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.

for all her scheming against her flesh and blood, it was Leanne, the adopted granddaughter from outside the

stubbornness and evasion, but in front of Leanne, she often found herself at

Mary said, trying to reach out to Leanne with a warmth that belied her usual demeanor. "How was your day

hand hanging and her smile

confronted her, "What really happened to my parents?

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

Leanne, this affection felt more painful than any harsh word could ever be. As she tried to hold back

kidnapped us... I never forgot the mark on his hand.

The truth hovered before Leanne, fragile as a thin sheet of paper, piercing it through felt like

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