Back in the waiting area, Ivy paced nervously. She had just arrived, and the sight of her parents in such vulnerable states was terrifying. She hadn’t seen Ryan yet, and the thought of her brother lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, made her stomach churn.Suddenly, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out, expecting another message from Luca about the investors, but instead, it was a text from an unknown number.Ivy, the truth is closer than you think. Meet me at the hospital chapel. Now. Her heart skipped a beat as she read the message. What truth? Who could be sending this? Curiosity and fear mingled as she hesitated for a moment, then made her way to the chapel.When she arrived, she found the chapel dimly lit, with a single figure sitting in one of the pews. As she approached, the figure turned, revealing the same rugged man who had confronted Ryan at the warehouse.“You…” Ivy gasped, her heart racing. The man nodded, his expression grave. “It’s time
“Bella… Ryan was in an accident.”Bella’s world tilted. “What? When? How bad is it?”“Right after you called him,” Mrs. Rose explained, her voice breaking. “He was rushing home when he… he collided with another car. He’s in the hospital now, in critical condition.”“No, no, this can’t be happening,” Bella whispered, her hands trembling as she gripped the phone. “Where is he? Which hospital?”Mrs. Rose told her, and without another word, Bella hung up and scrambled out of bed, ignoring the pain that shot through her abdomen. She needed to see Ryan, to be with him. She couldn’t lose him too.At the hospital, Mrs. Rose was pacing the hallway outside the intensive care unit. Her usually composed demeanor was shattered, her face pale with worry. The doctors had given her little hope; Ryan’s injuries were severe, and he was fighting for his life.As she waited, Dr. Parker emerged from the room, his expression grave. Mrs. Rose rushed to him, clutching his arm. “Parker, how is he? Is he going
Mrs. Rose swallowed hard, fear tightening in her chest. “Alright. I’ll be there shortly.”As she hung up the phone, Mrs. Rose’s mind raced. What could the police possibly have on her family? And why was it so urgent that she come in now, of all times? She knew she couldn’t leave Ryan’s side for long, but something in the detective’s voice told her that this was important. Very important.She stood up, smoothing out her dress, and took a deep breath. “I’ll be back soon,” she whispered to herself before heading out the door.As Mrs. Rose arrived at the police station, Detective Harris greeted her with a somber expression. He led her to a small, private room where he closed the door behind them.“Thank you for coming, Mrs. Kendrick. I know this is a difficult time for you,” he began, his tone professional yet compassionate.“Just tell me what this is about,” Mrs. Rose replied, her nerves fraying with every passing second. The detective sighed, pulling out a file from his desk. “We’ve been i
The Kendrick Empire was theirs now, and they were reveling in their victory.As they drank and plotted, the conversation turned to their plans for the future. Victor, ever the strategist, began outlining the rebranding efforts they would undertake in the coming weeks.“First things first,” Victor began, his voice taking on a commanding tone. “We need to completely overhaul the company’s image. Kendrick Industries will be no more. Instead, we’ll launch a new brand, one that reflects our vision—our power.”What about the employees?” Lucas asked, his fingers tapping thoughtfully on the tablet. “We need to make sure we have the right people in place. Loyalists. People who will follow our orders without question.”Victor nodded in agreement. “We’ll clean house. Anyone who was too close to Kendrick, anyone who might still be loyal to him, will be let go. We need a fresh start, with people who understand who’s in charge now.”“And the assets?” Sam chimed in. “We should start liquidating some o
Ivy sat beside Ryan’s hospital bed after Bella left to go and rest at home, Ivy’s eyes red and swollen from days of crying. The room was eerily silent except for the steady beeping of the heart monitor, a sound that had become a cruel reminder of her brother’s fragile state. She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Ryan’s forehead, her hands trembling. "Ryan, you have to wake up," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You’re all I have left now. Please, just...wake up."Her thoughts drifted to their father, Mr. Kendrick, who lay in a coma just a few rooms down the hall. The news of Ryan’s accident had been too much for him, and now, the two men who were her entire world were hanging on by a thread. The weight of it all was unbearable. Ivy buried her face in her hands, her body shaking with silent sobs.Mrs. Rose stood by the window, staring out into the bleak hospital courtyard. Her face was a mask of composure, but inside, she was unraveling. The empire she and her husband had
"Luca, I..." Ivy began, but the words caught in her throat. "I don’t know if I’m ready for this. Everything is so...uncertain."I understand," Luca said softly, "but just know that I’m not going anywhere. I care about you, Ivy. More than you know."Ivy’s eyes filled with tears once more, but this time they were tears of gratitude. She leaned in and hugged Luca tightly, finding comfort in his presence. "Thank you," she whispered. "I don’t know what I would do without you.""You don’t have to find out," Luca replied, holding her close. "I’m here. For as long as you need me."They stood there for a moment, the chaos of the hospital fading into the background as they found solace in each other.Meanwhile, back in the hospital room, Mrs. Rose stared out the window, lost in her thoughts. The empire she had fought so hard to protect was in danger, not just from outside forces but from within. The secrets she and her husband had kept were threatening to surface, and she wasn’t sure if they cou
