I stepped into the house, still numb from the funeral, only to freeze at the sight before me.

Karylle. Sitting comfortably on my couch.

Will stood beside her, arms crossed. “Karylle’s here to offer her condolences.”

I stared at him. Then at her. A slow, mocking smile crept onto my lips. “Condolences?” My voice dripped with bitterness. “I buried our daughter alone, Will. You weren’t even there. So don’t insult me by pretending you care now.”

Will’s face darkened. “What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”

I let out a hollow laugh. “Acting like what? Like a grieving mother? Like a woman whose husband didn’t even bother showing up to his daughter’s funeral?” My voice rose, sharp and unforgiving. “Tell me, Will, where were you? Oh, wait—I already know. With her.”

His jaw tightened. “You were the one driving the car, Helena.”

The words sliced through me like a blade.

I sucked in a sharp breath. “You’re blaming me?”

He didn’t even hesitate. “If you had been more careful, Hayley would still be alive.”

My stomach twisted. My hands shook. My heart cracked open all over again. “You coward,” I whispered, rage shaking through my body. “You know the truth, but you can’t even face it. It was an accident I never wanted to happen!”

Karylle stepped forward, her face carefully composed, but I saw right through it. The fake concern, the practiced sorrow—it made my skin crawl.

“Enough,” she said softly, tilting her head as if she were the reasonable one here. “You shouldn’t be fighting like this. Hayley just—”

“Stay away from me, from us!” I cut her off, my voice shaking with fury. “You ruined our family!”

Her lips parted, feigning shock, but I saw it. The flicker of something else. Satisfaction? Triumph? Whatever it was, it made my stomach churn.

Will moved instantly, stepping in front of her, shielding her like she was something fragile, something precious. His hand gripped her arm, his jaw tight with anger. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

I let out a cold, bitter laugh. “Of course. Of course, you’d defend her.” I shook my head, my chest heaving. “She’s the one who tore this family apart, and you stand there protecting her? While our daughter—” My voice broke, the weight of my grief pressing down like a crushing force.

Will’s eyes darkened. “This isn’t about Karylle. It’s about you. You’re the one who can’t let go of the past.”

My blood ran cold. “The past?” I echoed, my hands clenching into fists. “Hayley is dead. She is not the past. She was our daughter, and you—” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You weren’t even there.”

Karylle placed a hand on Will’s chest, as if calming him. “She’s grieving,” she murmured, glancing up at him like she was the victim in all of this. “She doesn’t mean it.”

I saw red.

“I don’t mean it?” My voice came out quiet, deadly. “I meant every damn word.” I turned my gaze to Will. “She took everything from me, and you let her. You chose her over me. Over Hayley.”

“What are you saying?” He acted innocent.

I was done. I turned and walked away, ignoring Will’s voice calling after me. I made it to my room, locking the door behind me before my legs gave out beneath me.

And then I broke.

I buried my face in my hands, sobs racking my body. Pain clawed at my throat, my chest, my soul. The weight of everything crashed down on me—Hayley, Will, the betrayal, the loss.

But I couldn’t stay like this.

It was time.

I wiped my tears and grabbed my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed.

“Hello?”

“I want to file for divorce.”

The words came out steady, final. There was no turning back.

The lawyer sighed. “Understood. We’ll begin the process immediately.”

I ended the call, my heart hammering.

This was it. I was leaving.

I pulled out my suitcase and started packing. Clothes. Essentials. But my hands hesitated when I reached Hayley’s things. Her favorite dress. The stuffed bunny she never slept without. Her tiny shoes.

I held them close, inhaling the faint scent that still lingered. Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to fall apart again.

I would carry her with me. Always.

As I zipped up the suitcase, voices from outside caught my attention.

I stepped closer to the window.

It was Karylle.

Her voice was low, but I heard every word.

“Make sure no one finds out that I was the one who caused the accident of Helena and Hayley.”

I stepped into the hallway, my pulse pounding. Karylle’s words echoed in my head.

“Make sure no one finds out that I was the one who caused the accident of Helena and Hayley.”

My vision blurred with rage. My body moved before I could think. I stormed toward her, my voice sharp and cutting. “What did you just say?”

