Stephanie kept going on about her mistakes and Kayla, pissed off, yanked a bunch of weeds from the grave and tossed them at her feet.

Her eyes went icy, glaring right at Stephanie. “This is my mom, not yours! Stop pretending to be the perfect daughter. You haven’t been here in five years. You don’t even know how I ended up in prison!”

Stephanie’s face flickered with panic and she grabbed Lionel’s sleeve without thinking. Lionel stepped in front of her, but Kayla couldn’t believe it—there he was, standing in her way.

“Kayla, how can you talk to your sister like that? She’s just speaking the truth! You broke the law, that’s on you, not her!” Lionel said, his voice firm.

Kayla just sneered, her eyes still locked on the tombstone. “Is that so?”

She had known for a while now that her family didn’t have her back. The first thing she did after getting out of prison was track down the person in charge of the security footage.

Since Lionel wouldn’t help her, she would do it herself. She’d learned the hard way that trusting anyone but herself wasn’t an option.

She had spent a lot of money to get the contact details of the fired employees—money her mom had secretly saved for her, money most people would never see in a lifetime.

She was going to meet them and this was the first time she would step out since being released.

She dressed quickly, determined to get things done on her own. But just as she was about to leave, Lionel stopped her. “Kayla, where are you going?”

Kayla slowed down, trying to hide what she was up to. “Just going out to pick up a few things.”

"I'll drive you," Lionel offered.

"No need," Kayla replied flatly.

He hesitated, then grabbed a jacket from the couch and handed it to her. "It’s cold outside. Put this on."

Kayla paused, looking at him, trying to make sense of his actions. But she couldn’t figure it out. "I’m fine," she said, but Lionel didn’t let it go, pulling the jacket over her shoulders.

She didn’t argue, too worn out to care anymore.

As she drove, Kayla replayed the earlier scene in her mind. Nothing could change what had happened, but it didn’t stop the anger from bubbling up.

She had finally gotten her hands on the surveillance footage, she’d seen Stephanie steal the account books with her own eyes.

Kayla gripped her fists. Five years of waiting and now she wanted revenge. She wanted Stephanie to feel what she had felt—pain, loss, betrayal. She wasn’t going to let this go.

Just as she was about to leave, she saw something that stopped her in her tracks. Stephanie was sitting at a table, sipping tea like she had all the time in the world.

But it was the man sitting across from her that made Kayla's heart drop—he was from the rival company, the one who had tried to steal her mother’s tech.

Kayla watched as Stephanie handed him a stack of documents. It all clicked. They were planning to take everything, the company, the money, everything her mother had left behind.

She never thought Stephanie would go this far.

Later, when she got back home, Stephanie was there waiting. "Where are you off to this time?" she asked, her voice too sweet. "Looking for a job?"

She smiled a little too knowingly. "I heard from Lionel you're job hunting. I’m the financial director now. You can just work for me. No need to go out and look elsewhere."

"Who would want to hire someone who's been to prison?" Stephanie laughed, looking at Kayla like she was beneath her.

As soon as Kayla left for prison, Stephanie stepped right into the spot she had always wanted.

Kayla’s eyes stayed cold, her expression unreadable. "Really? What about you? Going out to meet a guy?"

Stephanie’s face went bright red. "What are you talking about?"

Kayla smirked, her gaze never leaving Stephanie. "Why the flush then? Have you been doing something you shouldn’t?"

Stephanie snapped. "Mind your own business! Even if I did, what could you do about it?"

She tried to walk away, but Kayla grabbed her arm. "No, you’re explaining this before you leave."

Suddenly, Stephanie collapsed, crying like she couldn’t control it. "Why did you push me? I was just trying to help you get a job! I know you have big pride, but you're not the same as before!"

Her crying was enough to get Lionel’s attention. He rushed over, picking her up without asking a word. He glared at Kayla, furious.

"Kayla! This is too much! Stephanie is just trying to help, but you’re treating her like this? I’m seriously disappointed in you."

Without another word, he carried Stephanie back to their room. Kayla watched them go, her heart sinking. It was clear as ever now—Lionel was no longer on her side.

She stayed there, still, as the pain hit her all at once. It felt like a needle prick, sharp and unexpected.

After a while, she finally went back upstairs, the cold air still making her skin prickle. Standing outside Stephanie’s room, it hit her. This wasn’t her place anymore.

Through the crack in the door, Kayla caught sight of Lionel massaging Stephanie’s feet, his hands working their way up her calves with oil.

