Hollis***The weight of the world pressed on my shoulders as the echoes of the media report faded into the oppressive silence of the hospital hallway. Kevin stood beside me, his face a portrait of concern and disbelief, but there was something else in his eyes—something that resembled determination. I knew then that I wasn’t alone in this fight, but that didn’t ease the dread gnawing at my insides. The battle ahead was going to be the hardest one I had ever fought.“I’ll get the files, Hollis,” Kevin said, his voice low and steady. “We’re going to find the truth, and we’ll find a way to clear your name.”I nodded but didn’t answer immediately. My mind was racing, going over everything that had happened—my wife’s death, Justin’s murder, the affair with Hailey, the attack on my family. The threads were beginning to pull tighter around me, and I could feel the suffocating grip of the situation. I had to stay focused, or I’d lose myself entirely.Kevin’s phone buzzed in his pocket, pullin
Hollis***The cold air outside the building did little to soothe the boiling rage inside me. I walked beside Kevin, who had come to pick me up in his car, trying to calm my racing thoughts. The heated argument from earlier still echoed in my mind, making it hard to focus on anything else. My mind raced with thoughts of the battle ahead. The board was too eager to see me step down as CEO, and I knew they would stop at nothing to achieve their goal. Not with the old man behind the scenes, whispering poison into their ears and fueling their ambition with lies and deceit. I clenched my fists, bracing myself for the challenge ahead, ready to protect my position within the company.“Hollis…”I froze mid-step. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as the unmistakable voice of my uncle sliced through the night, carrying a venomous tone that made my blood run cold. Kevin’s expression darkened, but before either of us could react, my uncle emerged from the shadows, his presence looming like
The cold night air slammed into me as the car door shut behind me. Kevin had left without a word, sensing my need to be alone. I didn’t blame him; I needed space to breathe, to think, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was suffocating. The weight of the confrontation with my uncle was a physical thing, an invisible pressure on my chest that made it hard to move, hard to think. I stood in front of the building for a moment, letting the silence settle around me. The city buzzed in the distance, oblivious to the storm inside me. My mind, though, was a battlefield. My uncle’s words replayed over and over again, each time sharper, more cutting. You’ll lose everything, and you’ll die alone. Just like your father. Alone. Broken. I felt his presence in my bones, his fury a shadow that loomed over every moment. There was no escaping him, no running from the storm he was brewing. And the worst part? I wasn’t sure I had the strength to face it. I walked aimlessly, needing the motion
Hollis*****The sterile, whitewashed walls of the hospital loomed as I made my way through the dimly lit corridor. The muted beeping of machines and the soft murmurs of nurses felt suffocating, each sound dragging me closer to a place I wasn’t ready to face. My steps faltered as I reached the door to Hailey’s room. I stood there for a moment, my hand trembling on the handle. I didn’t know if I could go inside.The night’s events had carved deep gouges into my soul. My uncle’s words haunted me like a ghost, each syllable echoing: You’re already broken.But I wasn’t alone. Not really.I opened the door, and the sight of her hit me like a tidal wave. Hailey sat propped up on the hospital bed, her auburn hair spilling over her shoulders, her face pale but resolute. Bandages peeked from beneath her hospital gown—a stark reminder of the nightmare she had endured. Yet her eyes—those fierce, stormy eyes—locked onto mine with unshakable strength.“You look like hell,” she said softly, a faint
Hailey****The tension in the air was thick, like the hospital room was closing in on me, each breath shallow and difficult. I watched as Hollis stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall, distant and rapid. The door slammed shut behind him with a finality that left my chest tight.I should’ve stopped him, but I knew better. He had to process it, even if it hurt. Summer and Max—gone. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the suffocating panic. I had to stay strong. For them. For Hollis.I sat up in bed, pain coursing through my chest, but I pushed it aside. This wasn’t about me anymore. It was about getting my kids back. I couldn’t just lie here, helpless. I needed to act.I managed to pull myself out of the bed, the room spinning slightly, but I steadied myself against the wall. I was weak, but there was no time to waste. I needed to be there for Hollis, to hold on to whatever strength I had left. As I crossed to the doorway, I saw him. He was standing at the end of the