"You’re tougher than I expected," he said, taking a step closer. "But everyone has a breaking point. It's only a matter of time."Jessica’s resolve hardened. She had survived worse than this, and she would not let fear break her now. "What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.He crouched down in front of her, his eyes locking onto hers. "Information," he said simply. "And you’re going to give it to me."Jessica swallowed hard, her thoughts racing. "I don't know anything," she insisted, but the man shook his head."Don’t lie to me, Jessica," he warned, his tone turning cold. "I know who you are, and I know what you’ve been hiding."She felt a chill run down her spine. If he knew her true identity, then the danger was far greater than she had imagined. "Please," she whispered, "I have nothing to offer you."The man’s expression softened slightly as if he almost pitied her. "You underestimate your value, Jessica. There are people who woul
It was her.Jessica’s blood ran cold as their eyes met. She smiled, a cruel, triumphant smile that sent a wave of terror through Jessica’s body."Hello, Jessica," She said, her voice dripping with malice. "It’s been a long time."Jessica’s heart pounded in her chest. The past had finally caught up with her, and she knew, at that moment, that there was no escaping it.She stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with malevolence. "You should have stayed dead," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with venom. "But now that you’re here, I’ll make sure you wish you were."As her words hung in the air, Jessica felt a wave of despair wash over her. But deep within her, a spark of defiance remained. She would not go down without a fight. For Iris, she would endure whatever came next.And as she loomed over her, Jessica knew that this was just the beginning. The real battle had yet to begin, and she would need every ounce of strength she had to survive it.The sterile scent of antiseptic hu
Months had passed since Parker waited in vain for Ryan to come to his rescue. As the cold reality set in, the hope that had once flickered inside Parker’s heart dimmed until it was nothing but a distant memory. The prison walls around him felt like they were closing in, suffocating him with the weight of his past mistakes. Every day, he wondered if his son would ever come, but no sign of Ryan emerged. He had gambled on the wrong side of history, and now he was paying for it with every lonely second that ticked by.Meanwhile, Mrs. Rose Kendrick, once a woman of unmatched power and deceit, was locked away in her world of doom. She had seen the writing on the wall long before now. When the truth came to light, when all the lies she had crafted so carefully unraveled before her eyes, she knew no one was coming to save her. The empire she had tried to manipulate for herself and her lover Parker had crumbled. Her final days were filled with silence, the kind that came not from peace but
Ryan paced the length of his father’s study, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He held the hospital reports tightly in his hand, his knuckles white from the grip. The reports confirmed his worst fears—the man he had called his father for his entire life wasn’t his biological father at all. Dr. Parker was. The revelation had shaken him to the core, and he knew he couldn’t keep this secret any longer. He had to tell Mr. Kendrick.Taking a deep breath, he walked over to where Kendrick sat in his leather chair, his eyes already filled with concern. Kendrick had noticed Ryan’s turmoil the moment he entered the room, but he hadn’t pressed him to speak."Dad," Ryan began, his voice trembling slightly. He rarely ever called him anything but ‘Dad,’ but now, with this new information, it felt like a lie. Still, it was all he had ever known. "I received something today. It’s… complicated, and I don’t know how to explain it."Kendrick raised an eyebrow, worry etching deeper into his
The atmosphere in the house was finally calm, or so it seemed. After everything they had been through—the betrayals, the conspiracies, and the almost impossible escape from danger—Iris, Kendrick, and Jessica were relieved to be back home. The past few days had been nothing short of a nightmare, but now, with Ryan by her side, Iris felt like she could finally breathe again.Ryan had transformed into the kind of husband Iris had always dreamed of. He was attentive, caring, and endlessly devoted, especially when it came to their newborn. Late-night feedings and diaper changes—Ryan was right there with her, helping in every way he could. The chaos and distrust that once clouded their relationship were gone, replaced by a bond forged through hardship and love.One afternoon, as Iris cradled their baby on the living room couch, Ryan returned from the front door, holding a small package. There was no return address, just his name scribbled hastily across the front. He furrowed his brow as
