Early morning, the alley was quiet. Kisa followed the man in silence. She quickened her pace, hoping to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Gilbert, but he matched her speed.'Well, he hates me to the core now, so it's a miracle he even took me out. So why would he bother with me?' she thought to herself.After passing through three small alleys, they emerged onto an old street with food vendors on either side. Gilbert wordlessly bought a few sandwiches and two cups of orange juice.When the sandwiches and orange juice were handed over, Kisa was overjoyed and smiled at him, "Thank you."Gilbert avoided eye contact and replied in a monotone voice, "I'm just worried about my child going hungry." He then walked toward a small pharmacy not far away.Kisa pursed her lips and smiled, quickly following him."Symptoms?" the pharmacist glanced at Kisa's belly and asked.Kisa thought for a moment and said, "Occasional sharp pain and tightness in my belly, and a bit of spotting the night before
The house looked like it had been through a tornado. The furniture was tossed around like a game of dominoes, and broken dishes littered the floor like shattered dreams.Gilbert raced upstairs at the sight of the chaos, leaving Kisa standing there stunned. She felt a sinking feeling in her heart, sensing something was terribly wrong.Upstairs, Gilbert's voice echoed through the hallway as he frantically called out for his grandmother. Kisa's hand felt icy cold as she followed him up the stairs, stepping over bloodstains and signs of a violent struggle.There were four rooms upstairs, and as Kisa reached the landing, Gilbert came running out of Sara's room, his face a mask of panic and fear. He shouted "Grandma" over and over again, but there was no answer.Suddenly, there was a loud noise coming from Thomas's room. Kisa's heart leaped, thinking maybe Thomas had managed to escape. But as she rushed into the room, she saw Kelvin instead. Kelvin was injured, with blood streaming from
Kisa spun around frantically, only to come face to face with Thomas. Despite his sickly pallor, he looked better than he did the day before. And as soon as she saw him, she saw a glimmer of hope. She was convinced that Thomas was the only one who could clear her name. She seized his hand and demanded, "What's going on? How did David manage to track us down?"Thomas grinned at her, a tender and loving smile that made him look like a caring brother. But his words were like a sledgehammer to Kisa's heart. "David's caught Madalyn, so we don't have to keep up the charade anymore," he said.Kisa's face went ashen, and she asked, her voice quivering with tension, "What are you talking about?""Your plan was a smashing success. David nabbed Madalyn in record time, and he is thrilled. He wants to reward you. So come on, and let's go," Thomas said, trying to tug her along."That's enough! What plan? What reward? Why are you trying to defame me? Why are you out to get me? You're my brother, f
The deserted alleyway echoed with the sound of a resounding slap that shattered the silence.Kisa's eyes narrowed as she glared coldly at the man before her. "Why are you trying to smear my name?"Thomas tilted his head, a reddish-purple handprint swelling on his cheek. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, his voice tinged with guilt.Kisa laughed bitterly, a sad smile spreading across her face. "Your apologies mean nothing to me. I thought I had family in this world, but you betrayed me. You chose to stand with your biological father, and for what? To frame me? Why, Thomas? Why would you do this to your own sister?""Because I'm not your brother!" Thomas interjected, his voice low and firm.Kisa's eyes widened, shock written all over her face. "What do you mean you're not my brother?"Thomas suddenly fell silent, his eyes avoiding her gaze.In an instant, Kisa lunged forward and grabbed his arm tightly. "Then who are you? Where's my brother?" she demanded, desperation creeping into her voi
David lowered his eyes and let out a low, sinister chuckle. "Compared to the hell I went through back in the day, this punishment is a goddamn joke." He signaled for his bodyguard to unlock the door.As the iron door creaked open, a voice filled with rage and fear echoed from inside. "Who are you people? Why did you snatch me up like this?"The warehouse was bare, but it had a bed and a shoddy table piled high with enough food and supplies to get by. Sara was locked up in there too, and Madalyn lay on the bed with Sara helping her sit up. When Kisa walked in, Madalyn froze like a statue, but Sara did not miss a beat.She shot daggers at Kisa and spat out, "What the hell are you doing here, Kisa? Did you really team up with these goons to hurt Mrs. Kooper Sr.? How could you be so heartless? She's everything to Gilbert, and you're putting him in danger, you scum."As Sara tore into Kisa, Madalyn's face contorted with rage. "You despicable creature! You're just as venomous as your tra
"Why can't we go back?" Madalyn asked, urgency lacing her voice. "If we return to the Kooper residence, things can be just like before. You still have Jensen, and you—""Enough!" David cut her off with a snap, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Damn, you've really lost your edge. You're a smart cookie, how did you not figure out that I'm the one who kidnapped you, and that I'm behind the fall of GK? I set it up so your precious grandson would have nothing, and I took over the Kooper residence, leaving you and your grandson with no place to go. You're just trying to suck up to me, flatter me, and even repent, all to save your grandson's *ss. You used to be all about your son, but now you only care about your precious grandson. Jensen and I are just pawns in your perfect little game, am I right?"Madalyn looked at him with a complicated expression, unable to say a word. Finally, her feeble voice broke the silence. "I know I messed up, and if you want to get back at me, then do it. Just s
David had barely finished speaking when a familiar voice echoed through the doorway, sending a jolt through Kisa's body. She spun around to see Gilbert standing there, but he paid her no attention. Instead, his eyes were fixed on Madalyn with a look of panic."I'm here. Let my grandma go," Gilbert barked at David.David snickered. "You've got it all twisted. I didn't bring you here to bargain for her freedom."Gilbert's brow furrowed, and his eyes turned icy. "If you lay a hand on my grandma, we'll both go down in flames."David let out a chuckle. "Wow, talk about family ties."Madalyn clutched David's arm, pleading with him, "David, please don't do this. It was my fault. Forgive him, forgive yourself. Let me take the blame. Please, let him go.""Enough!" David brushed her off in indignation.Madalyn backed away, and Gilbert quickly rushed over to support her. He glared at David."What do you want? Spit it out. Even if you want my life, I'll give it to you, but let my grandma g
Gilbert furrowed his brow, and his eyes darted toward Madalyn, who was now white as a sheet. She frantically shook her head at David and pleaded, "No, don't say it..."David only laughed harder.The more terrified Madalyn became, the more David relished in her fear. He turned to Gilbert and said, "Because, you know what? This woman is the one who killed your biological parents.""Biological parents?" Gilbert mumbled, his mind conjuring up gruesome and gory images. His head pounded with a cacophony of sharp, piercing sounds, and his scalp tightened with every beat of his heart.He held his head in agony, struggling to catch his breath, as Madalyn clung onto him, desperately trying to comfort him. "Gilbert, don't think about it, don't think about it. It's going to be okay. Everything will pass."But David only sneered at Gilbert's pain and misery. "Did you really think you could escape the truth about your parents' tragic deaths? Your mother loved you so much that she held you until