****Hailey****The hospital room was eerily silent after Hollis left, his absence creating a void that felt almost physical. I sat back down, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. My chest throbbed, a cruel reminder of the gunshot wound that had put me here in the first place. But my mind was far from the pain—it was on my children.Summer and Max were out there, scared, alone, and depending on us. Hollis was determined to bring them back, and I had no doubt he would stop at nothing. But I couldn’t just sit here, idle and helpless. I reached for the phone on the nightstand and dialed the one number I thought might help."Kevin?" I asked, my voice trembling as I tried to steady it."Hailey? What’s wrong? Are you okay?" Kevin’s familiar voice filled the silence, concern evident in every word."It’s the kids," I said, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. "Summer and Max. They’re gone. Derick took them to the safe house, but now they’ve disappeared."Kevin was silent for
Hailey***The weight of Louise's words pressed down on me like a physical force. The video of my children replayed in my mind, Summer’s protective embrace around Max, her tiny face drawn with fear and determination. The image of their frightened eyes made my heart break all over again. I had to act quickly, but I couldn't do this alone.I felt the cold sweat on the back of my neck as I stared at the phone, the taunting laughter still echoing in my mind. I had to tell Hollis. I had no choice. He had to know about Louise’s ultimatum. The thought of what I was about to do gnawed at me, the lies and the manipulation, but I was a mother—my children needed me.I dialed his number, but my fingers trembled too much for the call to go through smoothly. When I finally heard his voice, it cracked the tight, suffocating knot in my chest."Hailey, what’s wrong?" Hollis asked, his voice a sharp contrast to the calm I was trying to maintain."Louise," I whispered, swallowing hard. "He has them.""Ha
Hailey****The darkness inched closer, creeping like a shadow over my vision. My lungs burned for air as Louise’s grip tightened, his fingers digging into my neck with terrifying precision. I gasped, struggling against the crushing hold, my head spinning, but his cold voice echoed in my mind like a hammer striking steel."Let Hollis see what happens when someone messes with me," Louise whispered, his breath foul and mocking in my ear.My fingers clawed at his wrist, desperate to break free, but my strength was fading. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. A distant part of me heard the faint buzz of my phone in my pocket—Hollis’s message. "I’m coming, Hailey. Just hold on." But could I hold on?Just as the edges of my vision blurred completely, a deafening crash broke through the suffocating silence. The door exploded open with such force that the hinges flew off the frame. A blur of motion followed—a dark figure charging toward me.Louise’s grip loosened for just a moment, and I drew i
Hailey****The mansion seemed to close in with every step, its air thick with mildew and the musty scent of decay. The halls stretched out endlessly, oppressive in their silence. Hollis was tense, every movement sharp, his grip on my hand tight. The weight of his past hung over him, but we couldn't let it consume us now—not when we were so close.We rounded another corner, and the hallway ahead was swallowed by darkness. At the end, a door was cracked open, a thin line of light seeping through. Hollis’s gaze fixed on it, his unease palpable. He paused, a flicker of dread crossing his face, as if some unspoken warning pulled at him."Stay close," he murmured, voice low but urgent. He tightened his hold on me as he pushed the door open.The door groaned as it moved, the sound echoing through the empty halls. Inside, the room was cold and musty, an air of neglect hanging heavy. It had once been opulent, but now it was a shell of its former self. Faded portraits lined the walls, peeling w
Hailey*****The cold night air bit into my skin as we stepped out of the crumbling building, the taste of dust and decay lingering in my mouth. Louise’s words—his mocking laughter—still hung in the air, a dark echo that clung to us like smoke, refusing to fade in the thickening silence. Hollis moved like a man possessed, his hand gripping mine with the kind of strength that warned me not to let go. His pace was relentless, his eyes blazing with fury, but there was something else in them—something darker, something I had never seen before."I won’t let him win," Hollis muttered, the words barely a whisper but filled with a chilling promise. "I won’t let him take them."I knew he wasn’t just talking about Summer and Max. This wasn’t just a fight for their safety—this was about his past, the ghosts that had been haunting him for years. And somewhere, deep down, I feared those ghosts might swallow him whole before we could save anyone. Louise had been playing a game with Hollis for years,
The hospital corridor was quiet, save for the faint hum of fluorescent lights. Louise Lacroix shuffled into the visitor’s lounge, the stillness of the room a rare comfort. The polished wood of the cane in his hand gleamed faintly in the dim light, its tap against the tile a sharp counterpoint to the silence. He settled into the worn leather chair, his weary body sinking into it with a sigh. His reflection in the glass was a ghost of a man—pale, gaunt, a shadow of the power he once wielded. But his mind remained sharp, still a force to be reckoned with.As he stared out the window at the bustling city below, his thoughts turned inward, a familiar game of strategy playing out in his mind. The Lacroix empire—his legacy—was his greatest triumph. And like any great strategist, he viewed those around him not as family, but as pieces on a chessboard. Every move, every sacrifice, had been for this—power, control, dominance.The echoes of past decisions reverberated in his mind, each one etche
