Mary was on the cusp of her 80th birthday, a milestone that seemed both monumental and just another day in her long life of ups and downs.

She had lived through storms and even stirred up a few herself.

Reaching this age, she was as crafty and sharp as they come.

Mary had a knack for playing her family like a chessboard, always staying several moves ahead.

From manipulating the press to force Maddox and Jennifer to adopt Leanne, to orchestrating moral dilemmas that led to Leanne's marriage to Curtis, Mary was always in control.

her flesh and blood, it was Leanne, the adopted granddaughter from outside the family, who was her greatest

handle Curtis with her usual mix of stubbornness and evasion, but in front

with a warmth that belied her usual demeanor. "How was your day out? Did Curtis feed you too much? Your face looks all

away, leaving Mary's outstretched hand hanging and her

tears, Leanne confronted her, "What really happened to my

reddened with a mix of love and guilt, "Darling, let's not talk about that. Can't things go back to how they

any harsh word could ever be. As she tried to hold back her tears, they broke

I never forgot the mark on his hand. Hanley was the one

visibly shaken and struggling to remain standing, finally collapsed onto the couch. The truth hovered before Leanne, fragile as a thin sheet of paper, piercing it through

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