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

evasion, but in front of Leanne,

of boredom," Mary said, trying to reach out to Leanne with a warmth that belied her usual

outstretched hand hanging and her smile fading into a

happened to my parents? Please don't

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

felt more painful than any harsh word could ever be. As she tried to hold back her tears, they broke through,

out. "The man who kidnapped us... I never

truth hovered before Leanne, fragile as a thin sheet of paper, piercing it

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