Dawn and Daphne were still talking in the kitchen, the atmosphere softened with warmth.
"I'll try my best," Dawn said quietly.
"Thank you, dear," Daphne replied with gratitude, her eyes shimmering with pride. She reached out, giving Dawn's hand a squeeze. Dawn smiled back, though her heart carried a storm no one else could see.
She nodded at Daphne and went upstairs to fetch her siblings. When she entered Adam's room, laughter echoed, the kids sprawled around Adam as if he were already part of their family. Dawn's lips curved at the sight, but reality pulled her back. She called them to leave, and everyone bid Adam goodbye. Dawn too turned to go—but Adam's voice stopped her.
"Dawn."
She paused, heart skipping.
"Are you okay?" she asked, reading his troubled expression.
"Yeah… I am," Adam muttered, but his eyes betrayed him. He confessed everything Tara had whispered to him—the poisonous lies about Dawn replacing Ava.
Dawn froze. Her chest tightened with rage and disbelief. If Tara was the one feeding Adam lies, then Alex… Alex had been telling the truth all along. Dawn's voice trembled as she defended herself. "Adam, my intentions are clean. I am not trying to replace anyone."
Adam's gaze softened, the walls of doubt crumbling. "I know. I trust you."
Relief flickered through her. She whispered a thank you, then left, her thoughts spinning. Alex. Had she been unfair? Too quick to judge? Betrayal and guilt weighed her down. By the time she reached home, her heart was in pieces.
Her siblings noticed instantly.
"What are you going to do?" Jason asked cautiously.
"I won't confront Tara yet," Dawn said, voice laced with determination. "I want to catch her red-handed."
"Do you have a plan… or do you need one?" Leslie smirked.
Dawn rolled her eyes. "From you? No thanks."
* * * * * *
At Peige's house, Tara smirked as though victory already belonged to her.
"Dawn is so stupid. It makes her an easy target."
Peige arched a brow. "Why are you doing this? Why help me complete my mission?"
Tara's eyes darkened. "I'm not doing this for fun. I'm doing it for revenge."
Peige's lips parted in shock. Tara hadn't always been this way. What had broken her?
* * * * * *
At the pizzeria, Alex served her last customer with a practiced smile before removing her apron for lunch break. But her steps halted when she spotted Dawn sitting at a corner table. Her chest tightened. She considered avoiding her, but Dawn's voice cut through the room.
"I need to speak with you."
Alex hesitated, then sat, bracing herself. Dawn poured everything out, the lies, the manipulations, and finally, her apology. Tears welled in Alex's eyes, hurt spilling over.
"So, you finally found out," she whispered bitterly. "I'm glad you know the truth now."
"I'm so sorry, Alex. I hurt you when you were the one who always had my back."
Alex shook her head, her voice cracking. "You call me your friend, but you couldn't even trust me. You believed her… you believed Tara."
"I didn't believe her, I believed the evidence," Dawn pleaded.
"And who told you to check my phone? Tara, right?" Alex asked, eyes blazing. Dawn's silence was the answer.
Alex's chair scraped back as she stood. "I don't have the strength for this. It's my lunch break, Dawn. Enjoy your life… good luck." She walked away, leaving Dawn hollow with regret.
* * * * * *
Time moved, but the wounds lingered. Dawn and Adam began finding their way back to each other, though Tara's shadow loomed over them.
At the hospital, Adam sat by Ava's bed, voice low and tender. He told her everything—about the family, about Dawn—because deep down, he believed she could hear him. Dawn stood quietly by his side, her hand resting on his shoulder, steadying him.
They were about to leave when the door creaked open. Tara entered.
"Hi, cuz. Hey, Adam," she purred.
Dawn's fists clenched. She bit back her words and stormed out before she exploded. Adam's voice dropped cold. "Stay away from me. Stay away from Ava. I mean it." He shoved her out and walked past her, jaw tight.
* * * * * *
Later, at the Manchester house, Daphne was preparing lunch. Dawn rushed to help, but Daphne only smiled. "Go sit with Adam." Dawn obeyed, warmth tugging at her lips.
"Why didn't you tell her anything?" Adam asked quietly.
"Because nothing good comes from people like Tara and her mother," Dawn said bitterly.
Adam reached for her hand. "Don't worry. You have me and Mom now. They can't touch you."
Her heart melted. "Thank you."
* * * * * *
Upstairs, at Dawn's house, Leslie and Jason were whispering when Amy walked in.
"You two aren't fighting?" Amy teased.
"Not today," Leslie smirked.
"Miracle," Jason muttered.
But the peace shattered when Tara suddenly appeared.
"What's wrong with Dawn?" she demanded.
"After setting me up, you still have the guts to come here?" Leslie snapped.
"My dear, all bark, no bite," Tara sneered.
Leslie stood, eyes blazing. Without hesitation, she grabbed a bucket of cold water and dumped it over Tara. Tara shrieked, soaked to the bone.
"I've got bark, yeah. But my bite?" Leslie smirked. "Deadly. Now get out."
Jason and Amy burst into laughter as Tara stormed out, humiliated.
"You sure you're not adopted?" Jason teased. "You're the only psycho here."
Leslie narrowed her eyes. "Want a taste too?"
Jason raised his hands in surrender. "Pass." The room roared with laughter.
* * * * * *
Back at the Manchester's, lunch ended and Dawn was clearing the plates when Adam appeared.
"Do you need something?" she asked softly. He didn't answer.
Instead, he stepped closer, eyes searching hers. Before Dawn could speak again, Adam leaned in and kissed her. Her eyes widened in shock—her heart, however, betrayed her, beating faster than ever.