Mya was consumed by guilt. She questioned if the situation could have been averted had she not passed the note to Madelyn.As Kennedy escorted her out of the hospital, Mya wiped away her tears and suddenly shoved him, her face flushed with anger. "This is your fault. If you hadn't insisted on me giving Madelyn that note, she wouldn't be in this mess.""Give her back!" Mya cried out in despair.Kennedy's eyes were heavy with regret as he murmured an apology, "I'm sorry, Mya. I never thought things would turn out this way."'She must have seen those emails I sent.' He wondered if his emails had been the catalyst."Sorry? You knew, Kennedy! You knew Madelyn was sick. Why did you have to upset her? Ethan is gone, so what? Couldn't you have waited until she recovered to tell her? Now the doctors aren't sure she'll even regain consciousness. What am I supposed to do? She's my only friend. Please, keep your distance. This is on you."The raised voices drew a nurse's attention, leading t

A reporter asked, "Ms. Smith, the international news reported that Ms. Jent's artwork was just awarded the gold prize in Libertyville. What are your thoughts? Do you think your art could surpass hers?" a reporter asked.Ignoring the question, Serena donned her sunglasses and walked away, flanked by her bodyguards. She snapped, "Make sure those reporters who just asked those questions won't show their faces around me again.""Yes, Ms. Smith."'Madelyn Jent? The Jent family was nothing now. How is she an heiress? She only depended on that freeloading Zach of hers!' Serena thought to herself. She found herself feeling superior, almost triumphant, thinking about the Jent family's downfall."Make sure this afternoon's papers please me. I don't want to see that wretched name in them," Serena warned."As you wish, Ms. Smith."When Serena returned home, her mother, Zoe Parker, looked at her transformed face with dismay because it reminded her of someone from the past. While sitting on th

As luck would have it, Zach returned to the room just in time to see the door slightly open. His expression grew stern. He turned to the bodyguard and asked icily, "Who's been here today?""Margaret came in after her trip to the market. No one else," the bodyguard responded.Unconvinced, Zach decided to review the surveillance footage. The image of the child on the screen caused his frown to ease. Dalton had slipped his mind; amidst the chaos of Madelyn's illness, Zach had overlooked the boy.In the mall, Serena was picking out gowns for the upcoming art exhibition. She tried on several but noticed they didn't fit quite right around her waist. For a moment, she toyed with the idea of breast augmentation but quickly dismissed it. Eventually, she settled on a white gown that flattered her shape with its revealing cut.One of the bodyguards thought of something and mentioned, "It's been two days with no word from Jardin Corporation. It seems you can relax now, Ms. Smith."Serena laug

Fred had the woman sit on his lap, his fingers daring to explore beneath the soft fabric of her skirt. She caught his wandering hand, her voice a blend of reprimand and invitation, "Not here, Mr. Turner. Eyes are upon us."He inhaled deeply, the perfume enveloping her was rich and unfamiliar, a stark contrast to Mya's subtle fragrance. Fred was a man whose interest waned with the moon; no woman ever marked more than a week in his orbit before he found them as forgettable as the last.As if on cue, a partition ascended, granting them a shroud of privacy. Her voice fluttered, a whisper of temptation, "Mr. Turner, might I assist you? This dress is quite delicate, after all." Fred parted his legs in silent assent, and she slid to her knees, a willing accomplice to their hidden dance.When Mya returned home, she was still thinking of how to ruin Serena Smith's life. To claim Madelyn's treasures as her own and flaunt them was an act of audacity that seared Mya's conscience. Never had sh

Everyone was present except for Leonardo. His attendance would elevate the event—his public appearances were rare, and his status in the art world was unparalleled.Serena, in the makeup room, applied the finishing touches. The scale of her setup outdid even Leonardo’s past exhibitions.Gazing at her reflection, satisfaction evident, she asked, “Is everything prepared as I requested?”“Yes, Ms. Smith. Everything’s in order,” came the reply.“Bring it here, let me have a look,” Serena instructed, her confidence unshaken. She was certain that Leonardo would take her on as his apprentice.Serena's eyes lingered on the antique painting the bodyguard had brought in. It was a genuine piece by a renowned artist, the very masterpiece Leonardo had long sought.Holding this, Serena was convinced it would be impossible for Leonardo to turn down her request. In her mind, she reassured herself, 'Everything is in place, just as planned.'...After Zach finished changing Dalton's diaper, the