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
She gripped her hands tightly by her side, body tense as she stared down David.Slowly, David began to speak."It was a stormy night when Emilia fell and went into premature labor. Instead of calling an ambulance, she called your dad. Being friends with Emilia, your parents rushed to her aid. But on their way there, they got into a terrible car accident and died on the spot. And if you really want to get down to it, it was Emilia's unborn child that caused the accident. That child never should have existed, but it survived. And that child is her, Kisa."Gilbert's body shook violently, and his pupils shrunk in horror. Memories that he had buried deep inside came flooding back in fragments."Aunt Emilia is having a baby. If it's a girl, will you marry her?""No, I want her to be my little sister. Can we go see her, Mom?""Sure, but whether it's a brother or sister, you need to be kind to them.""Hurry, Emilia's in critical condition!"The family quickly piled into the car and dis
Gilbert's eyes were blank and devoid of any emotion, his body rigid and tense as if he was still ensnared in the grip of a terrible memory. Kisa was too scared to even make eye contact with him. Meanwhile, David was puffing away on his cigarette, feeling pretty pleased with himself.He sneered, "None of you losers will ever find happiness.""Enough." Madalyn's voice cracked with despair. "I caused all of this. If I hadn't schemed to get rid of you, you wouldn't have broken up with that rotten Emilia. And my son and daughter-in-law wouldn't have gotten into a car crash trying to save her and her unborn child. It's all my fault. Just kill me and spare my grandson. Damon treated Jensen so well, why can't you do the same for Gilbert? Just think about how Damon was, come on."David's eyes flickered with a hint of emotion. But suddenly, a loud commotion erupted outside the warehouse, and everyone turned to look at the door. Except for Sara, who had a dark gleam in her eyes. Two ragged fig
Carolyn and Christopher stood only three meters away from the door, blocking her escape. But if she tried to run, Carolyn and Christopher could ignite their explosives and turn her and Madalyn into dust. There was no hiding in the corner either. The explosives on their bodies could level the entire warehouse.Gritting her teeth, she growled at Christopher, "What the hell are you doing? Sharon's still in there. If you die like this, what will happen to her?"Christopher loved Sharon more than anything. So, she mentioned Sharon's name to try and snap him out of it. It worked. Christopher looked up at her with a hint of emotion and reluctance. Maybe he remembered she was his daughter too.But Carolyn's scream shattered the moment."Sharon was harmed by this lowlife. If she doesn't die, Sharon will never be happy. Damn it, they all deserve to die! They not only hurt Sharon but ruined us too. They all deserve to die!" Carolyn screamed, her red eyes focused on David.She even had a glim