if everything went according to plan. The longer it took, the higher the risk—and the more dangerous it became.I had already drafted the work plan, everything was laid out in neat columns and rows. Still, I needed to involve a couple of people who could handle the stress of such an intense operation
Lyla’s POVMy heart sank when the call dropped. I stared at my phone screen, willing the call to reconnect, but it didn’t. I desperately wanted to call back. However, I couldn’t—if I did, it would ring out loud, drawing attention and potentially blowing Bailey’s cover. That would put her in even more trouble, and I didn’t want that. I knew I couldn’t risk it.Without thinking twice, I grabbed my jacket and rushed out of my room, the cold air biting at my skin as I ran to Jace’s. I needed to talk to him immediately about the situation with Bailey. I knocked on his door with urgency, a sharp and frantic knock. As I stood there, I couldn’t help but wonder if Sasha was still on the phone. I could hear her voice from inside, speaking to someone. Most likely, it was Jace. But what could they be talking about at nearly 3 a.m., when they should both be asleep?The sound of footsteps behind the door made me tense up. Then, Sasha’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and irritated.“Who the he
Lyla's POV They froze when they saw me standing there in the doorway. Their eyes widened, both of them clearly caught off guard. I couldn't help but notice the lady's face. She looked… satisfied. It was like she had been expecting this moment, or perhaps even planned for it. But then, there was Collins. His expression shifted rapidly, his face draining of color as panic set in. He wasn’t prepared to see me here at the warehouse, especially at this ungodly hour. He looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack, discombobulated and completely off balance.Collins took a slow step toward me, as though trying to gather his thoughts, but I wasn’t in the mood to hear him out. I wasn’t about to play along with his excuses. Not now.“I swear it’s not what you think. This was a mistake,” he said quickly, his voice shaking with urgency. But before he could finish, the lady interjected sharply.“Oh, for the love of Christ! Just tell her the truth. You and I are still in love, and we want to
Bailey’s POVLife as a captive was not something I had ever envisioned for myself. Not in a million years. Growing up, I knew that life would throw challenges my way, but I never once imagined being used as bait to secure a deal between my husband, Jace, and his boss. My world had completely turned upside down.I was locked in a small, dimly lit room with two other women. One of them was pregnant, her stomach visibly swollen, a sign that she was months along. I could tell she was struggling, not just physically, but emotionally too. I had been silent for days, barely uttering a word to either of them. The only thing I could manage was to cry—long, deep sobs that seemed to echo in the room. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each more frantic than the last. The only thing that calmed me, if only for a moment, was the fact that they were feeding us well. The food was enough to keep us alive, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat. I was too terrified, too upset. I had no idea how long thi
Bailey’s POVI handed her the phone, watching her hands shake as she fumbled with the buttons, trying to dial the number. She pressed the digits with trembling fingers, her anxiety almost palpable. She tried the number once, but the call didn’t connect, and I saw the panic rise in her eyes."No! No! No!" she gasped. "This number is always active. This is the only way I can talk to my mother!" Her voice cracked, and she sobbed, her fear growing with each failed attempt."Just calm down," I said, trying to soothe her. "I’m sure it will connect. Try again."She nodded, though her face was pale with worry, and she got up from where she was sitting. Slowly, she walked toward the bathroom. I watched her move, hoping she would find a signal, and soon enough, I heard her voice echo from the doorway."I got a signal!" she called, her excitement ringing in the otherwise quiet room.I quickly signaled for her to lower her voice. "Shhh! Keep it down. They’ll have our heads if they find out I let
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
Becky’s POV The day of the custody hearing felt like the eye of a storm—quiet, but heavy with pressure. Cameras lined the steps of the courthouse. News vans had arrived hours ahead of dawn, crowding the sidewalk like vultures attracted to a newly found carcass. Becky was in the rear seat of a stationary car a block away, her fingers shaking even with the heat of the coffee she held. "She’s going to turn this over," Becky remarked, not glancing up. “She always twists everything.”Chad sat beside her, staring straight ahead. “She won’t this time. Not with the evidence we have.”Becky laughed bitterly. “You don’t know Lyla like I do.”“I married her,” Chad said.“No,” Becky turned to him, her voice soft but sharp, “you married the version of her she wanted you to see.”There was a pause. Then, Chad opened the door.“Let’s go get our daughter back.”Lyla arrived like a queen returning to her court. Sleek black SUV. Immaculate coat. Flawless makeup. Her legal team surrounded her like
Lyla’s POV Lyla was halfway through a business pitch when Chad suddenly barged into her office, unannounced.She raised an eyebrow but didn’t pause.“I need five minutes,” he said firmly.“Not now.” As you can see I'm in the middle of a very important meeting. You need to excuse me now. He didn't leave, rather he dropped a USB drive onto her desk.“You’ll want to see this.” he persuaded. Her tone changed. She nodded and signaled for her team to step out. There was a brief silence immediately the door shut behind them. Chad walked to the screen on her office wall and connected the drive.And with one click, the hospital video began playing.The screen showed Becky, panicked, tied up and restrained, crying out through sedatives. A nurse was forcing a document into her hand. And in the background—clear as day—stood Lyla.Unblinking. Watching. And doing nothing to stop the nurse. Lyla didn’t flinch, she only shuddered her shoulders. But her jaw and fist tightened.“You were there,” C