The hallway was dim, its sterile white walls closing in like a prison. Stephanie didn't know how far she'd walked. Her heels echoed with each step, rhythmic and hollow—like the beat of a broken clock, ticking away everything she once believed.
She rounded a corner, found an empty waiting room, and collapsed into one of the chairs. Her chest rose and fell in uneven bursts. She buried her face in her hands.
How do you survive a truth like this?
She let out a shaky breath, a sound that was neither a sob nor a sigh but something cracked and guttural. It echoed off the walls.
"I hated her," she whispered, to no one. "All these years, I hated her for leaving us… for abandoning me…"
Her fingers clawed through her hair. "But she left for us. She left because of him."
A choked laugh escaped her lips.
"Dad, you were my hero. You were everything. You told me stories at bedtime, taught me how to ride a bike, held me when I cried…" Her voice trembled. "And the whole time, you were the monster."
Her throat tightened until she could barely breathe.
"You killed them," she whispered. "You destroyed everything. You're the reason Nathan grew up without his parents. The reason he built walls so high, no one could ever reach him…"
Tears rolled freely down her cheeks, hot and relentless.
"You're the reason he became this. Cold. Distant. Alone."
Her voice broke.
"I love him. God, I love him, and now I have to be the one to tell him that my father is the reason his life shattered."
She stood abruptly, pacing.
"He'll hate me," she said aloud. "He'll look at me and see the daughter of the man who stole everything from him. He'll never trust me again. Never look at me the same."
Her hand clutched her chest like she could rip the ache right out.
"I have to end it. I have to walk away before he finds out. Before I destroy him all over again."
She stopped, staring blankly out the narrow hospital window, watching the city lights blur behind her tears.
"I thought I knew pain," she whispered, broken and still.
"But this… this is grief."
The wind outside howled faintly against the glass, like the world was mourning with her.
And for the first time in years, Stephanie Quinn wished she could go back. Back to before. Back to when her father was still a hero, her mother still a villain, and love didn't taste like guilt.
But there was no going back.
Only forward.
And forward meant goodbye.
⸻
Victor stood by the window, the city stretching beneath him like a chessboard. His phone buzzed.
He answered with a low grunt.
"We found her," the voice crackled. "The hospital Elizabeth was moved to. Stephanie's here too. She's outside… alone."
Victor's eyes sharpened. "Alone?"
"Yes, sir. Walking in circles. Crying. Looks like she's not thinking straight."
A slow smile crept across his face. "Follow her. Don't spook her. Wait until she's isolated—then take her."
"Copy that."
Victor ended the call and turned away from the glass, the grin still etched on his face. "Checkmate."
—
Stephanie didn't hear the van pull up. She was too lost in thought, sitting on the curb outside the hospital, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes stared blankly ahead.
He'll never forgive me…
The footsteps were too fast, too quiet.
A hand clamped over her mouth.
Another pair grabbed her arms.
She thrashed instinctively, muffled screams tearing from her throat as adrenaline surged through her. But it was too late.
The van door slid open.
She was yanked inside, the door slamming shut behind her.
Tires screeched as the van peeled away into the night—leaving nothing but a spinning paper cup and the echo of a stolen scream.
⸻
Hospital Room – Night
Leo sat on the windowsill, his head resting against the cold glass, fists clenched on his knees. The city lights outside blurred through his tear-filled eyes. The truth had shattered everything he thought he knew.
Anita sat cross-legged on the couch, watching him. "Leo… say something, please."
He shook his head. "How do I even begin, Anita?" His voice cracked. "The man I admired my whole life… my hero… turned out to be the villain in someone else's story."
Elizabeth stepped in from the corridor, her expression gentle yet weighed with sorrow. "Leo—"
"You knew." He turned to her, eyes bloodshot. "You knew, and you said nothing."
She walked slowly to him. "I did it to protect you. All of you. I didn't want you growing up hating your father. He was a good man… who made unforgivable mistakes."
"Unforgivable?" Leo's voice rose. "He killed Nathan's parents! Steph loves him, and now—" He broke off, swallowing hard. "How is she supposed to live with this?"
From behind them, Elena entered, her voice trembling. "It's my fault. If I hadn't gotten sick, maybe he wouldn't have…"
"No," Leo said firmly, walking toward her. "Elena, don't carry that. You were a child. None of this is your fault."
Elena blinked, surprised. "You… you called me Elena. Not Ice Queen or the favorite child?"
He gave a weak smile. "You're my big sister." He hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry for acting like you weren't."
Tears spilled from her eyes. "I missed you, you little punk."
Anita sniffled loudly. "You guys are going to ruin my makeup."
Leo turned to his mum. "Promise me. No one tells Nathan. Not yet. Let Steph decide when she's ready."
Elizabeth nodded. "Of course."
He looked at them all. "But Victor Voss will pay for everything he's done. For destroying our family… and Nathan's."
He pulled his mum into a hug. "I'm sorry, Mum. For all the times I made it harder."
She whispered into his hair, "You're my son. I never stopped loving you."
Anita grinned. "Okay, now that we've all emotionally imploded… can I suggest ice cream and a family therapy retreat?"
They all laughed—tired, broken, but together.
Still, Leo's gaze returned to the window, a shadow crossing his heart.
Stephanie, wherever you are… I hope you're safe.