LOGINChapter 114 At school the next day, the cafeteria was a cacophony of clattering trays, metallic screeching, and the overlapping drone of hundreds of students seeking respite from their morning classes. At the center of this social ecosystem sat Daisy, anchored at the prime circular table by the window just exactly where she loved sitting down during breaks. She sat with a rigid, practiced elegance, her posture projecting an aura of untouchable authority. Her laughter, punctuating a lively exchange with her friends, was light and melodic, yet it carried the sharp, rehearsed quality of someone who knew exactly how she was being perceived. The atmosphere shifted abruptly, the air growing heavy and static. A shadow fell across the table, fracturing the light. Hannah stood there, backed by her loyal but visibly anxious friend, Gloria. Hannah’s face was a study in controlled agitation; her jaw was set, and her knuckles were white where she gripped the strap of her bag. “Daisy,” Hanna
Chapter 113 "So, tell me, my love!" Blair exclaimed, her voice vibrating with unhidden excitement. She fluttered toward him, draped her arm at the back of the chai. "How was your day at school? I’ve been dying to hear how my favorite boy is doing. Tell me everything. Hm?" Jayson didn’t even look up at first. When he finally shifted his gaze, his face was a mask of cold indifference. He stared at her, his eyes tracing the elaborate, out-of-place attire she wore. "If you really wanted to know what had been going on in my life, you would have been here all this time," Jayson said, his voice flat. "Instead, you’re suddenly appearing on my doorstep. What are you doing here, Mom? And—honestly—why are you dressed like you’re attending a royal gala?" Blair’s expression soured instantly, her lips pulling into an indignant pout. "That is no way to talk to your mother, Jayson. Honestly, that was remarkably rude. You don't have to sound so ride. I'm honestly sad that we have to live apart
Chapter 112The moment the front door creaked open, Blair was on her feet, a radiant, maternal glow lighting up her features. As Jayson stepped into the foyer with Daisy trailing behind him, Blair’s face ignited with overwhelming affection."Look at my big boy!" Blair exclaimed, her voice thick with excitement as she rushed forward.Jayson froze, his stride faltering mid-step. The surprise was etched clearly onto his face, his brows arching toward his hairline as he blinked, seemingly struggling to reconcile the setting of the house with his mother’s sudden apparition. He had no idea she was going to be visiting. Behind him, Daisy didn't share his shock. Instead, her eyes narrowed, tracing a slow, predatory line from the crown of Blair’s head to the hem of her short, form-fitting dress. The look was a masterclass in condescension, it was a flick of the eyes that dismissed Blair as if she were a tawdry ornament rather than a guest."Mom?" Jayson managed, his voice dropping into a tent
Chapter 111The peace of the city street seemed to shiver under the weight of the impending storm. Suzanne’s shoes hammered against the pavement, each step a calculated strike of authority. She had blocked the Dark Stones burial van mid-transit, a move that had sent shockwaves through the local underworld. She didn't come alone; behind her, a group of hardened, armed soldiers moved in perfect, their black tactical gear blending into the gloomy afternoon. They carried the weight of their purpose in the stoic, dangerous set of their jaws.The atmosphere was thick, vibrating with the bustling activity of the city—muffled car horns, the distant thrum of heavy machinery, and the hushed, terrified gasps of onlookers who scrambled to clear the path of the impending danger.Suzanne stopped ten paces from the van. Her face was a canvas of pure rage. Her eyes, usually calculated and cool, burned with a predatory fire, and her jaw was tightened so severely that the muscles pulsed beneath her sk
Chapter 110The fluorescent lights of the office hummed with a sound that felt, to Suzanne, like a physical prodding against her temple. Last night, after Daisy had left in anger, she'd cried until Michael walked into the room to console her. She regretted what she did, but Michael had told her that Daisy headed some discipline. This morning, she decided to go to the office rather than staying home and thinking about how to investigate Jessica's sudden death.She walked through the glass double doors at 8:00 AM, and the silence she expected was replaced by a show of panic. The front desk was abandoned. A printer was rhythmically spitting out error codes in a high-pitched, frantic beep. Three junior associates were standing in the hallway, looking frantic, surrounded by a pile of legal files that seemed to have no destination.Then, the chaos took shape."! Thank God," Marcus, the head of operations, stepped into her path. His tie was loosened, his hair disheveled. "The payroll softwa
Chapter 109Take me out of here, Jayson." Daisy gritted immediately she stepped into the living room, and saw Jayson sitting with Gracie. She didn’t break her stride; her boots clicked rhythmically and aggressively against the hardwood as she lunged for the front door, her hand already reaching for the brass handle."Daisy! You’re finally here!"Gracie’s chirpy voice sliced through the heavy tension, forcing Daisy to anchor her feet to the floor. She turned slowly, her gaze lingering on her stepsister with a cold, unreadable mask. Gracie was obviously excited to see her, but it was the opposite for Daisy. "What on earth happened, Daisy?" Jayson asked, rising to his feet and planting his hands firmly on his hips, his tone laced with exasperation. "Don't tell me you’ve had another fallout with your mother. Seriously? When is this going to stop? I really need to know."Daisy ignored the judgment, her focus shifting entirely to Jayson. "I need to leave, Jayson. Take me home. Now.""No,
Chapter 4 The next morning came bright and clear with Suzanne getting up from bed in high spirit. She moved around the guestroom, getting ready for the day, and her appointment with Michael. It still felt like a dream...how she was easily able to get him to agree with her proposal. Lying slante
Chapter 3The buzzing sound from Suzanne's bag interrupted the moment, giving her the perfect distraction she needed from the tense situation. She looked apologetically at Michael, as she digged her hand in her bag to silent the call. "I'm so sorry about the interruption...""No. Go ahead. You ca
Chapter 2 "You've finally gone insane!" Mallory spat out loud, her well manicured fingers in the air as she yelled into the tensioned filled air. The news she was hearing straight from her daughter felt like a death sentence. In fact, she thought she already died. Across her in the living roo
Chapter 1 "What is this rubbish you've placed in front of me!" Davey Hawthorne's voice erupted harshly, his eyes blazing with fury that could not be controlled at that moment. Suzanne, with lips parted in a frantic bid to defend herself, quickly stood up from the dinning chair, her eyes search







