"Let's break up."
The words left her lips with no hesitation, sharp and final. She didn't waver, didn't falter. With steady fingers, June slide the diamond ring off her finger, the very symbol of their love and promise, before placing it in his open palm. To him, the ring suddenly felt heavier than a mountain, an unbearable weight pressing against his skin.
"From this day forward, I want nothing to do with you. You and I have nothing left to share," she declared , her voice eerily calm, her lips curving into a warm smile, one that concealed the storm raging within her.
"June…" His voice was hoarse, desperate. "At least hear me out.."
"June!!" He shouted, lunging forward as she turned away.
She didn't stop. She didn't even slow down.
"June, I'm sorry! Please, don't leave me!"
His words hit the air like a cold, lashing wind, harsh and cutting. But she didn't turn back. She didn't give him the mercy of a second glance. Instead, she quickened her pace, reaching her car just as his feet close the distance. The door slammed shut before he could even touch her. The engine roared to life, and with one press of the pedal, she speeds away, leaving him behind.
Was this really the end?
Did she endure everything, fought through all the pain, only for it all to shatter like fragile glass?
Dave staggered back, his body numb. He had been out of line before, missing her birthday, neglecting promises, but this… this was different. There was no explaining away the situation this time. He had been drugged, tricked, but that wasn't enough to erase what she heard.
Those sounds.
The moans.
No matter how much he swore that nothing happened between him and Bella, June couldn't silence the echoes ringing in her ears. She couldn't ignore the truth her heart refused to believe. And the worst part? He knew. He knew how fragile things were, yet he still went to Bella after promising June he wouldn't.
With a strangled breath, his knees finally gave out. He collapsed onto the pavement, his fingers curling into the cold ground as the weight of everything crashed over him. His chest tightened , his throat burnt , and his eyes sting with unshed tears.
A part of him screamed to run after her, to fix this before it's too late. But another part knew, perhaps, it already was.
Inside the cab, June sat in silence. Her hands trembled in her lap, her nails dug into her skin to suppress the sobs clawing at her throat. She had promised herself long ago, no man would ever make her cry again. But there she was, betraying herself.
Her reflection in the rearview mirror was a stranger, pale, weary, broken.
The driver sneaked a glance at her through the mirror, his brow furrowing. It was clear he wanted to ask if she was okay, but he didn't. It was against the protocols of his service, after all.
Still, the silence between them spoke louder than any words could.
….
"Cancel everything!"
June's sharp command sent a wave of shock through the room. Her mother and Dora's mother exchanged a look, one heavy with concern. Something was terribly wrong.
"June, what happened?" her mother asked, her voice laced with worry.
"Just cancel the orders. Everything. The wedding is off."
Her mother shot to her feet, gasping as she hurried toward her daughter. Calling off a few orders was one thing, but canceling the wedding? That was huge. Something serious had happened, something that had pushed June to a breaking point. Her daughter had always been responsible, always level-headed in her decisions. This wasn't like her.
"You can't just cancel everything or call off the wedding," Grace interjected, her voice sharp. "Don't forget this also involves my daughter's marriage." She narrowed her eyes at her friend, as if urging her to see the bigger picture.
But June's mother wasn't listening to Dora's mom words. Her gaze had locked onto her daughter's face, her swollen, tear-streaked eyes, her pale skin. She was still dressed in her nightgown, her body trembling slightly, as if she had barely slept. A terrible feeling settled in her gut.
"Let's get you inside," her mother said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her toward her bedroom.
When June had called her over, she hadn't expected to find her daughter like this, shattered, broken. Every word June had spoken, every frantic demand, had only deepened the worry pressing against her chest.
Once they were inside, June sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor, her fingers gripping the sheets as if they were the only thing keeping her together. Her mother knelt beside her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
"Did he do something wrong?" she asked, her voice soft but firm. She already knew the answer. Only one person had the power to bring June to this state.
"Talk to me, June. I know I haven't been the best mother, but I do listen to the words you say." She cupped her daughter's face, her thumbs wiping away the fresh tears streaming down her cheeks.
June's lips trembled as she struggled to form the words. Then, with a broken sob, she collapsed into her mother's arms.
"I don't know what to do, Mom," she whispered. "I'm… so hurt."
Her mother's arms tightened around her, holding her close, feeling the weight of her pain seep into her own heart.
Then came the words she had feared most.
"He cheated, Mom. He cheated."
