our

ight H

ed into a stage, brilliantly lit by sterile fluorescence, haunted by the dis

Lily Ashton - The

e Carrington legacy, now fractured and bleeding, was headlined in gold. Outside, the press clustered like vultures, the

beeping monitors. Machines kept rhythm in her place, but the soul inside her seemed to have

dn't s

a twitch to reassu

d been cruel in

.. just the waiting, the w

s and billion-dollar mergers. But here, beside his daughter's broken form, he looked carved from stone - still tal

y disguise the slight tremor in his clenched jaw, the way his fingers occasion

room. Platinum blonde hair sculpted into a flawless twist, lips painted with a cold, matte crimson, and eyes the color of ice melt-beautiful and u

rrington brood had gathered, an

n. Her sleek blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders like spun gold, but there was ven

orm of entertainment. One less obstacl

lanced up - not at Lily, but at the others, as if searching for the right moment to stir trouble. His hoodie

d wolf, his energy raw and nervous. It wasn't concern that made his hands tremble

ntly against the tiled floor, her eyes darting between people like she was reading a script in real time. Concern wasn't real for her - i

hey were actors in a blood-stained dynasty

hem were prepared

ed against the linoleum floor with a rhythm that screamed urgency. The moment the young teen spotted he

uivering as she pressed her pa

e slow, mechanical rise and fall of her chest... nothing about this resembled the sister she knew - th

e, and Chris - followed her

er round face, and her hazel eyes brimmed with worry. She approached Emma l

ap a tooth. His eyes, which usually gleaming with jokes or fire, were now hollow, locked ont

leased from its cage. Her black choppy hair framed her face like jagged w

ilence, his voice low and guttural. "Doctor

nish; he did

y because her gaze had shifted.

raitor, the ex-husba

suit. His polished shoes clicking with every confident step in. Hair neat, th

her eyes darkened. She t

here," she growled

perfume on poison. Her blonde hair was immaculate. Her heels tapped with mocking

liot said, feigning cal

nto Eloise's bed," Emma snapped, her voice sharp e

sneered, arms folded across her c

ma hissed, st

the before Chris stepped forward

she snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut th

re. I lo

edside, eyes burning. "Is that what you call sleeping with h

olded like a queen surveying peasants. 'You all act like she was som

retending to be a decent human being, maybe. You tore her apart

ut the guilt was there, flickering like

he muttered, his voice

spine. You weren't under a spell, Eliot. Yo

ween Mike and Rachel. Her hands shook at her sides, her voice breaking beneath

something raw and ugly. "Do you know what it's like to wake up every da

rward now too. "You chose Eloise. You chose her over Lily, over

held hostage by two-toned drama queens with z

nd, it looked like she might deck Eloise ri

thing, Barbie,

's EN

cked through the room like

d, his eyes colde

und. It's a hospital room where my daughter fights fo

t John raised a hand, with

nough. Get out

Lily, pale and still behind the glass, and for just a m

y light in my li

f her out?" Chris an

didn't wait for more. "If either of you comes near

ned him into silence. For the first time, he looked l

, Eloise trailing behind with one last venomous

at, the door sla

d, like smoke after a b

ered under her breath, eyes back on Li

id of warmth. "I already have people watch

ce but everyone in the room

tered with interest. He had overheard everything. And to him, the unfolding chaos was

r to Lily, reaching out and brushing he

, Lily. I promise.

g, a man watched through the scope of a high-powered lens. His black

one, his words de

e games