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.

it was Leanne, the adopted granddaughter from outside the

Curtis with her usual mix of stubbornness and evasion, but in front of Leanne, she often found

mind his nonsense. He's just looking for trouble out of boredom," Mary said, trying to reach out to Leanne with a warmth that belied her usual demeanor. "How was your day out? Did Curtis feed you too much? Your face looks all plump and cute. Come here, let me have a

pulled away, leaving Mary's outstretched hand hanging and her smile fading into

her, "What really happened

a mix of love and guilt, "Darling, let's not talk

than any harsh word could ever be. As she tried to hold back

the birthmark on Hanley's hand," she choked out. "The man who kidnapped us... I never forgot the mark on his hand. Hanley was the one

the couch. The truth hovered before Leanne, fragile as a thin sheet of paper,

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