Her mother's body stiffened. A heavy silence fell over the room, the weight of those words sinking deep into her chest.
She had stayed away for so many years, always afraid that she would somehow bring nothing but pain into her daughter's life. But nothing could have prepared her for this moment.
Because no one understood the piercing agony of betrayal better than she did.
The long, taunting nights. The sleepless eyes, swollen from crying. The endless ache that never truly faded.
And now, her daughter was living that same nightmare.
She wished she could take the pain away. She wished she could shield her from it.
But all she could do now was hold her close, hold her and promise that no matter what happened, she wouldn't have to face this alone.
….
"Dr. James, they're here."
James glanced up at the nurse standing at the door, then stepped forward, following her lead. His movements were measured, his expression unreadable as he approached the two men waiting for him.
"Hi," one of them said, extending a hand.
James hesitated before shaking it, his grip brief. The hesitation wasn't personal, just caution. Before introductions were even made, he had already taken in their appearance: sharp suits, high-polish hair combed to perfection, and most notably, their pale skin and light-colored eyes, which gave them an air of detachment. He didn't need much more to guess their purpose.
The nurse quickly stepped in, her voice formal. "Dr. James, this is Mr. Grey and Mr. Alex. They're from Hollins Hospital."
Right. That made sense.
James had reached out to them regarding Bella. She had been under medical care at Hollins, yet somehow, she had managed to escape the facility without proper authorization, without a sane mind to make that decision for herself. And, of course, the first place she ran to was home, where she had proceeded to ruin everything.
Mr. Grey offered an apologetic nod. "We sincerely regret the trouble this has caused, Dr. James. Clearly, we failed in keeping a tighter hold on Miss Bella. After her disappearance, we conducted an extensive search, but we were unable to locate her."
James didn't bother to mask his skepticism. Clearly, they didn't search well enough. If they had, she wouldn't have ended up here.
Still, he kept his tone measured. "I should thank you for showing up," he said, carefully matching their calm demeanor.
"Of course," Alex replied. His gaze shifted past James, catching sight of Bella.
She was seated in the far corner of the room, bound in a restraint garment that kept her hands locked away from herself and anything else she might use to cause harm. Her dark, tangled hair fell over her hollowed face, her eyes distant.
Alex exhaled, shaking his head slightly. It was worse than he had imagined.
Not that he was entirely surprised. Bella had a long history of rejecting medication, refusing treatment at every turn. The constant refusals had only worsened her condition, driving her deeper into a mental state that now seemed almost unreachable.
"Miss Bella suffers from schizoaffective disorder, primarily the bipolar type," Grey explained, his voice professional yet tinged with something close to sympathy. "Her symptoms began manifesting about three years ago."
James listened intently as the man continued.
"At the time, her career was in decline. Her shows were no longer the hits they once were, and the company soon signed a younger star to replace her. The trauma and stress of losing everything, her career, her status, sent her into a downward spiral. She withdrew from reality, slipping into a world of her own."
James remained silent as the pieces fell into place.
"The woman she often speaks to, the one she believes is her friend, is, in fact, the very girl who was brought in to replace her," Grey continued, glancing toward Bella.
James's jaw tightened.
"Shortly after the girl was welcomed into the industry, she was found dead in her apartment."
The room grew heavier with that revelation.
"The local police launched an investigation," Alex added, "and their findings linked the girl's death to Bella. However, Bella denied any involvement. Eventually, it was determined that she was not mentally competent to stand trial."
The weight of those words settled between them.
James inhaled deeply. So that was it.
A woman trapped in a mind that blurred the lines between reality and delusion. A life that had unraveled so completely, the past and present had fused into one long, endless nightmare.
And now, after years of slipping through the cracks, she had returned, only to find that there was nothing left of the world she had once known.
….
The moment Beth was given the slightest freedom to use her hands for food, she seized the opportunity. With quick, calculated movements, she loosened the restraints on her wrists and hurriedly worked to free her feet. Her heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled to her feet, ignoring the sharp pain from her bruises.
The abandoned building was a maze of concrete and rusted metal, each turn leading to another corridor of despair. But she didn't stop, she couldn't. She searched frantically for an exit, the dim light barely enough to guide her. Then, finally, a crack of sunlight touched her skin, and she pushed forward, stumbling toward the outside world.
Her legs, heavy from exhaustion, dragged as she staggered forward. The first people she spotted were a couple walking nearby.
"Can you help me?" she gasped, her voice hoarse.
The woman turned toward her, eyes widening in alarm.
