Adam dressed and headed downstairs, his jaw tight with unspoken frustration. He grabbed his keys, avoiding Daphne's eyes as he moved toward the door.
"Hey, son… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that," Daphne said softly.
"Don't bother." His reply was cold, clipped.
"At least have breakfast before you leave," she pleaded.
"I'm not hungry."
"Speaking of going out—where are you heading?"
"The hospital. Why?"
"Nothing. Just… take care," Daphne said with a small wave.
Adam walked out without another word. Daphne sighed heavily, muttering under her breath. "And now he abandons work again. Perfect."
* * * * * *
At Dawn's apartment, tension crackled in the air.
"After all my warnings, Leslie, you still snuck out at midnight," Dawn scolded, her voice filled with disappointment.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—" Leslie began.
"But you did anyway." Dawn cut her off, her eyes sharp with hurt.
"I didn't want it to cause a fight between you two," Tara chimed in with feigned sympathy, "but I thought it was better you knew about Leslie's behavior. You deserve honesty."
"I know what you're up to," Leslie snapped. "Something about you screams bad news."
"Enough, Leslie," Dawn said firmly. "Thank you for the information, Tara."
"You're welcome." Tara put on a meek smile and slipped out, her act as polished as ever.
As soon as she was gone, Leslie turned back to her sister. "I know I messed up, but Tara is planning to destroy our family. You have to believe me."
"When were you planning to tell me? After everything we've been through, you still break my rules and keep secrets from me?" Dawn asked, her disappointment cutting deeper than anger.
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"Bet. You're grounded for a week."
"Come on! I'm your favorite, remember?" Leslie tried to joke.
"Two weeks. And no, you're not my favorite," Dawn said, heading upstairs.
Leslie groaned, collapsing on the couch while Jason plopped beside her.
"I know this is hard to take in but… in your face, sucker." Jason teased.
"I'm done having a twin. Someone please take him away." Leslie muttered.
"Me and you, sis." Jason winked.
"Okay, jokes aside—Tara is playing a game," Leslie said, her tone shifting serious.
"Yeah. She knew we were planning to expose her. But how?"
"She must've overheard us."
"That's the only possibility," Jason agreed.
"First she set up Alex, now she's turning Dawn against me. But she doesn't realize—I'm no prey. I'm the predator." Leslie said, striking a dramatic pose.
"Dude, it's just me here. You're not a detective. Cut it out." Jason rolled his eyes.
"Whoa, for a second, I thought I was a cop," Leslie said.
"Keep dreaming." Jason headed toward his room.
"I've found my new calling! Guys, I want to be a cop!" Leslie shouted upstairs before retreating to her room.
* * * * * *
At the pizzeria, Alex was working her shift when Tara strolled in. Alex grabbed her wrist tightly, fury flashing in her eyes.
"What are you up to?" Alex hissed.
"You're harassing a customer. Is there no policy against that? Do you want to lose your job?" Tara said smoothly, prying her hand free.
"Cut the act. You borrowed my phone, and suddenly Dawn saw that mysterious message. Coincidence? I don't think so."
"You might say that." Tara smirked.
"Bullshit! You set me up. And sending your mom to meet me at the shop—another one of your games."
"Your words, not mine." Tara leaned casually on the counter. "Now, I'll take a coffee."
Alex stormed off, returned with the cup, and shoved it toward her. "Choke on it."
"Thank you." Tara smiled sweetly as she walked away, then paused at the door.
"Oh, and delete the recording. It won't help you. Not enough evidence."
Alex froze, her stomach dropping. She had hidden a recorder, hoping for a confession. How on earth did Tara know? How could she be this calculated?
* * * * * *
Later, Dawn grabbed her bag. "Daphne wants to see me. Stay indoors until I get back." She emphasized "indoors," glaring at Leslie.
"Why don't you just take us with you?" Leslie suggested.
"No."
"That way you can keep an eye on us. Win-win."
Dawn sighed, defeated. "Do you keep a charm under your pillow or something?"
"Sadly, no."
"Sadly? You've got to be kidding. Fine. Let's go."
* * * * * *
At Daphne's mansion, she hung up her phone as Dawn and the kids walked in.
"Welcome, dearies," she said warmly, hugging each of them.
"I have a question, Miss Daphne," Leslie said.
"Swallow it," Dawn warned immediately.
"Let her ask," Daphne chuckled.
"Why don't you have a butler or a chef? You're rich, right?"
Daphne laughed. "Because I promised myself never to let wealth make me lazy. Being rich doesn't mean being useless. And as you can see, I'm fit as a fiddle."
The kids' eyes widened in admiration.
"I'm going to see Adam," Amy said.
"You hang out with him all the time but not me, your bro," Jason whined.
"He's handsome," Amy teased, darting upstairs. The room erupted in laughter.
"She didn't mean that," Jason tried to defend her.
"She definitely did. And I'm tired of seeing your boring face. Bye." Leslie followed her upstairs.
"Well, since the girls abandoned us, I'll stay with the adults," Jason said.
Dawn shot him a look.
"Or… maybe I'll just join them." He scrambled off.
"You live with this every day?" Daphne laughed.
"They're annoying but sweet," Dawn said, smiling.
Daphne's face grew serious. She leaned closer. "I need to tell you what happened yesterday. Adam… he's lonely again."
Upstairs, Adam sat with the kids, laughing at their banter.
"You two should have each other's backs," he advised.
"I like getting her in trouble. It gives me a new kind of joy," Jason said.
"That joy is called psychoness," Leslie quipped.
"But we haven't seen you much lately," Amy said gently. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Sure."
"My mom said not to bother you, so… no more questions," Amy added.
"Your mom?" Adam asked, puzzled.
"Dawn. She raised me, so she's my mom," Amy said proudly.
They spent a while talking about Dawn before Adam finally asked, "What about Tara?"
"You mean witch, snake, vampire?" Leslie said without hesitation.
"I don't know her that well," Amy admitted, "but Leslie says she's bad news."
"She's the mother of evil plots. Stay away from her," Leslie warned.
"She's only mad because she's grounded," Jason pointed out, making them all laugh.
But Adam didn't laugh. His mind drifted elsewhere, weighed down by thoughts he couldn't shake.