Winifred had climbed the ranks in the Umbre Organization, second only to Fay. She’d earned her ce through sheer grit, proving she wasn’t just riding on coattails

    After wrapping up a tough job, she got home, shrugged off her coat, and headed straight for the bathroom. She needed ba /bsoak–she reeked of blood.

    She had just settled into the tub when the door clicked open. Instantly, she tensed up, but as soon as she recognized the familiar footsteps, Winifred let herself rx and sank back into the water.

    Rowena walked in wearing a strappy nightgown. Seeing Winifred soaking in the tub, her eyes softened with concern. She slowly walked over and ced her hand gently on Winifred’s shoulder.

    “Let me give you a shoulder rub,” Rowena offered quietly,

    Winifred didn’t think anything of it. After ball/b, she and Rowena had been living together for years, they were close, so this felt perfectly natural

    But t

    the next moment, Winifred sensed that something was wrong.

    Rowena kept pressing toward her corbone. Winifred’s eyes flew open just as Rowena’s cool lips suddenly pressed against hers.

    Winifred’s pupils trembled. Water sshed everywhere as she bolted from the tub, fleeing to the door. She leaned against it, chest heaving, her eyes full of disbelief.

    Winifred hurriedly got dressed and was about to make a run for it when Rowena grabbed her from behind, pulling her binto /ba tight embrace.

    “Winifred, don’t go. Will byou /bstay with me for a bit Rowena pleaded softly.

    The press of their bare skin made bWinifred’s /bwhole body jolt. She’d always been the calm and collected type, but right now, her heart bwas /bin total chaos–she had no idea what to do..

    Winifred pulled Rowena’s hands off her. “I have something to take care of, she said, trying to sound calm, but inside, she was a mess Winifred couldn’t believe it. When did she–when did Rowena start feeling this way?

    How did I not notice anything at all?

    “No, that’s not right!

    Actually, maybe there were signs… I just never bthought /babout it that way, she wondered.

    Rowena bwas /bno longer the naive little starlet she once was. Now, she was a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, a household name across the country. But in the endb, /bball /bshe really wanted was just one person by her side.

    “Winifred, I need to tell you something. You know- Rowena started.

    Before she could finish, Winifred quickly cut her off, “Rowena, stop. I don’t want to hear it. We’re best friends–always have been, always will be. Get some rest, okay? I really have to go take care of something”

    With that, Winifred briskly left the гост, but Rowena ran after her.

    “Stop! Winifred, stop right there!” Rowena shouted.

    Rowena’s shout bmade /bWinifred stop in her tracksb, /bbut she didn’t look back.

    Upstairs, Rowena was wearing ba /bck spaghand–strap top.

    Her skin was so fair it balmost /bseemed to glow, band /bher long legs made her five–foot–seven frame blook /beven taller.

    She slowly walked down the bstairs /bin her sandals.

    “Rowena, I’ve already said everything I needed to say” Winifred bwas /babout to leave when her blegs /bsuddenly went weak beneath her.

    11:26 AM C

    Her eyes went wide as she spun around. “You… you drugged me!”

    Rowena came up beside her. “Winifred, we’re best friends, aren’t we? Do you like Fay or Sean?”

    ay Winifred could answer her at a moment like thisb. /b

    There was no way

    But Winifred quickly realized the dog had already worn off.

    Looking into Rowena’s pained eyes, Winifred didn’t know what to say.

    Tears slid from the corners of Rowena’s eyes, and she lookedpletely shattered, as if the whole world had wronged her.

    Just go. The bdrug /bonlysts three minutes, bRowena /bsaid, her bvoice /bhollow as she turned her gaze away.

    Winifred stood up, watching Rowena’s lonely figure as she walked upstairs. She gritted her teeth and turned to bleave/b.

    As she heard Winifred’s footsteps fading away, Rowena clenched her fists bso /bhard her bnails /bdug into her palms.

    The new year had arrived, and the Hart family was buzzing with excitement. The ce bwas /blit up withnterns and decorations, firecrackers popping nonstop.

    The three little kids were dashing around the yard, and bas /bbsoon /bas they saw Siennaing over, they swarmed her like bees flocking to a flower. “Mommy!”

    Sienna bent down and sat with them, gently wiping the sweat from their foreheads. Her voice was soft, and her eyes seemed to overflow with endless affection.

    “Hey, easy,” she said softly.

    Caleb blushed. gave Sienna a quick kiss, then shyly hid behind Matthew

    Meanwhile, Renee pouted. When she saw Sienna get kissed by Calebb, /bshe immediately burst into tears

    Julian hurried over and scooped Renee into his arms. “Renee, tell Daddy who bullied you?”

    Rener pointed straight at Caleb

    As usual, Caleb got a good scolding from bJulian/b.

    b“/bbDad/b, I didn’t bully her! Renee’s just being a drama queen,” Caleb protested.

    “Dad, are you seriously spanking me right now?” he whined.

    Julian Ford, when I grow up, I’m totally unplugging your life support! And I’m gonna find myself ten new stepdads!” he shouted, bmilking /bthe drama for all it was worth.

    “Help! Aunties, uncles, save me! Julian Ford is abusing me! Mommy!” he wailed, bhis /bcries echoing through the house.”

    Sienna took Matthew and Renee by the hand. “That’s enough. Don’t scare him.

    Julian hadn’t even raised his hand, but Caleb was already bawling like he’d been bthrough /bbsome /bkind of tortureb. /bAnyone listening would think he’d just survived a disaster.

    Sienna scooped Caleb up and kissed his chubby little cheek.

    Caleb hid in her arms, sniffling pitifully, but bshot /ba triumphant look at Matthew and Renee.

    Renee pouted and clung to Sienna’s leg, her babyish voice totally melting Julian’s heart.

    “Mommy, I want a hug too! And ba /bkiss!” she said, her voice all bsoft /band adorable.

    Julian bsaid/b, “Renee, how about bDaddy /bbgives /bbyou /bba /bhug?”

    Renee looked up at Julian and could only nod.

    “Matthew, I got this for byou/bb, /bbNathan /bsaid, handing him ba /bbook.

    Matthew’s eyes lit up–it was a simplified business guide, just the kind he liked. Thanks, Uncle Nathan.”

    “You’re wee! Come on, I’m taking you to get something super tasty, Nathan grinned, scooping Matthew up as he walked toward

    Vivianb. /b

    Hudson trailed behind Amber, dragging his suitcase. “Sienna, I’m back, she called out.

    Sienna waved them over. “d you’re home! Dinner’s almost ready.”

    “Okay.” Amber slipped off her coat and handed it to Hudson. The international academic conference bhad /breally broadened her horizons this time.