‘Yeah, that’s exactly the way I reacted to the news,’ Veronica said. ‘I don’t know how she got my phone number, but she did. She called me about an hour ago, said she’s back in Veridian. She went to the old Jansen family residence but the house was empty.’Of course it was.Alessia and Veronica had moved out a long time ago, whereas Brayden and Connie, its current occupants, had taken up residence in the city’s detention centre.‘What does she want?’ Alessia asked.‘She’s been asking about you and wants to meet.’Alessia’s mind whirred with conflicting thoughts.Miranda, their elusive mother, had reappeared after all these years.Memories surfaced, echoing the unsettling details Connie had shared about their mother’s past.‘Dad divorced my mother and married yours,’ Connie had said. ‘Miranda only stayed with him long enough to give birth to you and Veronica, then eloped with another man the moment Dad fell sick.’And then she said something even more astonishing.The revelation that A

The hospital bustled with activity, nurses and doctors scurrying about, their footsteps echoing in the sterile halls.Visitors shuffled in and out, their hushed conversations a constant reminder of the life she desperately wanted to return to.As Sirena plotted her escape, she noticed a loose vent grille near the ceiling.She flung aside the quilt and stood on the bed, trying to reach the grille.Before she could examine her potential escape route, however, she heard the door lock beep.Quickly, she jumped down and laid back in bed, feigning sleep.The door slid open, and a doctor entered with a calm and composed demeanour.‘Hi, Sirena, how are you doing? I’m Dr Reynolds. I’m here to talk to you, to help you figure out your problems and provide the support you need.’‘I don’t need a shrink,’ Sirena said defiantly.‘Your Aunt Elaine is a friend of mine. She asked me to come. She’s worried about you.’ Dr Reynolds’ presence, though professional, carried an underlying warmth that aimed to

Naomi stirred the simmering chicken soup, the aroma filling the kitchen with warmth.She glanced at Ralph, who was grabbing his keys.‘Ready to head to the hospital?’ he asked.‘Absolutely,’ Naomi replied, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘Hand me the thermos.’They were only allowed to visit Sirena once each day, the visit lasting no longer than half an hour.The doctor explained that the restricted visits were important to establish routine in Sirena’s life.As they prepared to leave, they heard a knock on the door.Surprised, they exchanged a puzzled glance before opening the door.Standing on their doorstep was Logan. ‘Can we talk?’Naomi and Ralph exchanged a wary look but nodded, allowing him inside.Logan took a deep breath, eyeing them both. ‘I’m sure you know why I’m here. I need Sirena to sign those divorce papers.’It had been almost three days since Sirena’s hospitalisation, and Logan had waited long enough.Naomi’s lips trembled. ‘Logan, we can’t believe you’ve moved on so

Naomi scoffed, bitterness lacing her tone. ‘Make things right? Can you bring back the peace we had before you barged in with your promises and complications?’Logan shook his head. ‘I can’t change the past, Naomi, but I can help with the present. Let me take care of Ralph’s medical bills. It’s the least I can do.’Her expression hardened, and she retorted, ‘Money won’t fix the damage you’ve caused. Sirena is missing, Ralph’s heart is failing, and our lives are in shambles. Don’t pretend you can fix it with a cheque.’Her words were still ringing in his head hours later.Logan stood on the roof, smoking, lost in thought, until his phone rang with an urgency that cut through the air like a serrated blade.He glanced at the caller ID, and a sinking feeling gripped his stomach as he answered.‘Logan, what the hell is going on?’ Albert’s voice, usually a bastion of calm, resonated with a furious edge. ‘Alessia called me, all cold and distant, calling me Mr Wilde instead of Grandpa. And she

The room was cloaked in a muted glow from the bedside lamp, casting a warm light on the framed photographs that adorned the walls.Sirena moved silently, her eyes scanning each corner of her parents’ room as she began the meticulous search for anything of value.Ralph was still in intensive care, which meant Naomi wouldn’t leave his side, giving Sirena the time she needed for a thorough search.Her fingers brushed against the cool surface of a polished wooden dresser, adorned with small trinkets that echoed the laughter of her childhood.A porcelain figurine, a relic from a family vacation, stood alongside a faded picture of her parents and a much younger Sirena.The memories were bittersweet, a reminder of the life she had left behind.As Sirena opened drawers with deliberate care, the soft rustling of papers mixed with the creak of aged furniture.In one drawer, she found a stack of handwritten letters tied together with a ribbon.Memories of birthday wishes, expressions of love, an