"Can I use your phone to call my mom? Please," Beth pleaded, desperation lacing every word.
The woman hesitated for only a second before handing over her phone. Her gaze flickered to the bruises on Beth's forehead and legs, watching as the girl absentmindedly rubbed at them with trembling fingers.
"Dear, what's your name? Are you alright?" the woman asked gently, ignoring the wary look her male companion shot her.
Beth didn't answer. She frantically dialed her mother's number, pressing the phone to her ear.
Pick up, Mom… please pick up.
Each ring stretched unbearably long until the call finally went dead.
She swallowed hard and tried again.
Nothing.
By now, she had dialed both her parents' numbers multiple times, but neither call was answered. Her heart pounded louder with each failed attempt.
"Dear, you can tell me if you're in any kind of trouble," the woman coaxed.
Beth clutched the phone tighter, her breath shaky. "I, I am in trouble. She's insane. Call my mom. She ki—"
Her words were suddenly cut off.
"Hush, baby. Hush."
Beth's body stiffened at the chillingly familiar voice. Lizzy.
Before she could react, Lizzy's fingers clamped around her wrist, yanking it behind her back in a painful twist.
"I apologize for my daughter's behavior," Lizzy said smoothly, flashing an eerily composed smile. "You see, she suffers from a serious mental health condition. It's heartbreaking for me as a mother, but I do my best to care for her."
Beth's eyes widened in terror. "She's lying!" she screamed. "She's not my mother, she's a kidnapper! She'll kill me!"
Lizzy's lips curled in an awkward giggle, as if amused by Beth's outburst.
The woman holding the phone took a step back, her suspicion growing. "Ma'am, she says you're not her mother. Maybe we should call the police and let them sort this out."
Lizzy's expression faltered for the briefest moment before she forced a sigh, her eyes welling up with perfectly timed tears. "Of course, I am her mother," she insisted. "You have no idea what it's like, raising a child with such severe mental illness. I love her, but sometimes, she gets like this… delusional, paranoid. It breaks my heart."
Two or three tears slipped down her cheeks, her act flawless.
Beth shook her head violently. "No, she's lying! Please, don't let her take me!"
The woman hesitated, but her male companion was already pulling her away. "Enough," he said gruffly. "This isn't our business. Clearly, the girl needs medical help. Let her mother handle it."
"No, no, please.." Beth's cries were swallowed as Lizzy tightened her grip and forcefully dragged her back toward the desolate building.
The last thing she saw was the woman's guilty, regretful gaze before the door slammed shut behind her.
The Investigation Begins
"Is this the girl who approached you?" the officer asked, his sharp gaze fixed on the couple.
The woman clutched her hands together, looking down at the police station floor. On the desk in front of them, two phones vibrated repeatedly, Beth's parents' numbers flashing on the screen with multiple missed calls.
The inspector, a young but capable officer whose uniform fit his build with precise authority, didn't miss the detail. Forty-eight hours had passed since Beth was reported missing, and now, with every lead gathered, he was determined to bring the girl home.
The woman nodded quickly. "Yes, she's the same girl… but she looked so weak," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. She could still hear Beth's desperate pleas echoing in her mind.
Her male partner shifted uncomfortably beside her, casting her a disapproving glance. Clearly, he wasn't pleased that she had decided to come forward.
"Where is my daughter?!" Linda's anguished voice cut through the room. She turned to the woman with an accusing glare. "How could you just let a stranger take her away?!"
"Ma'am, please calm down and allow us to do our job," the inspector interjected firmly. He turned back to the woman. "Can you tell me exactly what happened next?"
The woman took a shaky breath. "A lady came by and took her away. She claimed to be her mother and said the girl suffered from mental illness. I… I wasn't sure whether to believe her, but…" She trailed off, her gaze dropping in shame.
The regret was evident on her face. If only she had trusted her instincts. If only she had pushed harder to help the girl. Maybe then, a mother wouldn't be standing here, crying in desperation.
"Can you recognize the woman if we show you some photos?" the inspector asked, sensing Linda's rising anger and hoping to redirect her focus.
The woman nodded quickly. "Yes, absolutely."
A moment later, a series of photos were displayed on a phone screen. The second Lizzy's image appeared, she stiffened.
"That's her," she confirmed immediately. "She's the woman who took the girl away."
Linda's breath hitched. Thomas, who had been standing beside her, closed his eyes for a brief second before opening them with newfound determination.
