Karina's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Oh, Amira is so lucky to have you defending her," she purred, her words laden with sarcasm. Aidan, however, was focused on the task at hand. "You can file a case against Amira for attempted murder," he continued, his tone resolute. "But first, I need you to give us time. You took our house under my nose and took us unaware. My family can't leave in the next 24 hours,” he pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation as he stared at her, willing her to understand. Karina locked eyes with him, her expression unreadable as she considered his request. “So, Mr. Algernon, what do you seek?" Karina's voice dripped with smug satisfaction as she observed Aidan's discomfort. She enjoyed seeing him so hopeless and helpless. “I came to ask for more time to get the money and return it to you," Aidan responded, his tone laced with desperation. “Hmm, I guess I can consider it if you show some signs of seriousness." Karina's smirk widened as she gestured t
“What's this?” Cruzita's voice cut through the tension in the room as she held up the document, her brows furrowed in confusion.Aidan remained silent, gesturing for her to read it.Cruzita's eyes scanned the papers, her expression shifting from confusion to anger. “No!” she exclaimed, crumpling the document and tossing it aside.Wally stepped closer, concern etched on his face. “What's wrong, Mother?”Cruzita shook her head, her frustration evident. “This is absolute nonsense!” She shot a pointed glare at Aidan, who met her gaze with a somber expression.Xander picked up the discarded document and began to read it aloud, his voice trembling with disbelief.“That's outrageous!” Wally interjected, his voice tinged with anger. “We can't agree to these absurd terms, Aidan.”“Then consider yourselves unwelcome guests and get lost,” Karina's voice rang out from the doorway, causing everyone to turn and look at her as she entered the room.Karina came to a stop behind Aidan, locking eyes wi
Despite what was going on, Grandma Lila still couldn't accept anything detrimental to Karina. "Cole, do not say such things," She reprimanded her. "Aidan did what was right and humane...""But what about her, Mother?! She is demanding that we be her servants. Is that humane?!" Cole seethed."Oh, my ex-father-in-law, you have no right to speak about what is humane or inhumane," Karina stated nonchalantly, further fueling his disdain for her."That is enough, Karina," Aidan exclaimed, raising his voice. "Do not disrespect my father."Karina swiftly turned and fixed him with a gaze. "If you all cannot adhere to my terms, then you should leave my house to avoid further embarrassment and disrespect. Depart before noon tomorrow or I will make your lives unbearable...""You can't possibly do that!" Amira interjected, her voice cutting through the tension. Karina chuckled and turned to face her, a sly smile on her lips. They both started approaching each other. Amira and Karina stood face to
Aidan's senses tingled with an odd scent emanating from Amira, but he brushed it off, choosing instead to focus on the urgency of her departure. "Just go," he muttered, his voice strained with tension.Amira didn't hesitate to comply, hastily making her way towards the door. As she reached the stairs, relief flooded through her, and she let out a heavy sigh. However, her moment of respite was short-lived as Kayla ascended the stairs, her presence like an unexpected obstacle in Amira's path.Their eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, a silent exchange passed between them. Amira's gaze held a mixture of resignation and uncertainty, while Kayla's expression betrayed a hint of suspicion.Without a word, Amira turned away and continued down the stairs, her departure from the house shrouded in an air of unresolved tension.Amira's phone buzzed just as she reached for the door handle of her car. With a furrowed brow, she glanced at the screen, noting the unknown number flashing on the disp
Not accepting Amira's prolonged silence, Rie leaned in closer, her voice soft but insistent. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth," she urged, her eyes boring into Amira's.Amira shook her head in disbelief. "Aidan couldn't have possibly slept with Karina after he ended their marriage," she protested, her voice tinged with desperation.Rie let out a low chuckle, shaking her head in amusement. "You're so naive, Amira. Karina was already pregnant before their divorce," she revealed, her tone dripping with smugness.Amira's eyes widened in shock, a mixture of anger and regret flooding her senses. "If I had known, I would have put an end to Karina six years ago," she muttered bitterly, her fists clenched in frustration. But then, curiosity got the better of her, and she turned to Rie. "How do you know all this?" she demanded, her voice edged with suspicion.Rie's smile remained enigmatic as she shrugged casually. "I have my sources," she replied cryptically, refusing to divulg
A half-smile tugged at the corners of Amira's lips as she gazed at the tangible evidence in her hands. As if on cue, there came a knock on Amira's door. She hurriedly left the package and opened the door to find a delivery person standing there, holding yet another package. With a sigh, she signed for it and brought it inside. As she began to open it, her phone rang, and she saw Rie's name flashing on the screen. She had done well to save the number from last night. The moment the call connected, Rie spoke before Amira could. "Hey, I just wanted to let you know that the package you received contains a strand of hair," Rie said, her tone casual. "Do use it well.”As Amira examined the strands of hair in the sample bag, her frustration mounted at Rie's words.“Yeah, I can see that. But it doesn't look enough,” Amira complained with agitation. “Oh, really?" "What's the meaning of this, Rie?" Amira demanded, her tone laced with annoyance.Rie's response was dripping with sarcasm. "Uh-
