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.

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

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

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

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

confronted her, "What really happened to my

"Darling, let's not talk about that. Can't things go back to

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

saw 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 who

hovered before Leanne, fragile as a thin sheet

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255