Karylle turned, her face paling. “W-what?”

“You caused the accident?” My voice shook, not with fear, but with fury. “You killed Hayley.. for what? For your daughter? Is that it?”

Panic flickered in her eyes before she masked it. “You misunderstood,” she said quickly, stepping back. “I never—”

“I heard you.” I took another step forward, my fists clenched. “Say it again. Look me in the eyes and lie to me.”

She squared her shoulders, regaining her composure. “You’re crazy. I had nothing to do with it.”

Liar.

The next moment, I grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her toward me. She gasped, trying to pull away. “Let go of me!”

But I didn’t. My anger, my grief, my pain—it all came crashing down. “You stole my husband. You stole my life. And now, I find out you stole my daughter, too?”

She struggled, shoving me back. “You have no proof!”

“I don’t need proof.” I pushed her, and she stumbled back. “I know what I heard.”

Karylle lunged at me, nails clawing at my arm. “You’re insane!”

I fought back, shoving her harder. She lost her balance, crashing onto the floor with a sharp cry.

That was the moment Will walked in.

His eyes widened as he saw Karylle sprawled on the ground, clutching her side. “What the hell is going on?!”

Karylle whimpered, her hands trembling. “She attacked me! She’s blaming me for the accident, Will. She—” she choked on a sob, “—she won’t let go of her hatred.”

Will’s gaze snapped to me, dark and furious. “You did this?”

I scoffed, breathing heavily. “You’re seriously asking me that?”

Karylle whimpered again, shifting on the floor as she clutched her stomach. “She—she just snapped, Will. I don’t know why she’s blaming me!” Her voice broke as she let out a shaky sob. “I would never—”

I let out a cold, bitter laugh. “You would never?” I stepped forward, pointing at her. “I heard you, Karylle! You admitted it yourself!”

Will turned to me, his expression hardening. “You expect me to believe that?”

I clenched my fists, my body trembling. “You should. But you won’t, will you? Because it’s her. Because it’s always her.”

Karylle sobbed louder, curling into herself. “I’m scared, Will,” she whispered. “She pushed me…”

Will’s face twisted with panic. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands hovering over her as though afraid to touch her. “Are you hurt?”

She sniffled, nodding weakly. “It hurts…”

I watched the scene unfold, my breath shallow. It was sickening—watching him care, watching him worry when he had done nothing for Hayley.

I had been bleeding, too. I had lost everything.

And he hadn’t even looked at me.

Will lifted Karylle into his arms. “We’re going to the hospital.”

I took a step forward. “Will, you need to listen to me.”

But he wasn’t listening. He didn’t even turn around.

“She’s dangerous,” Karylle murmured against his chest.

His grip on her tightened, his jaw clenching.

And then—he shoved me aside.

I stumbled, barely catching myself against the wall. For a moment, I just stood there, frozen, my heart cracking into a million jagged pieces.

He had chosen. He had always chosen. I watched them disappear through the door, Karylle still crying into his chest, his arms still holding her like she was the only thing that mattered.

And just like that, I was alone.

Again.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had cried enough.

That was the last straw.

I turned, my mind clear for the first time in weeks. My feet carried me toward the one room.

Carmela. Will and Karylle’s daughter.

My hands trembled as I reached out, brushing a strand of dark hair from her forehead. She looked so peaceful, so unaware of the sins of her parents.

A part of me hesitated. But then I remembered.

Hayley’s laughter. Her tiny hands gripping mine. Her screams—before everything went black.

They had taken my daughter from me. Now, they would know what it felt like to lose theirs.

I lifted Carmela into my arms. She stirred but didn’t wake, her small fingers curling against my shirt.

Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them away.

This wasn’t just revenge. This was justice.

Holding her close, I stepped into the night.

By the time they realized she was gone—I would be, too.

The airport was bustling with noise—announcements echoing through the speakers, the chatter of travelers, the rolling of suitcases against the tile floor. But none of it mattered to me.

I clutched Carmela tightly in my arms, my heart racing. She was still asleep, her tiny face peaceful against my shoulder.

By the time we boarded the plane, my breathing had steadied. I settled into my seat, holding her close, feeling the weight of what I had done. What I was about to do.

