WS MANSION
"Stop!!"
"Please, just stop!" an eleven-year-old boy yelled.
"No! Tell me you won't leave!" the five-year-old girl replied, still backing away.
"Don't do this to me. Just... just come to me, please," the boy begged. The little girl was just a few feet from the deep hill—a single misstep and she'd fall in.
"Really? I'd come, but then you'd still leave. Just stay with me, please," she cried.
"I'll come back for you. Just trust me, I—" the boy was still speaking when the girl missed her step and fell into the deep hill.
"Amore!" the boy screamed in pain, shock, and fear as hot tears ran down his cheeks.
"No... no... just stop it," Skylar whispered. These were all her memories surfacing—painful, but unclear.
"Stop, stop," she muttered louder, tugging at her hair.
"Amore, breathe. Just listen to me—only me," Warren said as he pulled her into his arms.
After a while, Skylar had regained her composure, though her breathing was still unsteady. Suddenly, she felt something wet trail down her cheek. Using her left index finger, she wiped it and stared at the tear-stained finger in shock.
It's the first time in decades I, Skylar—whatever new surname I have—am shedding tears. Is it because of him? Is he changing me? she wondered, quickly pulling out of Warren's warm embrace.
"This isn't possible," she mumbled.
"What's not possible, Amore?" Warren asked, watching her.
"You. Me. This sh*t," Skylar snapped, dashing into the bathroom.
"What?" Warren muttered, staring confused at the closed door.
---
BLACK EAGLE CLAN
"Venom!" Barbie called loudly, entering the pool house.
"Can't you shut it, kiddo?"
"Ah, what? Me? A kid? I'm offended," Barbie said dramatically.
"Anyway, are you okay?" she asked again.
"Yeah, just a cut. You?"
"I'm fine. Boss got a deeper one. I can't believe they tried attacking us," Barbie smirked.
"And Flame?" Venom asked suddenly.
"No idea. Go ask him yourself," Barbie replied, sitting beside him. "When are you gonna tell him, huh? You look like a kid."
"Hey, Barbie—"
"What? You better tell him soon or Boss's sister will take him away," she said firmly.
"What do you mean?"
"It's obvious she likes Flame. I wonder why you can't see it," Barbie scoffed.
"Would you stop trying to stir up drama?" Blaze snapped at her.
"No one called you over, Blazon," Barbie replied coldly. Barbie and Blaze were known enemies in the clan—the worst kind.
"I wasn't here for you, Barbara," Blaze said.
"I—"
"Barbie," Venom called out.
"Flame loves no one, so stop plotting against someone's child," Blaze said before walking off.
---
WS MANSION
Skylar emerged from the bathroom in fresh designer PJs. Miraculously, every new outfit she could possibly need had already been prepared.
Using a black towel to dry her damp hair, she seemed freshly bathed.
"What are you still doing here?" she asked.
"I'm here to sleep," Warren replied, already seated on the white-and-gold bed, shirtless. The first aid box had been packed away.
"Oh my—what?"
"Mhm," Warren nodded.
"Get out!" Skylar pointed at the door.
Warren looked at it, then back at her. "Why should I leave? This is our room," he said, pouting.
"What?! You expect us to sleep in the same room?"
"Yeah... or..." he trailed off, walking toward her with a mischievous smirk.
"You think something will happen? You think you won't be able to control yourself when we lie on the same bed—"
"Yah! How can you be so shameless?!" Skylar yelled, shoving him away as he got too close.
"What?! I was just—ahh! Let go!" Warren yelped as Skylar grabbed his ear and dragged him out.
"Get out! And don't come back, you shameless billionaire!" she yelled, slamming the door.
Warren stood at the closed door, smiling like a fool while rubbing his sore ear.
---
KURZ MANSION
"I'm perfectly fine, young miss," Flame told Lucy.
"No, you're not!" Lucy cried. The doctor she had called was bandaging his lower stomach.
"Try not to stress it. It'll heal in a week. Luckily, it wasn't too deep," the doctor advised, packing his things.
"I'll take my leave," he said, walking out.
Lucy, who had been on a beanbag, rushed to Flame, who was seated on her bed.
"Please don't get hurt again. It hurts me more," she sobbed, staring at the bandage.
Flame stared at her, then gently pulled her into a hug. "I'm fine, Miss. Trust me."
"It's Lucy," she corrected, despite her tears—making Flame chuckle.
---
WALTER MANSION – NEXT MORNING
"She's getting ready for school," Gina whispered into the phone. "Yes, sir."
"Who are you talking to?" Alice asked suddenly.
"No one," Gina said, ending the call.
"I saw you on the phone. Who was it?"
"My mom," Gina lied.
"You don't need to hide that," Alice smiled. "Anyway, I'm off to school. Tell Mom—never mind. I'll tell her myself," she said, walking away.
"Pathetic," Gina hissed.
---
WS MANSION
"Please, mio amore, let's just stay home together. We're newlyweds, remember?" Warren whined, following Skylar down the stairs.
It had been like this since Skylar woke and got ready for college. Warren desperately wanted her to stay, but Skylar refused to budge, ignoring all his pleas.
"Stop whining like a spoiled brat, Mr. B. I'm going to college, and that's final. You either drop me off, or I take a cab," she said.
"Just give me a few minutes—I'll drop you," Warren said, rushing upstairs to change.
Skylar, unknowingly, smiled at his cuteness but quickly masked it when Nanny Grace spoke.
"He's such a child, isn't he?" she asked, smiling. Skylar's face instantly turned blank again.
---
ZEA GOLDEN COLLEGE
"Uhmm, what are you doing here, Sky?" Alice asked as Skylar approached one of the halls.
"I came to study. Why?"
"You should've stayed home with your hubby. Didn't he ask you to stay?" Alice said.
"Never mind that. You look like you've been waiting for me," Skylar muttered, noticing Alice's unease.
"I think you should go back, Sky. Mrs. Karina wanted to see you."
"Mom would never want to see me, Alice," Skylar snapped.
"Granny—"
"I'm going to class, Alice," she interrupted.
---
Skylar kept walking, struggling to control her anger and urges.
Alice didn't want her to go in, knowing students were badmouthing Skylar—some even saying she'd murder her billionaire husband. But no one had called her a psycho. Yet.
Until the devil sent one of his minions.
"So, the popular psychopath is finally married," Donny—Skylar's enemy, or more accurately, a jealous girl—snarked, stepping in her path.
"Move, Donny. It'll be better that way," Alice warned, seeing Skylar's control slipping.
"What? Scared she'll hurt me?" Donny mocked.
Skylar's control was already gone, but she still tried to walk past her. Still...
"Where the f*ck do you think you're going, psycho?" Donny spat.
"Holy sh*tty cow," Alice whispered in pity.
"What the f*ck did you just call me?" Skylar asked slowly, her bloodshot eyes locking onto Donny's.