Kat rushes through the corridors, panicking. Jim is chasing after her and no matter what he says, she’s not stopping.
“Kat, calm down!” He yells at her but she’s dashing toward the VIP section. That evening, she received a call that her grandmother is in critical condition after suffering a heart attack.
Miranda has been suffering from cancer for years and the chemotherapy is taking a toll on her health. The heart attack wasn’t fatal but it still weakened her. Kat’s heart is racing, every other thought pushed out of her mind.
“Granny!” She gasps when she barges into Miranda’s room. Miranda is lying on the bed, weak and frail. Her dry lips crack into a small smile when she sees Kat.
“Kat…” she
The moon is shrouded by the clouds. An eerie silence is creeping in the desolated forest sans the cries of cicadas which echo every now and then. The chilly mist is slowly thickening, swirling above a waterbody which flows down toward the river ahead. A long bridge connects the two lands, quiet and isolated from the rest of the city. A pair of lights break through the darkness as it approaches the bridge. Inside it are a man, a woman, and a boy of sixteen. The boy looks fearful and restless.“Mom, where are we going?” the boy asks. He’s wearing a school uniform and there’s a tag on his chest, ‘Ryder’. He had gone to stay over at a friend’s place when his parents arrived to take him. It didn’t take him long to figure out why they were so anxious. “Is it the Hawkins?” He whispers. “Did they find out?”His father, Carl Hoover, looks at him from the rearview mirror. “I’m afraid so, son,” he mutters. “Vincent Hawkins found out that I’m snooping in his office. We’ll have to leave town. I
Miranda rushes to the hospital, carrying Kat in her arms. The child is sleeping but Miranda’s face is marred with fear. She rushes through the corridor to find Scarlett standing outside a ward. Scarlett’s shirt is wet and stained with blood.“Miss Scarlett!” Miranda cries. “What-”“Your grandson has been injured,” Scarlett says. “They’re tending to him. And…”She trails off, turning toward the south. “Y-your son and his wife are dead,” she finally says.Miranda collapses to the floor, almost dropping Kat but Scarlett manages to hold her. She takes the sleeping child from Miranda’s embrace and hands her to a nurse to take care of. Scarlett then kneels down to hug Miranda who’s sobbing uncontrollably.“M-my f-f-family… I…” Miranda wails loudly. Scarlett is fighting off tears herself. She didn’t know the Hoovers but she heard about them from Miranda. Knowing how kind and generous Miranda is, she knows that her family must be equally kind.“Vincent Hawkins did this!” Scarlett reveals. “He
Elle’s sneer only grows by the second. Seeing her face makes Scarlett want to barf but she stays composed.“Are you still going to pretend to be strong?” Elle scoffs. “I thought you’d be begging for mercy, sister. But you’re as arrogant as ever.”The bald man behind her stirs in anticipation. Elle promised him that he’ll be able to have his way with Scarlett that night and he’s eager to have her for himself. The brunette undoubtedly has a better appeal than Elle, a feisty one he craves for.Scarlett only glares at Elle, not giving her the pleasure of scaring her.“You can’t scare me, Elle,” she says. “I see you for what you are. A pathetic woman who’s obsessed with herself. Or rather…with me. You’re obsessed with bringing me down to make yourself look better but you can’t. Because you’re a fake person-”Elle slaps Scarlett so hard that her cheek is slightly cut but the latter feels victorious. “You’re so insecure!” Scarlett laughs. “Hiding behind a veil of righteousness while selling
Hector is waiting impatiently on the road for Ben. Accompanying him is Jim, who arrived from the Capital a few hours ago and had just heard of the explosion in the mines. He shudders to think that Hector planned it all and he keeps on glancing secretly at his phone.“Where is he?” Hector growls. “He should’ve been here by now!”“Whom are we waiting for s-sir?” Jim dares to ask.“That f*cker Ben!” Hector yells. “He’s supposed to bring Scarlett to me-”Hector stops himself before saying anything else but the beans have been spilled. Scarlett? Jim is alarmed.“Not one word!” Hector warns him. “Ben is bringing Scarlett to me!”