Amira's expression turned deadly serious as she spoke, her eyes steeling with determination. "We need to meet and talk. This is serious."Rie's response was swift and confident. "I'm always available if it's business."With a nod of acknowledgment, Amira ended the call. As she stood there, alone in her apartment, she felt a surge of determination coursing through her veins. She spoke aloud to herself while gazing at her reflection in the mirror, her words echoing in the empty room. "Aidan belongs to me. He's my mission and forever goal. Nothing is going to make him slip from my grasp. Not Karina or some forsaken daughter of theirs on this planet."Her resolve solidified, and she began making plans, her mind already strategizing how to use this newfound information to her advantage. She knew she had to act fast before Karina could use Aidan's daughter as a tool against her.*******In the quiet corner near the staircase of the Everhardt mansion, Riley twirled around with a wide smile,
Sophie's words left Karina astonished and wordless as they locked gaze, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the air. She was speechless, her heart torn between her desire to protect her daughter and her overwhelming love for her.Regaining her voice and composure one more time, she cupped her daughter's face, offering a gentle smile. “Who told you that is why I want you to go back to London?"Sophie shook her head innocently. “No one. I just know that since I asked about Daddy the other day, you've been uncomfortable with me being around. You got angry then. Maybe you want to keep me away."Karina's lips parted in surprise before she managed to chuckle. “It's not because of that, honey.""Then grant my wish and let me stay here. I promise I won't bother you about Daddy's whereabouts.”At that moment, Karina realized that no matter how much she wanted to keep Sophie by her side but still wanted her to leave, she had to respect her daughter's wishes.Perceiving her mother'
A Few Months LaterLife had started to return to normal for Karina and Sophie. Sophie, with the help of therapy and the constant support from Aidan and Karina, had begun to heal from the trauma of her kidnapping. They spent their weekends visiting parks, and museums, and sometimes just enjoying quiet family picnics, which helped Sophie find joy again.Karina and Aidan, too, had found a new rhythm in their relationship. They decided to set aside their past differences and work together for Sophie’s happiness and welfare. Aidan's family, especially his mother, Cruzita, had also mended fences with Karina. The shared goal of giving Sophie a stable and loving environment brought them closer.Meanwhile, Lilly had undergone her transplant surgery, thanks to the Everhardt family's efforts in finding a suitable donor. Her recovery was a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.During these months, Anita and Amira faced their trials. Amira’s defense team, led by her best lawyers, had fought tirelessly t
The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of dread and desperate hope, a battle of wills playing out in the room.The men appeared, one of them carrying Sophie on his shoulder as she squirmed and cried. Karina called out desperately, "Sophie! Sophie!"Anita's expression turned concerned as she watched the scene unfold, her eyes flickering between Karina and Sophie. “I’m doing you the honors because I’m a mother too. Use this moment well and say goodbye properly to your daughter.” She signaled to the man, who dropped Sophie down and the other went and untied Karina. The little girl ran to Karina, her face tear-streaked and trembling.“Mommy, I missed you,” Sophie cried, trembling.Karina managed a smile through her tears, cuddling her daughter tightly.“Don’t worry, darling. I’m here. Nothing will happen to you.” She scanned Sophie’s face, then shot an angry look at Anita. “Why does my daughter look like this? What have you been doing to her?!”Anita shrugged nonchalantly. “Just keep
Karina watched with teary, weary eyes as Anita paced impatiently. Lucas stood nearby, his face a mask of frustration. Juliana returned, her face pale as she informed them that Lilly was ready.Lucas sneered at Anita. “Where are your men? They should’ve been here by now.”“They’re coming. They should be—” She was cut off by a knock on the door.Anita took a step forward, but Lucas stopped her with a raised hand. He went to open the door and returned with two burly men in tow.“What the heck kept you guys?” Anita snapped.“Sorry, ma’am. Traffic was a nightmare,” one of the men apologized.Anita hissed. “Fine. Lucas, they’ll go get Sophie now.”Lucas nodded, watching them head upstairs before turning his gaze back to Karina, who was sobbing and staring at him with a mix of sorrow and betrayal.“Lucas, I never thought you could do this to me,” she choked out, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and heartbreak.He leaned forward, feigning remorse. “I’m sorry, love. You know I ha
Anita asked, tensed, “What are we going to do?”“Tie her up!” Lucas commanded. He dragged a chair and placed Karina on it, securing her tightly with ropes. “Where are your guys who are supposed to take Sophie to the facility?” he grumbled.“They are on their way,” Anita muttered, nervously glancing at Karina.Lilly appeared, her eyes widening in horror as she saw Karina, who was now bleeding from the head. “Mommy, what happened to Aunt Karina?”Lucas flicked his gaze at the girl, snarling, “Ugh, this girl. Take her to her room and get her ready, Mother!”Juliana quivered and walked to Lilly. “Let’s go, my dear,” she said softly, leading Lilly upstairs as Lucas continued tying Karina to the chair.In the Everhardt mansion, Aidan walked into the house. “Where’s Karina?” he asked Gina.“She went to the office about 30 minutes ago,” Gina replied.He nodded and turned to leave but stopped as Georgia walked in with some files in her hands. “Georgia, have you seen Karina?” he quickly asked.
