Mrs. Kathy shook her head, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and pain. "He's your father, Emma. He's the monster who did it to me. You can check about him, but I doubt you would find much." Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze remained steady. Emma's body went rigid, and she stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor."I know exactly who he is, Mother." Emma's voice was cold, She grabbed her phone from the table with a swift motion and stormed towards the door, her footsteps echoing through the house. Her mother scrambled to follow her, her voice rising in panic."Emma, what are you doing? Where are you going? We're not done here!" Mrs. Kathy's voice was tinged with desperation, but Emma was already outside, the cool evening air hitting her face as she approached her car. She fumbled with her keys for a moment before unlocking the door and sliding into the driver's seat.Her mother's pleas grew more frantic. "Emma, please, listen to me!" But Emma had alread

Emma's eyes flew open, taking in her surroundings in a panic. She was in a dimly lit room, the walls bare and unwelcoming. The voices were coming from a partially open door to her left. She strained to hear more, her heart racing."After that, where are we going to dispose off her body?" The voice cut through again. Emma slowly sat up, her breath catching in her throat. She strained to listen, her heart pounding as if it wanted to leap out of her chest. It was now clear they were talking about her, and she shuddered in fear."We have to hold on," the first voice continued, calm but firm. "We don't know if any of the witnesses at the restaurant might say something to the police. We need to let this die down first."A second voice, sharper and more insistent, replied, "Mr. Mario said immediately."The voices faded, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. Emma's muscles tensed, and she felt a wave of cold sweat break out on her forehead. She tried to lift her hand to wipe it away, but

Lucas shifted in his seat, his eyes flicking nervously between Emma and the police officer driving. "Are you serious about that?" he murmured, leaning closer to Emma in the back seat. His voice was barely audible over the hum of the car's engine. Emma nodded subtly, her gaze fixed on the passing city lights, her brow furrowed in concentration.Lucas pressed on, his tone urgent yet controlled. "Where is he hiding?"Emma's lips twitched, a brief moment of hesitation before she whispered back, "I'll let you know tomorrow." Her voice carried a hint of something he couldn't quite place, tinged with weariness from the ordeal they were caught in.The police car eased into the hospital's emergency entrance, lights flashing against the night sky. Paramedics were already waiting, their faces masked with professional concern as they guided Emma out of the car and into the bustling ER.Lucas paced the corners of the waiting area, his mind a whirlwind of unanswered questions as he waited for the d

Lucas shoved Morgan away, and she stumbled backwards, nearly falling before she regained her stance. Her eyes widened in hurt, but it quickly morphed into anger, her cheeks flushing a deep red."You pushed me away?" Her voice trembled, a raw edge of desperation seeping through despite her efforts to mask it.Lucas’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "This is the last time you’ll try something like that," he warned, each word dripping with malice. "Next time, you'll see a side of me you won't like. Believe me, Morgan, I've changed."Morgan’s fists clenched at her sides, her knuckles turning white. "If you take another step, Lucas, you'll be starting a war. And trust me, you won't win."Lucas paused mid-step, his back to her. He didn't turn around as he spoke, his voice cold and crisp. "Go ahead, Morgan. Do what you want." He took a deep breath, then broke into a run.He burst out of the hospital doors, his eyes scanning frantically for any sign of Emma. The parking lot stretched

The dinner dragged on until everyone had finished, the clinking of cutlery against plates gradually subsiding. Lucas pushed his half-eaten meal around his plate, stealing glances at his father and Emma, who seemed lost in thought. Finally, his father cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention."I'll talk to Mr. Quinn to see what we can do about the contract," he began, his voice laced with a hint of weariness. "When it's sorted, I'll let you know." He pushed his chair back and started to walk away from the dining room table. Halfway to the door, he stopped and turned back to Lucas, his eyes softer than they had been in years."I still love you, son," he said, the words heavy with emotions.Lucas felt a lump rise in his throat, tears stinging the corners of his eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he had heard those words from his father; it felt like a lifetime ago. "I love you too, Dad," he managed to say, his voice breaking slightly.His father nodded, before he turned and