*Twelve years ago*Miranda puts on a coat and picks up her umbrella. It’s nearly 12 AM and her duty ended at the Hawkins mansion. The weather outside seems cloudy and cold, so she pulls her coat closer and heads outside. She’s walking along the lonely pavement when a car pulls up behind her.“Miranda!” a familiar voice calls out. Miranda turns toward the car and finds a familiar face. It’s Elle.“Miss Elle!” She gasps. “What are you-”“Let me drop you off,” Elle offers. “I just got my license!”Miranda is skeptical. “Are you here to visit Master Hector?” She asks. “I think you should head back home. It’s late.”But Elle shakes her head. “I was just in the neighborhood,” she claims.At 12 AM? Miranda wonders. Aloud she says, “Alright. If you insist, Miss Elle.”She gets into the car and they drive off. Elle doesn’t talk much throughout the journey and Miranda is glad. There’s something off about the girl but she can’t exactly pinpoint it.“How’s Miss Scarlett?” Miranda asks, attempting
“Elle wait!” Ryder huffs when she runs far ahead. Elle giggles in joy as she flashes his book in her hands.“You gotta chase me, Hoover!” She taunts him. They’re at the park, on a date. Yes, they’ve been dating throughout the summer in secret. Elle reckons that her parents are very strict and won’t approve of her dating. Moreover, her stepsister is also out to ruin her life which makes Elle reluctant to disclose their relationship.“Elle, I’m reading that!” Ryder claims. Elle sticks out her tongue and flips through the pages until she reaches one. She turns it around to show him. The page has only her pictures, smiling and laughing with him.“You’re just ogling at me!” She laughs. Ryder pouts but smiles and walks over to her. “They’re all mine,” he smiles and kisses her.Elle is ecstatic. She finally found her soulmate. This man is hers and she’s his.Ryder’s phone rings. He takes it out to find that it’s his mother who’s calling him.“Hello, mom?” He greets her. Elle’s blood goes co
*Twelve years ago*Elle is standing in front of the Hawkins mansion. She’s not afraid nor does she have any scruples in what she’s going to do. As long as she has Ryder by her side, she doesn’t care about anything else. “His parents must die for daring to take him away from her!She rings the doorbell. A new maid opens the door.“Yes?” the maid frowns. “I’m here to meet Mr. Hawkins,” Elle says. The maid is suspicious of the girl.“It’s late at night. You can meet him tomorrow-”“I must meet him now! His life is in danger.”Elle sounds desperate now which alarms the maid. She thinks hard. What if the girl is telling the truth? “Alright, come in.”She steps aside to let Elle inside. Elle waits in the living room while the maid goes to fetch Vincent. He arrives a few minutes later, fully dressed. Vincent rarely sleeps, preferring to stay up all night to work. He eyes the young girl with interest. “You’re Elle Swanson,” he states. “Hector’s friend. James Swanson’s daughter.”“You know
Ryder ends his story with a sigh and turns to Scarlett. She has a complicated look on her face, wondering what to say.“You must think of me as a fool!” He muses. “Falling for Elle like that.”“You were a teenager,” she reasons. “You didn’t know any better.”Ryder stares at her in amusement. “You’re telling me that you’re not jealous that I kissed her?” He teases her.Scarlett gives him a look which makes him shut up. “Don’t push my buttons!” She warns. “I’m mad about it but I can’t help it. You were a dumb teen.”That’s the Scarlett I know, he muses. “What’s your story?” He asks. “Your sob story with Elle.”“I have no sob story,” she mutters. “I do have a hate story.”“Tell me,” he purrs. “I’ll listen this time.”Scarlett stares at him for a while before sighing. Since he was honest with her, she has to be honest with him as well.“I guess, I was never really taken by her,” she admits. “It was my reluctance to accept the Swansons which led to all this…”….*Flashback*Isabella is dri