Aidan and Karina arrived at the Everhardt mansion, the tension palpable between them. Aidan got out of his car and quickly walked up to her, his tone urgent. "Karina, I think we should inform Inspector Kai."Her eyes widened in surprise. "No. We shouldn't.""What? Why?" Aidan asked, bewildered."Lucas is no fool," Karina explained, her voice steady but tense. "He might have figured that I didn't just come to his family's house looking for him. I'm sure Anita told him already that she saw me at the hospital, and then he figured out that he messed up by lying to me twice."Aidan shook his head in frustration. "So, what are we going to do? Stay calm when Sophie's earring was lying in their house?"She sighed deeply, struggling to keep her composure. "Aidan, we shouldn't react impulsively. Lucas shouldn't think that I'm suspecting him."Aidan eyed her with concern. "Are you scared of him or what?""I'm just considering the odds and possibilities now. What if… my daughter is in that house
Karina answered it, faking her cheerful voice. "Hello, Lucas.""Hi, Karina. Uh, sorry but you can't see Anita or Lilly."Her brows creased. "What? Why?""They left the country. They went to Switzerland.""But you said we could have dinner with them, Lucas.""Yes, I had no idea they left. I just called my mom and she told me about it."She nodded. "So, when did they leave?""Last night, yeah."She nodded. "Okay. It's fine. Let's talk later." She ended the call and groaned. "He lied again."Aidan asked, "What happened?""I saw Anita and Lilly less than an hour ago, and he said they left last night," she concluded.Aidan's expression turned grim. "He's definitely hiding something, Karina.""I feel so too. I need to go over to his family's house.""I'm coming with you.""But you're going to stay outside and hide. Paraventure Lucas shows up, he shouldn't see you."He agreed, and they left. Aidan followed Karina's car as she drove to the Salvatore Mansion.When Karina arrived, she placed so
The air in the room shifted, charged with a new, tense energy.Lucas's face darkened, his jaw clenched tightly."Karina?" he muttered, half to himself, half to Amira. The intimacy between him and Amira shattered instantly, replaced by a complicated mix of fear, guilt, and anger.Amira pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with surprise and worry. “What do we do?" she whispered, her voice trembling.Lucas took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Stay quiet," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. He disentangled himself from Amira, his expression hardening as he prepared to face whatever was waiting for him on the other side of the door.Lucas started heading to the door and halted. He spun and gestured at Amira to go hide somewhere. She quickly grabbed her clothes and ran off, her footsteps light as she disappeared into another room. He exhaled deeply, trying to steady himself."Lucas, are you there…?" Karina's voice was tinged with impatience."Uh, I'm coming!" he ca
Anita held Lilly’s hand tightly as they walked into an examining room in an extinguished hospital owned by the Algernon family. She had brought Lilly for a discreet proper checkup. She had been meticulous in ensuring this visit would be confidential, preparing for the upcoming transplant surgery. After the doctor had thoroughly examined Lilly, they all returned to his office, a tense silence hanging in the air.The doctor sat behind his desk, looking over Lilly’s charts before raising his eyes to Anita."So, Mrs. Anita, when is Lilly scheduled for the transplant?"Anita forced a smile, her mind racing for a believable answer. "We’re taking her to England for the transplant. A hospital there has found a suitable donor."The doctor frowned, clearly puzzled. "England? Which hospital, if you don't mind me asking? We need to transfer her medical records and ensure they have all the necessary information."Anita’s responses became increasingly evasive. "It's a private facility. They’ve as
Soon, Amira matched Lucas’s vigor, her enthusiasm doubling his pleasure. He growled and moaned, “Good girl, keep going.” She finished, then licked him from his V-line up to his chest, biting his nipples. Lucas groaned, his body tensing with the mix of pleasure and pain.“You’re not scared of me?” he muttered hoarsely.Amira smiled naughtily. “Why would I be? I know you won’t kill me.”He nodded, kissing her forehead. “I won’t. You're just different.” They started kissing passionately, their lips moving in a synchronized dance of lust and dominance. She asked between breaths, “How?”He chuckled, pulling back to look at her. “Everyone considers me a monster.”They locked gazes, Amira’s eyes piercing into his as she smirked. “We’re alike. Raymond used to be someone special to me before. I loved and adored him.” Her tone turned flat and callous. “But I killed him.”Lucas grinned. “I’m not like you, darling. I don’t kill the ones I love. Only those who give me trouble.”She started care