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.

scheming against her flesh and blood, it was Leanne, the

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

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

hanging

"What really happened to my parents? Please don't lie

and guilt, "Darling, let's not talk about that. Can't things

be. As she tried to hold back her tears, they

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

collapsed onto the couch. The truth hovered before Leanne, fragile as a thin sheet of paper, piercing it through felt

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