It hit her like a slap in the face and she stood there, frozen for a moment, the sight making her stomach twist. A bitter smile formed on her lips as she turned to leave, but then she heard voices inside.

"Lionel, she’s starting to figure out that I’m framing her. What should I do?" Stephanie’s voice wavered, full of fear.

Kayla stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t believe it. This was the first time she had heard Stephanie admit it out loud.

"She’s been asking about the account books. Someone mentioned it to me today. What if she finds out? I’m scared," Stephanie said, sounding weak.

Lionel just pulled her into his arms. "What’s the problem? The evidence is solid. It’s not on us. If she’s gonna blame someone, let her blame her own bad luck. She should’ve stayed longer in prison."

His words hit Kayla hard, like a punch in the chest.

So, he knew all along. He and Stephanie were in this together, after her money and her position.

All the love he had promised her was all a lie. "Forever"? "Never parting"? Ridiculous. He knew exactly what she had gone through and not once did he care.

Soon, the sound of laughter filled the room. Kayla turned, walking back to her own space, the tears coming before she could stop them, her laughter bitter and empty.

That night, sleep didn’t come. She lay staring at the ceiling, the glow from the streetlights forming a dim, starry sky.

For the first time, she felt something shift inside her—like the emptiness she had been carrying was being filled with something new, something faintly hopeful.

Kayla woke up with a sense of rebirth, like something inside her had come back to life.

That morning, she passed the evidence to her friends, ready to deal the final blow to those who had wronged her. It was her turn to make them pay and she wasn’t holding back.

Later, she went to a tattoo shop to cover the scars she had been carrying.

A phoenix, symbolizing hope and new beginnings, was inked on the scar on her clavicle. She felt a little lighter, like the past was finally behind her.

When Kayla got home, she saw them—Lionel, Stephanie and her father—all sitting around the table, eating together. She wasn’t in the mood to join them. Just the thought of sitting at that table made her sick.

She turned to leave and head upstairs, but Lionel called out. “Hey, come eat something. I’ll get you some bread.”

Kayla looked at the plate and spoon on the table. Her heart skipped and for a second, she almost let herself feel like it was the old days. But things were different now.

Five years ago, Lionel would’ve done whatever it took to take care of her. But now, he was busy with someone else.

“No thanks, I already ate outside,” she replied, her tone flat.

Stephanie snickered. “Let her be. She still thinks she’s all that. Does she?”

Lionel stared after Kayla as she walked away, a little confused.

Something had changed. She wasn’t the same, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what it was. Maybe she didn’t smile like she used to. Maybe there was something else going on that he didn’t understand.

Then, a loud squeal snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Ah! Isn’t this the dress I wanted? Thank you, Lionel!” Stephanie held up the dress, practically dancing with excitement.

“Your birthday’s in two days, right? This is my gift for you.” Lionel’s voice was soft, his smile warm as he watched Stephanie spin around, holding the dress to her chest. “As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

From the corridor, Kayla stood frozen, the scene cutting through her like glass. It was hard to look away. Then Lionel glanced over and spotted her, his expression shifting.

“Stephanie’s birthday is coming up,” he said, as if an explanation was necessary. “This is for her.”

Stephanie carefully placed the gown back in its box, then threw Kayla a glance, casual but pointed.

“Do you know how long this dress takes to get? A whole year! Lionel’s amazing—he always knows how to make my birthdays special.” Her tone dripped with pride and the corner of her mouth curved just enough to make her point.

Kayla’s mind drifted, unbidden, to birthdays past. Back when her mother and Skippy were alive, the house would be full of laughter, the air rich with the smell of cakes and flowers. Lionel used to go all out—truckloads of blooms, extravagant gestures, everything just to see her smile.

And then came prison. Birthdays became just another day in a gray cell.

At first, she thought Lionel might visit, that maybe he hadn’t completely forgotten. But he hadn’t forgotten. He just had other priorities.

Stephanie’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Oh, Kayla, don’t forget—Lionel’s throwing me a birthday party in a few days. Businesspeople, influencers, you know the crowd. You should come. I’ll even introduce you to someone who might have a job for you.”

Her smile was bright, her tone sweet, but her eyes danced with mockery.

Kayla’s lips parted to decline, but Lionel spoke first. “Of course, Kayla will be there,” he said smoothly. “She’ll come to support you.”

Kayla’s jaw tightened as she stared at Lionel, then Stephanie. He knew she hated these events, hated the pretense and posturing of high society.

Once upon a time, it had been her world too—luxurious parties, polished smiles, endless connections. But now? That world felt hollow, like an echo of a life that wasn’t hers anymore.