DORIS WAS way beyond furious. The heat of wrath emitting from her body as she rode into the Evans Mansion was capable of changing the season from winter to summer. She was mad at everyone. Brad, Lydia, Sam, her father. . . even the silly security man who couldn't tell she wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. Her anger was like a volcano about to erupt, the pressure of her emotions building to a boiling point. She wanted to lash out, to take her fury out on anyone and everyone. She felt betrayed, angry, and hurt, and she didn't know what to do with all the conflicting emotions raging inside her. Doris stormed into the front door of the Evans Mansion like a hurricane, her anger sweeping through the air like a gust of wind. The staff cowered as she passed, her eyes blazing with fury. She made a beeline for the study where she was certain she would find her, the sound of her heels on the marble floor echoing through the halls. As she entered the room, she saw her father sitti

NEW YEAR'S Day came and went. . . And in stark contrast to the chaotic Christmas Party, the New Year's celebration had been more blissful and less drama— courtesy of Jason again— and comprised more family members. The last party had been a disaster, but this one had gone off without a hitch. Maybe it was because the kids were there, keeping everyone on their best behavior. Or maybe it was because everyone had learned their lesson from the Christmas party fiasco. Either way, it had been a peaceful evening filled with faces lit up with joy and excitement. And that was what the holidays were all about. Being with the people you love, celebrating new beginnings and fresh starts. And in that spirit, Doris had even tried to make the best of her situation. She tried to focus on the positive aspects of having Lydia around. She thought about how much Max and Nora enjoyed spending time with her over the last few days. Maybe there was something good that could come out of this

BRAD TURNED to face Lydia. Lean, dark features set with chilling intent as he gave her a quelling look of granite hardness. "What are you talking about? He demanded harshly. Lydia crossed her arms and gave Brad a condescending look. "Oh, please," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Don't play dumb with me, Brad. I know you're a smart guy. And I'm pretty sure you've known a long time that Nora isn't your biological daughter." Brad's hands curled into fists as he tried to curb his temper. Lydia was right. He did know that Nora was not his biological daughter. He'd found out about the onset of her condition when the hospital had run an overall test on Nora and her Blood type had come out as a Blood type O whereas he was a type AB and so was Lydia. That piqued his curiosity which had led him to run a paternity test. He'd been shocked to his bone marrow when the result came back negative. The little princess he adored, the only beautiful thing that came out of his failed marr

BRAD WAS A MESS! He'd never been this messed up in his entire life. Not even when his ex-wife had cheated on him. He missed Doris so much. The thought of her consumed him and filled him with longing and regret, but he knew there was no going back. He tried to focus on the present moment, but it was like a mirage, shifting and changing before his eyes. He thought about her every moment. He was even beginning to see things. He saw her everywhere he looked, her face smiling at him from every corner of his home. . . at work. . . at the coffee shop. . . everywhere. He thought he could get over her by overrunning himself with work. But, the more Brad tried to bury himself in work, the more he found himself thinking about Doris. And when he turned to alcohol for comfort, it only served to make him feel even more empty inside. He was in a vicious cycle, unable to escape the memories of her that haunted him day and night. It was as if she had become a ghost, a specter th

THE NEXT morning, Brad rode in Doris' car as they hurried toward the private apartment where the special detective, Jean, Evelyn, and Jason awaited them. Detective Jean who was helping them with Doris' stalker case had sent them a collective test that he'd gotten a lead that could help them identify the psychopath terrorizing her life. Yes, it had all been a plan! Doris coming into the limelight with all that maximum force wasn't only because she wanted to pursue her career again but also because it was a plan, she'd come up with to pull the perpetrator out of his hole in order to capture him once and for all. They were basically fishing and Doris was the bait. As Doris narrated the whole plan and where they'd left off, Brad couldn't help getting increasingly worried. He still hasn't gotten over the fact that she'd almost lost her life and that they'd lost their daughter four years ago. Now, she was putting her safety on the line to catch a criminal. A