Hailey****Louise’s bitter laughter echoed off the cracked walls like a cruel symphony. I clung to Hollis, still trembling from the attack, though my heart now raced for an entirely different reason—the impending truth, no matter how dark.Hollis stood rigid beside me, his fists clenched and his jaw tight. His gaze bore into Louise with unrelenting fury. "If you’ve got something to say, say it," he growled. "Stop playing games."Louise tilted his head, his bloody lips curling into a smirk. He seemed to revel in the tension, feeding off our anguish. "Very well," he hissed, his voice a venomous whisper. "You want the truth? It starts with Henry—your father, my son. The man who, in your eyes, was a failure. But did you ever ask yourself why I hate him? Why I’ve made it my mission to destroy not just him, but you too?"Hollis flinched, his breath hitching. "I don’t care about your grudges," he spat. "You’re a monster. That’s all I need to know."Louise’s laughter returned, quieter but no
Hailey****The darkness inched closer, creeping like a shadow over my vision. My lungs burned for air as Louise’s grip tightened, his fingers digging into my neck with terrifying precision. I gasped, struggling against the crushing hold, my head spinning, but his cold voice echoed in my mind like a hammer striking steel."Let Hollis see what happens when someone messes with me," Louise whispered, his breath foul and mocking in my ear.My fingers clawed at his wrist, desperate to break free, but my strength was fading. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. A distant part of me heard the faint buzz of my phone in my pocket—Hollis’s message. "I’m coming, Hailey. Just hold on." But could I hold on?Just as the edges of my vision blurred completely, a deafening crash broke through the suffocating silence. The door exploded open with such force that the hinges flew off the frame. A blur of motion followed—a dark figure charging toward me.Louise’s grip loosened for just a moment, and I drew i
Hailey***The weight of Louise's words pressed down on me like a physical force. The video of my children replayed in my mind, Summer’s protective embrace around Max, her tiny face drawn with fear and determination. The image of their frightened eyes made my heart break all over again. I had to act quickly, but I couldn't do this alone.I felt the cold sweat on the back of my neck as I stared at the phone, the taunting laughter still echoing in my mind. I had to tell Hollis. I had no choice. He had to know about Louise’s ultimatum. The thought of what I was about to do gnawed at me, the lies and the manipulation, but I was a mother—my children needed me.I dialed his number, but my fingers trembled too much for the call to go through smoothly. When I finally heard his voice, it cracked the tight, suffocating knot in my chest."Hailey, what’s wrong?" Hollis asked, his voice a sharp contrast to the calm I was trying to maintain."Louise," I whispered, swallowing hard. "He has them.""Ha
****Hailey****The hospital room was eerily silent after Hollis left, his absence creating a void that felt almost physical. I sat back down, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. My chest throbbed, a cruel reminder of the gunshot wound that had put me here in the first place. But my mind was far from the pain—it was on my children.Summer and Max were out there, scared, alone, and depending on us. Hollis was determined to bring them back, and I had no doubt he would stop at nothing. But I couldn’t just sit here, idle and helpless. I reached for the phone on the nightstand and dialed the one number I thought might help."Kevin?" I asked, my voice trembling as I tried to steady it."Hailey? What’s wrong? Are you okay?" Kevin’s familiar voice filled the silence, concern evident in every word."It’s the kids," I said, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. "Summer and Max. They’re gone. Derick took them to the safe house, but now they’ve disappeared."Kevin was silent for
Hailey****The tension in the air was thick, like the hospital room was closing in on me, each breath shallow and difficult. I watched as Hollis stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall, distant and rapid. The door slammed shut behind him with a finality that left my chest tight.I should’ve stopped him, but I knew better. He had to process it, even if it hurt. Summer and Max—gone. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the suffocating panic. I had to stay strong. For them. For Hollis.I sat up in bed, pain coursing through my chest, but I pushed it aside. This wasn’t about me anymore. It was about getting my kids back. I couldn’t just lie here, helpless. I needed to act.I managed to pull myself out of the bed, the room spinning slightly, but I steadied myself against the wall. I was weak, but there was no time to waste. I needed to be there for Hollis, to hold on to whatever strength I had left. As I crossed to the doorway, I saw him. He was standing at the end of the
Hollis*****The sterile, whitewashed walls of the hospital loomed as I made my way through the dimly lit corridor. The muted beeping of machines and the soft murmurs of nurses felt suffocating, each sound dragging me closer to a place I wasn’t ready to face. My steps faltered as I reached the door to Hailey’s room. I stood there for a moment, my hand trembling on the handle. I didn’t know if I could go inside.The night’s events had carved deep gouges into my soul. My uncle’s words haunted me like a ghost, each syllable echoing: You’re already broken.But I wasn’t alone. Not really.I opened the door, and the sight of her hit me like a tidal wave. Hailey sat propped up on the hospital bed, her auburn hair spilling over her shoulders, her face pale but resolute. Bandages peeked from beneath her hospital gown—a stark reminder of the nightmare she had endured. Yet her eyes—those fierce, stormy eyes—locked onto mine with unshakable strength.“You look like hell,” she said softly, a faint