A soft whimper broke through the quiet hum of the plane’s engine.

Carmela stirred, shifting slightly. Her big eyes blinked open, groggy and confused. I panicked, unsure of how she would react. Yes, I had stolen her, but she was still just a child. I couldn’t afford chaos inside the plane—if she screamed, Will and Karylle might find out too soon. I could only hope she stayed quiet.

“Mommy?” she mumbled, her voice laced with sleep.

I froze. My grip tightened around her. She was looking for Karylle. Of course, it was her daughter. But right now, no Karylle. It was just me and her.

I forced a smile. “Your mommy will come soon.”

She pouted, rubbing her eyes. “Where is she?”

I hesitated. “She’s… not here right now.”

Carmela let out a sleepy sigh before resting her head against my shoulder again. “Okay.”

I exhaled, tension easing just a little. She didn’t cry. What a good kid. She was such a sweet child. Innocent. For a moment, my mind betrayed me. Hayley’s face flashed before my eyes—her bright smile, her giggles as she ran toward me, her small arms wrapping around my waist.

I swallowed hard, pushing the thought away. I didn’t want to cry so I couldn’t think about Hayley. Not now.

I couldn’t kill Carmela, either. That would be too cruel for an innocent child. And my daughter’s heart was inside her.

But I could steal her—take her away from them. Make them feel the pain I felt. The agony. The emptiness. They took Hayley from me. Now, I’d take Carmela from them… and make them suffer for the rest of their life.

After all, she had my daughter’s heart. That made her mine.

As I waited for the flight to take off, my phone vibrated.

I glanced at the screen.

A text from Will. Of course, he would have known by now that Carmela was missing.

Where’s Carmela?

I stared at the message, my pulse steady. Another text came in seconds later.

Helena, where is she?

A bitter smile curled on my lips. He was panicking. Good.

Then my phone rang.

I let it ring, tapping my fingers against my knee as I watched the passengers settle into their seats. The flight attendants moved through the aisles, checking seatbelts, preparing for takeoff.

My heart pounded, but I refused to let the nerves show. I could picture him now—pacing, his hands running through his hair, his face twisted with fear.

The same fear I had felt when I woke up in that hospital. When I realized Hayley was gone. When I heard him whisper the most unforgivable words.

He had chosen. And it hadn’t been us.

The phone kept ringing. Once. Twice. Three times.

Then, finally, I answered.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, feigning confusion.

Will’s voice came through instantly, sharp and breathless. “Do you have Carmela?”

I smirked, tilting my head back against the seat, my fingers tightening around the phone. “Why would I have your child?”

“Helena, don’t do this,” he snapped, frustration lacing his voice. “Tell me where you are.”

I laughed softly, a sound that lacked any warmth. “I’m somewhere you don’t know, Will. I’m done. I don’t want to be with you anymore, so feel free to be with Karylle. Don’t disturb me anymore.”

Silence.

I could hear him breathing, his restraint breaking piece by piece.

“My patience is running out, Helena,” he warned, his voice cold. “Where is my daughter?”

I rolled my eyes, my grip on the phone tightening. “Now you care? Now you call her your daughter?” My voice sharpened, anger slipping through. “You never cared when it was Hayley. You let her die, Will. You gave her heart away like she was nothing. So tell me—why should I care where Carmela is?”

A sharp inhale. A pause. He wasn’t expecting that.

“Helena,” he started again, slower this time, like he was trying to calm a storm. “I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurting. But don’t do something you’ll regret.”

I clenched my jaw, the fury boiling under my skin. Regret? Regret?

I regretted believing in him. I regretted loving him. I regretted thinking that he would ever protect our family.

But this?

I would never regret this.

“Where are you?” he pushed again.

I smiled, even though he couldn’t see it. “Somewhere you’ll never find me.”

“Helena—”

I hung up.

But I wasn’t done yet.

After securing Carmela in her seat, I made another call.

A number I had saved long ago. An agency that specialized in deception, in creating chaos.

When the voice on the other end answered, I spoke clearly. “I need you to contact Will Collins and Karylle Vega.”

There was a pause. Then, “And what should we tell them?”

“That their daughter has been kidnapped.”