Chapter 15

Chapter of a legacy forged in passion and power.

The Shaw family villa.

A sleek black Maybach pulled up out front.Elliot Shaw and Diane Hartwell hurried outside-after all, a car with the license plate ending in 888 could only belong to Tristan Reid.

As soon as Diane laid eyes on Megan, tears welled up and spilled over. Etiquette forgotten, she ran over and wrapped her daughter up in a long overdue embrace.

"Megan,sweetheart, I missed you so much! You little rascal, why didn't you come see your mom sooner?" Megan hugged her back tightly. "I missed you too,Mom.Really,really missed you."

Flashes from her past life stormed back-those gruesome photos Molly had shown her. Her parents,their throats slit, their blood soaking into the floor until it met the doorstep.

And little Chloe. first violated, then murdered, cut open in the most horrific way.

So when she said "missed you," it wasn't just about being locked up in Dreamscape Manor. It was the aching, raw relief of knowing her family was still alive.

By her side, Tristan cast his gaze down. That's on him.He had imprisoned her back then.

Elliot,smiling, nodded at Tristan. "Mr. Reid."

Then to Diane, he gently scolded, "She's finally back.Stop crying and get inside."

Inside the villa, Diane clung to Megan's arm while they sat down on the couch. Tristan and Elliot sat in armchairs nearby.

Diane squished Megan's cheeks, her smile sharp at the edges. "Look at you-filling out! Must be living large at that fancy manor, huh?" She pinched Megan's waist playfully. "So cozy you ghosted your own mom?"

Elliot snorted, tugging Diane back. "Pshh,lay off her!Since when you got a problem with our kid being happy?"

Megan tilted her head."Let me guess. Molly told you that?"

Diane dabbed at her tears. "Yes, Molly said that when she came back."

Megan's smile chilled a degree. Typical Molly-always the master distractor, stirring the pot however she could.

"Oh wow, sis,you and Tristan are back."

Molly's sweet voice rang out as she stepped gracefully into the room, handbag dangling on her arm.

She kept her usual smile on and took a seat on the long couch across from Megan.

Megan looked at Molly, then at Tristan, and said to everyone: "I have good news to announce. Tristan and I are legally married."

"What?" Molly couldn't hide her shock. Her voice spiked a little too much for her liking, so she quickly chuckled,"Oh,I mean-congrats to you both!"

Megan's eyes drilled into Molly, cold as ice. "Hey Molly,"her voice was tight, "did you spin some story to Mom and Dad about me? That I was living it up at Dreamscape Manor for six whole months, couldn't be bothered to see them? Is that the crap youfed them?"