The tension in the hospital room hung heavy as Iris took a deep breath and prepared to explain everything. The faces of those around her—Jessica, Ryan, Kendrick, and Ivy—were etched with a mixture of concern, curiosity, and shock. Ryan, especially, seemed anxious, as though every word Iris spoke would shift the very foundation of what he believed to be true.“I found out I was pregnant,” Iris began slowly, her voice steady but filled with emotion, “on the same day that Mrs. Rose asked to see me. She called me out of the blue and said she needed to talk. I thought it was something important about the family, but when I got there…” She paused, her gaze shifting to Ryan before continuing. “She told me to leave you, Ryan. She wanted me gone so you could be with Bella.”Ryan’s jaw clenched at the mention of his mother’s betrayal, but he remained silent, allowing Iris to continue.“I was devastated,” Iris admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “I didn’t know what to do, and on my way back t
The tension in the room had begun to settle after the police escorted Mrs. Rose and Dr. Parker out in handcuffs. The silence that followed felt like the calm after a storm, but there was still an air of unease.Mr. Kendrick stood in the center of the room, his expression heavy with guilt and regret. He turned toward Jessica, who stood with her arms crossed, looking as though she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him yet. Ivy and Iris, standing side by side, had barely spoken a word since everything unfolded.Kendrick cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m sorry,” he began, his eyes filled with sincerity as he faced Jessica and the twins. “Jessica, Iris, Ivy… I know words aren’t enough to make up for the years I’ve spent apart from you all, the lies, and everything else that’s happened. But please believe me when I say that I’ve regretted every single moment I wasn’t with you.”Iris remained silent, her face pale from shock, while Ivy’s gaze flickered between Jessica a
The room was suffocating. Ryan sat up straighter in his hospital bed, his eyes narrowing as Luca entered, his expression grim. The air felt thick with anticipation as everyone waited for the news. Luca cleared his throat and looked directly at Ryan. “The anonymous messenger? It was Sarah—your house help,” he said quietly. Ryan’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Sarah?” He glanced at Ivy, then back at Luca. “What do you mean? She’s just a housemaid. Why would she—" “She’s been traced and caught,” Luca interrupted his voice firm. “We got her while she was trying to flee the country. She’s been feeding information to your enemies, Ryan. She’s been working with Mrs. Rose.”The room went still. Ivy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, and Kendrick’s face drained of color. Mrs. Rose stood frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief as all eyes turned toward her.“What… what are you saying?” Ryan’s voice was low, but it shook with barely restrained anger.“She confessed everything,” Luca continued, h
The silence that followed Mr. Kendrick's confession was deafening. Everyone in the room seemed frozen, processing the weight of his words. Mrs. Rose’s face was a mixture of shock and rage, her hands trembling as she gripped the back of a chair for support. Ryan and Ivy exchanged uneasy glances, while Jessica stood still, her expression unreadable, though her eyes glistened with the pain of memories that had long since scarred her.Kendrick took a deep breath, his voice thick with regret as he continued. "I was in love with Jessica," he admitted, his eyes locked on the floor as if unable to meet anyone’s gaze. "We were both so young, and I couldn't resist her. But I was already married to Rose. There was no way I could marry Jessica. I was the heir to the Kendrick family fortune, and it would have been a scandal—a disgrace—to have an affair and a child out of wedlock."Rose scoffed, her voice laced with venom. "So instead, you chose to keep me in the dark and raise the child of your
The tension in the room was so thick it felt as though it could suffocate them all. Mrs. Rose stood frozen, her heart hammering against her chest as her eyes darted from Jessica to Kendrick and then to her children. Her worst nightmare was unraveling before her eyes, and there was no escape. Kendrick, too, was motionless, his face a mixture of disbelief and confusion. His eyes met Jessica’s, and a flood of memories rushed back—memories he had buried for years. He tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat."Je… Jessica?" Kendrick’s voice was barely above a whisper, his shock palpable. Ryan, standing by his father’s bedside, turned to Kendrick, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Dad, do you know her?"Jessica stood tall, her eyes blazing with the fire of long-buried resentment. She ignored Ryan’s question and locked eyes with Mrs. Rose, whose face was now dripping with cold sweat. Rose’s hands trembled as she took a step backward, her composure slipping with every second."No…
Mrs. Rose paced anxiously around the hospital room, her heels clicking against the cold tile floor. She glanced at her watch for the hundredth time, her impatience growing by the second. Where were Ivy and Ryan? What were they up to? Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the door open. She turned swiftly, only to see Ryan step into the room, followed closely by Ivy. Relief washed over her for a split second, but it quickly faded as she saw the grim looks on their faces. Something was wrong.“Where have you two been?” Mrs. Rose demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”Ryan didn’t respond immediately. His face was hard, his jaw clenched. Ivy, too, seemed distant, her eyes fixed on the floor as if she couldn’t bear to meet her mother’s gaze.Before Mrs. Rose could demand answers, a weak cough sounded from the hospital bed. Her husband, Mr. Kendrick, had woken up. Slowly, he turned his head toward her, his eyes filled with anger and betray