her bodyguard and spies about Ethan's scandalous night with a stranger. She could hardly believe her ears when

against the wall, shattering it into pieces.

her wrath. "Miss Tessa, perhaps you should talk to Mr. A

You think I should talk to him? After he humiliated me like this?" s

er, Miss Tessa. But first,

t for Ethan's office. She didn't bother with pleasa

her voice echoing th

sion turning from surprise to annoyance.

ming the tabloid down in front of

ed. "It's nothing, Tessa. Just a one-

nk this is nothing? You humiliat

stay calm. "Tessa, calm

sed me in front of the whole world!" Tessa's voice wa

"It doesn't matte

d out who she is. And when I do,

el and stormed out of the office, leaving Et

-

Emma had just returned home when she saw her stepsister,

lor remarked, not bother

wasn't done. "Heard about your little scandal. Must be t

, turning to face Taylor.

ing the show. You always thought you were so much bet

ut up, Taylor. You have no i

. "Oh, I know.

balance and hitting her head on the corner of the coffee table. She cried ou

horror. "Taylor! I'm so

m the kitchen, her face filled with r

ed, "I-I did

the wound. "You're in big trouble, you

g up. "It was an accid

't put your hands on family. You're grounded, Emma. No going out, no

eart san

a snapped. "Go t

reaths to calm herself. The weight of everything that had happened crushed her chest,

with concern. "Let's get you to the hospital," she said, helping

ook in her eyes. "She'll pay for this, Mom. She

e'll deal with Emma later. Right no

taring at her hands. She replayed the moment in her head, wondering how things had gotte

nced at it. A message from Ca

rd about what hap

ed before ty

ess. I pushed Taylor, and s

t's intense. Want

ave anyone over.

ks. If you need t

ssie. I might nee

trying to figure out how to make things right. She knew she needed to apologize to Taylor, but she also needed to confront the bigger issu

by the sound of the front door opening. She could hear Tamela and Taylor talking dow

red the living room, she saw Taylor on the couch, a bandage on her fore

d, her voice cold.

ross from Taylor. She couldn'

n much worse," Tamela continued. "I don't know what'

"I'm sorry. I didn'

d. "You always act like you're better

forced it down. "I know. I mess

enough problems already. We do

ded with

t. you're still grounded. But I expect you to make an effort

ank, but she n

like you'll be apolog

was determined to make amends. As she headed back to her room, she resolved to find a way to repair h

-

e investigator she had hired to find Emma. She couldn't shake

the investigator assured her

lans. "Good. I want her found, and I

over her. This wasn't just about Ethan anymore. It was about reclaim

pte

ed him, and the cold air whispered secrets of the past. He paused at the rusted metal door, feeling the weig

cing in the faint light. Ethan moved cautiously, his senses heightened,

im in his tracks. It was a voice he hadn't heard in y

ckering light bulb. His smile was a mask of malice, his eyes c

acknowledged, his voice betraying

fter all," Damian said, spreading

s fists clenched at his sides

ugh the empty warehouse. "You think you can just walk i

nce been inseparable, best friends navigating the complexities of ad

-

e Ethan tried to calm things down, Damian fought back with a ferocity that shocked everyone. The fight ended with one of the boys being ki

s fabricated lies. Their friendship fractured, and Ethan spiraled into a life of crime. But Etha

-

, his voice steady but his heart pounding. "Y

righteous one, weren't you? Always trying to

ked onto Damian's. "I'm not here t

sinister smile. "You're too

eps. Figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding Etha

his voice dripping with satisfacti

y out. He glanced around, taking in his surrounding

this," he said, his voi

smug grin on his face.

est. He had to stay calm, find a way to escape. The walls

e room again, this time noticing the rickety sca

grabbing a loose pipe from the floor and swinging it in a wide arc. The man w

elow, Damian's men shouted and scrambled to follow. Ethan reached th

ing dangerously. He could hear Damian's men clambering up behind him. Reachi

ck to see Damian's furious face in the broken skylight, shouting orders. E

ide, but he pushed it aside, scrambling to his feet and continuing to

ad ends. He led them on a wild chase, darting through narrow passagew

He had escaped, but he knew this was far from over. Damian w