The inspector nodded sharply. "Bolly, get her location," he ordered.
At his words, another officer, who had remained silently observing, sprang into action.
The hunt for Lizzy had begun.
….
"Don't come any closer, or she dies!"
Lizzy's voice trembled, but her grip on the gun was steady. Her fingers hovered mere seconds away from the trigger, the cold barrel pressed against Beth's temple. The young girl stood frozen, her body rigid with fear, her breaths shallow and uneven.
All thanks to Linda.
The plan had been carefully laid out, each move calculated to ensure Beth's safe return. But the moment Linda heard her daughter's terrified screams, instinct had taken over. She had stormed inside, disregarding every precaution. And now, Lizzy was cornered, but with a hostage.
"Please, Lizzy, put down the gun," Thomas pleaded, stepping forward cautiously, his hands raised in surrender. His voice was calm, but his heart pounded against his ribs. "You don't want to hurt her."
Lizzy tilted her head slightly, lips curling into a devious smirk. The glint in her eyes was far from reason, it was pure darkness.
"Funny how you talk as if you know me," she murmured, her voice dripping with venom. "As if you ever truly knew me."
Her grip on the gun tightened.
"This is all your fault, Thomas. We're here because of you."
"Lizzy, please"
"If only you had come when I needed you. If only you had answered my calls. Then maybe, maybe my baby would still be alive!"
Her free hand clutched at her stomach, as though cradling the child she had lost. A broken sob escaped her lips, but the sorrow lasted only a moment before fury took its place.
"But it's gone now. My baby. My dreams. And it's all your fault!"
She screamed the last words, shoving the gun harder against Beth's dark, tangled hair. The girl whimpered, her body trembling violently.
Thomas took another slow step forward, his voice thick with remorse. "This is my fault. I accept that, Lizzy. I failed you. You deserved better. But Beth had nothing to do with any of this. Please… let her go."
Lizzy's face contorted into something almost unrecognizable.
"Nothing?" she repeated, her voice hollow.
A bitter chuckle slipped past her lips, her head shaking in disbelief.
"She's everything to do with this!" she spat. "She stole you from me! She took away my happiness, my future. My baby! While I suffered, she was with you, enjoying what should have been mine!"
Her hands trembled now, but her grip on the weapon never wavered.
"So it's only right," she whispered, a chilling smile forming on her lips, "that I send her to the same place my baby went."
"Don't you dare!"
Linda's furious voice sliced through the air like a blade.
Lizzy's gaze snapped toward her, and her fingers instinctively tightened around Beth's arm, making the girl cry out in pain.
"Just like my baby," Lizzy continued, her voice eerily calm, "yours will be gone too. Then you'll know what it feels like to lose a child."
In the background, the inspector moved into position. His sharp eyes met Thomas's, giving him a silent command.
Keep her talking.
Thomas swallowed hard and took another small step forward. "Lizzy, listen to me. You're right. I should have been there for you. But killing Beth won't bring your baby back. It won't take away your pain. Please, let her go."
For the briefest moment, something flickered in Lizzy's expression. Doubt.
And in that split second
The inspector struck.
He lunged from behind, grabbing her arm and twisting it backward in a swift, practiced motion. Lizzy let out a strangled scream, the gun slipping from her grip. It clattered to the floor as she struggled violently, but the officer was quicker.
With a sharp click, the handcuffs locked around her wrists.
"It's over, Lizzy," the inspector said firmly.
"No!" she shrieked, thrashing against the restraints. "No, no, no! You don't get to win!"
Beth, freed from her grasp, stood in stunned silence for a heartbeat before she turned and bolted straight into her mother's arms.
"Mom!"
Linda sobbed as she pulled her daughter close, holding her as if she'd never let go again. Thomas joined them, wrapping them both in a protective embrace.
From where she was being dragged toward the police car, Lizzy's furious voice rang out:
"This isn't over! Do you hear me?! It's not over! I'll have her killed!"
The doors slammed shut, muffling her screams.
But even as the car pulled away, an eerie chill lingered in the air.
….
Elsewhere, in the dim glow of a flickering streetlamp, a lone figure stood outside an old, abandoned building.
A slow, knowing smile spread across his lips.
"Roland."
His voice was deep, rich with a dangerous kind of amusement.
"I'm back," he murmured. His fingers traced the scar along his jaw, a remnant of the past he had never forgotten.
"And this time…"
His eyes gleamed with dark intent.
"I won't leave until I make you mine."