Even though she had clearly heard what Ophelia had said, Dione refused to believe any of it was true. After all, her father had never failed to save her, and he had always been there whenever she needed him.To her, convincing the Washingtons might be easy for him, and she didn’t need to be paranoid. She just had to make sure she could contact her father, and he would find a way to save her. Once that happened, the Washingtons wouldn’t be able to take anything from her—they were just seeking revenge.Dione shook her head, frustration and a flicker of fear in her eyes. “No,” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. “This… all of this is your fault.”Persis and Ophelia exchanged a glance, waiting for her to continue.“If it weren’t for you two,” Dione said, her tone sharp and accusatory, “none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t have needed to… take the kids. None of this!”Persis looked at Dione. Judging from the little she remembered of her, Persis was certain Dione was showing

Dione’s fists trembled at her sides. Her friends—the ones she had trusted most—were openly casting her aside, admitting they had only used her. Rage, shock, and betrayal flooded her, leaving her more alone than ever.She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came. The realization that even her closest allies had turned on her struck harder than anything she had ever faced.Tears welled in her eyes, and before she realized it, they spilled down her cheeks. She couldn’t understand what was happening. They had been friends for years. How could they have harbored such thoughts about her all this time?Her chest heaved as sobs tore free. She dropped to her knees despite being tied, wailing like a child, her cries echoing off the walls. Her voice cracked as she pleaded through her tears.“Why? Why are you doing this to me? We were friends! We’ve been together all these years! How could you—how could you say those things about me?”Her sobs grew louder, pitiful, as she beat her fists again

Harold and Evelyn looked like they hadn’t slept in days; Evelyn had heavy eye bags. Even the doctor was startled to see them.He adjusted his glasses before answering, his tone steady. “The operation went well. We managed to stabilize them both. Their injuries were severe, but nothing beyond what we could repair.”Relief washed over Evelyn’s face. She pressed her hands together, tears brimming.Thank God… thank God it went well,” she whispered.Harold exhaled slowly, his shoulders easing. “That’s… good. That’s very good.”The doctor’s expression grew firmer. “It will take time before they wake up. The accident put tremendous strain on their bodies. Frankly,”—he shook his head—“it’s a miracle they didn’t die on impact. The fact that they survived the crash and surgery is extraordinary.”Evelyn tightened her grip on Harold’s arm. Her voice cracked. “But… When will they wake up? Please, tell us.”The doctor glanced at the chart in his hand. “It’s difficult to give an exact time. It could

Lisa took a handful of popcorn from Nika and popped a few into her mouth. The salty butter grounded her for a moment. She shifted on the couch, eyes drifting to the TV.Onscreen, a woman in a red dress ran through a crowded street, heels clattering as a man chased her. Footsteps, hurried voices, and dramatic music filled the room. Lisa watched the chase, but her mind was elsewhere. She didn’t notice at first that Nika wasn’t watching the movie; she was watching Lisa.Nika leaned back, calm and silent, studying her. After a long moment, she spoke, her voice low and even. “So… are you ready to tell me everything now?”Without waiting, she picked up the remote and turned the TV off, forcing the conversation to itself.Lisa exhaled and nodded. Slowly, she told everything: every detail, every truth she’d kept. When she finished, the room sat thick with silence.Nika’s jaw dropped. She leaned forward, eyes wide. “Oh my God,” she burst out. “Tell me you didn’t, tell me you didn’t try to kill

Neil watched the men approach, his eyes narrowing as he sized them up. They were tall, broad-shouldered, and built like they practically lived in the gym. Sun-kissed skin, cocky grins, and an easy swagger made them look more like models than troublemakers.One had dark brown hair cropped short, piercing green eyes, and a tattoo sleeve running the length of his right arm. Another had sandy blond hair that brushed his shoulders, icy blue eyes, and a smirk that said he was used to being the center of attention. The third had jet-black hair spiked upward, dark brown eyes, and a faint scar trailing along his jawline.Their casual beachwear, tank tops, and board shorts clung to their muscular frames, giving them a striking but intimidating presence.“What’s with all the staring?” Neil called out, his tone sharp as he folded his arms across his chest. “Does my waist have something to do with you? You like it so much, you want to hit on me?”The men exchanged amused glances before breaking in