Adrienne's car arrived at her once beautiful factory, now a grim display of rubble and debris. The remnants of the building formed a haunting skeletal structure, with twisted metal beams and shattered glass strewn about. The familiar scent of freshly made skin creams that once permeated the air had been replaced by the acrid smell of smoke and devastation.As Adrienne stepped out of her car, her heart sank at the sight before her. Tears welled up, threatening to spill over, as she struggled to comprehend how her thriving factory had been reduced to ruins.A small group of reporters, positioned strategically with their camera crews, shrewdly captured every angle of the destruction. Spotting Adrienne, they rushed over, hungry for a story."Miss Adrienne, your factory exploded, trapping members of the FDA, three days ago. Why have you just arrived at the scene now?" a reporter fired."There are speculations that you intentionally set the factory to explode. Over a thousand workers were

"Trying to distract you from what? I have no idea what you are talking about," Annabelle chuckled nervously.There was a black box tucked away behind the door, catching Ryan's curious gaze. Before he could even extend his hand towards it, Annabelle hastily crawled towards him and blocked his path."It's not yours, don't touch it," Annabelle warned, but Ryan callously pushed her aside.Ignoring her pleas, he pried open the box, revealing an assortment of money, jewelry, and wristwatches. Ryan couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight."So, you burgled the house and didn't expect me to return early, huh?" he taunted."Linc sent you?" Ryan questioned, and Annabelle reluctantly nodded, her eyes cast downward."Please, just let us take this money. We won't disturb your life again. We're planning to run away," Annabelle foolishly pleaded with Ryan."If you suddenly find yourselves in need of money, that means Linc must have little to no savings," Ryan retorted, his tone laced with

"I'd appreciate it if you please stopped coming here," the director firmly said to Adrienne. Her tone reflected a combination of disappointment and concern."What? You believe everything the media is saying about me?" Adrienne's voice trembled with hurt. She couldn't understand how her actions outside the orphanage affected her charity work."You have to understand my decision. We appreciate all that you've done for our orphanage since day one, but we can't ignore the fact that you aren't the role model we thought you were. I am deeply disappointed, and I'm also sorry," the director explained, her voice filled with regret."I can't believe even you guys believe that nonsense. What does any of that have to do with my charity at this orphanage? You know how much I love it here, and you can't just send me off like that," Adrienne tried to reason, her voice laced with frustration."I'm sorry. I don't want to risk giving the orphanage a bad name," the director sincerely apologized, though

"Aww... he wants to save his daughter! What a loving father," Linc mocked him."Where are we doing the trade?" Richard asked, straight to the point."I'll text you the address," Linc snapped and hung up immediately."I'm the one with the upper hand here," he gloated. Linc gathered a few things and his keys. He headed outside his house and as he opened his door, Annabelle was standing there.Linc jumped back in surprise, but quickly regained his cool.""What are you doing here? Have you gotten the money?" he asked her."Good evening to you too," Annabelle replied."Sorry baby, good evening. Have you gotten the money?" Linc asked."Well, I got a hundred thousand dollars," Annabelle said eagerly."I said I didn't want peanuts! What would that gum money do!" Linc fired at her."Linc ..." Annabelle's voice shook. "I sold my two cars and some jewelry," Annabelle said."Couldn't you have at least praised my efforts or said thank you?" Annabelle was hurt."Yeah, you're such a big help with

"You are scaring me. I can't see anything," Lisa said, her voice trembling.Adrienne pointed to her nose in the mirror."It's starting to show," she said."What is?" Lisa asked, moving closer to her."My nose. It's growing bigger, as if it's trying to match my belly," Adrienne said, touching her swollen abdomen.Lisa let out a sigh of relief."You scared me there. I thought you saw a ghost in the mirror," Lisa said, chuckling."I feel so proud of myself right now," Adrienne said, a smile lighting up her face. She knew it was temporary, but she loved her body for carrying her baby."Lisa, do you think I'll have a girl or a boy?" Adrienne asked, looking at her expectantly."You'll have what nature wants you to have, and please sit still for your makeup. We're running out of time," Lisa said, picking up a brush."Alright," Adrienne said and closed her eyes, letting Lisa work her magic.After the makeup, Lisa drove Adrienne to the hotel; the one Richard had bought for her as a surprise.As