LOGIN(Amara)“What are you saying?” My voice comes out in a strained whisper. “Selina’s dead. Dead, Maya. So how do you expect me to believe any of this? How do you expect me to believe someone who’s dead was just here trying to kill you.”“Because she isn’t dead, Amara.” Maya’s voice is unwavering. “Selina’s alive. She’s alive.”I go completely still.The air catches in my lungs, refusing to move.Seeing the panic spreading across my face, Maya reaches for my trembling hands and holds them firmly.“Lily’s birthday party,” she says quietly. “I chased after a woman who looked exactly like Selina. I lost her before I could catch up, but I know what I saw. So tell me… if she was really dead, how could she have been there? How could she have gotten into the party?”For a moment, my mind drifts back to that night.I remember seeing Maya rushing around the corner as though she was chasing someone.I remember running after her and grabbing her wrist, asking what had happened.Could she…Could she
(Maya)Footsteps.They move toward me, slow and careful.Closer.Closer.I can feel someone’s presence now. The warmth of their breath brushes against my face as the figure leans over my bed.Three.Two.One.My eyes snap open.A figure looms over me.A face mask conceals every feature except a pair of eyes staring down at me.Our gazes collide.Those eyes widen.As if she never expected me to be awake.In the next second, the gloved hand shoots up, a syringe flashing beneath the dim light as it plunges toward me.My hand flies up on instinct.I catch the wrist midair, stopping the needle inches from my skin.“Die! Just die!” she hisses, forcing the syringe downward.A chill shoots through me.That voice.“Selina!”The growl tears from my throat as I shove her hand aside. The syringe flies from her grip and clatters onto the floor.“How dare you!”My palm crashes against her cheek.Her head snaps sideways.“You really think you can kill me?” I let out a cold laugh.Her head slowly tur
(Amara)The day had already ended, but my mother’s question refused to leave my mind.I know I’ll have to answer it soon. But then…A car horn blares.Before I can even process what’s happening, a hand wraps around me and yanks me backward.Then…Bam!I whip around just in time to see the car slam into Maya.She’s thrown through the air before slamming onto the road, her body tumbling across the pavement before finally coming to a stop.For a second…I can’t breathe.I can’t think.I just stand there, frozen, my entire body trembling.The car lingers for only a heartbeat before speeding away.“Maya!”The spell breaks.I race toward her and collapse beside her, my hands shaking so violently I can barely touch her.“Maya… open your eyes.”My voice quivers.“Please… open your eyes.”Tears blur my vision.“You can’t die like this. Please…”Slowly, her eyelids flutter open.Blood trickles from the corner of her lips as she forces the faintest smile.“Thank goodness…” she whispers weakly.
(Isha)I stride through the bar, the one Nathan always frequents.Ever since I returned, I’ve done everything I could to see him. I called. I texted. I waited.Nothing.He ignored every single attempt.So I had no choice but to come here. At least if he saw me in person, he wouldn’t be able to avoid me again.My heels click sharply against the polished floor as I make my way toward the private room I’d been told he was in.The moment I push the door open, I freeze.My fists clench.Women surround him.One is practically sitting on his lap. Another trails her fingers across his shoulder while the rest laugh, flirt, and compete for his attention.Something twists painfully inside my chest.“Nathan!”My voice cracks through the room.Every head turns toward me.Nathan slowly lifts his eyes.A tired sigh escapes him.Not exhaustion.Irritation.The kind reserved for someone he’d rather not see.A bitter scoff leaves me.Without saying a word to me, he looks at the women.“Leave.”They imm
(Amara)My eyes land on the paper in Maya’s hand.The pregnancy test result.My heart plummets.Oh my God.How did she…I force the thought away and stride into the room.“How dare you go through my things?” I snarl, snatching the paper from her grasp.My pulse pounds violently against my ribs.She knows now. Oh God… she knows about my pregnancy.The realization sends panic rushing through me.What if…The doctor’s warning crashes back into my head.You should avoid whoever gave you those drugs, Amara. They don’t mean well for you. These pills might help with sleep, but an overdose can be dangerous. Especially for a pregnant woman. It can even lead to a miscarriage.My fingers crumple the edge of the paper.The memories of my miscarriages come rushing back. The pain. The grief. The helplessness. Losing my babies over and over again.I don’t get it.I’m still trying to understand everything.Why would she give me those drugs?She knew I was pregnant back then.So why?Did she really no
(Rayner)My grip tightens around the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.Stefan’s words keep echoing in my head.“She’s gone to Pittsburgh. I heard she’s selling the house and plans to throw Felix and his mother out for good.”I press harder on the accelerator.Minutes later, my car rolls to a stop outside the address Stefan had sent me.The very thing I’d wanted him to look into before my mother interrupted us.One of our former employees now works closely with Amara at Eleanor Foods, so finding out where she’d gone and what she was planning hadn’t been difficult.I step out, shutting the door behind me as my eyes briefly trail over the building. Spacious enough to tell she’d invested heavily in the property.I tug at my jacket and head inside.Then her voice slips into my mind.“I can take care of this myself. This is my personal problem. I don’t want to keep dragging you into it.”A quiet breath leaves me.No, Amara.You’re wrong.I won’t let you face this alone.Not anymo
(Felix)I am halfway to the car park when I hear my name.“Felix.”I stop.For a second, I don’t turn. Then I lift my gaze slowly.Nathan.My fingers curl slightly at my sides, my chest tightening in a way I don’t expect. Not fear. I have nothing to fear. He doesn’t even know anything. He can’t po
(Amara)“Why didn’t you tell me?”The words leave me the second I step into Rayner’s office.Rita’s and Olivia’s reactions replay in my head. The smiles. The excitement. The congratulations.Nothing like what I expected.Rayner doesn’t answer.He just stands there, his back to me, staring out the w
(Amara)My eyes dart to them—and I still.“Ray… Rayner?”His name slips from my lips before I can stop it.He stands right there, watching. Brows drawn, confusion and something sharper flickering in his eyes.Michael’s grip loosens slowly from my hand as they walk closer, closing the space between
(Rayner)A scoff slips out of me as her words keep replaying in my mind. She doesn’t know anything, yet she’s already coming for me. Hesitating? Seriously?“What makes you think you’d do any better, huh?” I ask, folding my arms.No answer.I huff out a quiet laugh. “See? You can’t even defend your







