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    b63 /b

    EX 55 vouchers

    Jessica studied him quietly, her gaze steady and searching. Only after confirming that Jacob was telling the truth did she allow herself to rx.

    She reached out, gently brushing a hand over his head. “As long as you enjoy it, that’s what matters. Just don’t wear yourself out. You’re still young. There’s plenty of time to grow. No need to rush.”

    Jacob felt a tightness in his chest at her words, his eyes stinging.

    ‘Mom, how can you still be so kind to me after everything I’ve done… he thought.

    “Hey, what’s with those teary eyes?” Jessica said, halfughing as she grabbed a tissue. “It’s your birthday. You’re not allowed to cry today.”

    She hadn’t meant to be so sentimental, but the moment caught them both off guard.

    Jacob sniffed and quickly blinked the tears away. Tilting his chin up stubbornly, he dered, “I’m not crying. I wouldn’t cry. I’m still gonna give you a piece of cake.”

    bJessica /bsmiled. “Alright. Not crying. My boy’s the toughest of them all.”

    She had a natural ease inforting him, and it didn’t take long before Jacob’s mood hadpletely lifted.

    Watching the exchange, Dereck and Ste shared a quiet look of relief. Maybe Brian and Jacob really could be trusted to care for their daughter.

    The two families celebrated Jacob’s birthday with warmth andughter, ending the evening by sharing therge cake Jessica had ordered specially for him.

    Later that afternoon, Jessica and Brian took Jacob to Disnend, spending the entire day with him, indulging his every whim and delight.

    By the time they returned home, night had fallen. Exhausted from the day’s excitement, Jacob could barely keep his eyes open. Brian carried him upstairs without a word.

    “You’ve had a long day,” he said as he stepped out of Jacob’s room to find Jessica still lingering in the hallway. “You must be tired itoo/i. Get some rest.”

    Jessica nced past him. “Did he fall asleep easily? Did you take off his shoes and change him into pajamas? Don’t forget to wash his faceter.”

    Brian listened quietly as she listed everything with practiced care. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. Compared to Jessica’s unwavering dedication, his role as a father felt inadequate.

    “I’ve got it, Jessi. Leave it to me. Go on. Get some sleep. I promise I’ll take care of everything.”

    Knowing she was already worried about his health, Brian kept his voice even, suppressing any sign of strain. Once she’d finally turned in, he ran a hand over his face and turned to tend to Jacob’s bedtime routine, only to be interrupted by the sudden ringing of his phone.

    b9:01 /bMon, bSep /b15 B.

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    “Mr. Atkinson,” came the sharp voice on the other end. “There’s been an incident in the Dungeon.”

    “What happened?” Brian’s expression hardened.

    Anything involving the Dungeon could only mean one thing, Madeline. And his greatest concern had always been her escape.

    “Madeline started a fire at her residence, trying to use the chaos to escape. She ended up burning herself, her face, mostly. She’s been taken to the hospital.”

    Brian’s voice was t. “Serves her right.”

    The sentiment was echoed by his subordinate, though there were still practical matters ito /ideal with. “They’re demandingpensation. How would you like to proceed?”

    “Pay them, but make sure they file formal charges against her. Once she’s discharged, send her straight to jail,” Brian ordered.

    He had neither the time nor patience for more of Madeline’s chaos. Getting her family all locked up was the simplest, cleanest solution.

    “Understood.” The call ended, and by nightfall, his men were already in talks with the Dungeon’s head.

    Brian paused for a moment, then ced a second call to the bodyguard assigned to monitor Miguel.

    If not, perhaps this could be an opportunity to have him locked up as well.

    “He’s… rtively quiet,” the bodyguard replied. “His ex–girlfriend posted somepromising photos of him online. He’s been forced to withdraw from school.”

    The bodyguard still couldn’t help but find the whole situation absurd whenever he thought back on it.

    Miguel had once seemed deeply infatuated with his ex, only to start hounding her for money right after the breakup.

    At first, the team had considered stepping in, thinking Candice needed help. But it quickly became clear she wasn’t just another victim.

    Barely days after the breakup, she had cozied up to a well–known gang leader in Hartdale.

    When Miguel came demanding repayment, not only did she refuse, but she also had her new boyfriend rough him up.

    Things took a darker turn when one of the gang leader’s associates, who had a known taste for men, decided Miguel looked interesting. Miguel was handed over like a party favor.

    That night, the associate invited several others, and together they assaulted Miguel, taking a slew of explicit photos.

    The next morning, Miguel, enraged, tried to report them to the police. This only provoked the gang further, and they released the photos online.

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    Candice escted matters by sending the images directly to Miguel’s school principal and faculty, while publicly iming Miguel had deceived her emotionally and physically, then refused to let go when she tried to leave. The inte sympathy swung heavily in her favor.

    With the scandal spiraling out of control, the school had little choice. Miguel was expelled the same day.

    Brian cracked a wry smile after hearing the whole story. “What aplete messb.” /b

    The bodyguard nodded in agreement.

    “Just keep an eye on him. If nothinges up, don’t bother stepping in,” Brian said, his tone sharp and measured.

    Miguel had already dug himself into a deep hole, unlikely to cause any more trouble, but that didn’t mean they could afford to lower their guard.

    “Understood,” the bodyguard replied, ending the call and returning to his surveince.

    Meanwhile, online chatter was reaching a fever pitch.

    [Serves him right. Call it poetic justice.]

    [Exactly. The man is selling himself. His sister is a mistress, and their parents are in jail. Any other family, I might’ve felt sorry. But knowing his sister is Madeline? Nope. They earned this.]

    [Karma’s a real thing. That’s what you get for breaking up a marriage.]

    [Told you. The Houghtons are all bad news.]

    [That man is wild. Did he take notes from his sister?]

    [Wouldn’t be surprising. Runs in the family.]

    [Anyone else feel bad for the girl?]

    [I do, but the liar got what wasing. Hopefully she can finally breathe easy and move on.]

    [She already has. Insider says she’s the one who sold him out.]

    [Don’t spread rumors. That’s not who she is.]

    [Believe it or not. It’s the truth.]

    The next morning, Sana sat in the car, scrolling through thements. Based on what she had uncovered in her own investigation, her instincts told her thatst remark was likely true,

    Still, whether or not the girl had really done it, Miguel had brought it on himself.

    She had no intention of pitying anyone from the Houghton family.

    “What’s got you so focused?” Wesley asked, handing her breakfast. “You’ve barely touched it.”

    …

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    “Just some drama. Pretty entertaining,” Sana replied, setting her phone down and finally epting the food.

    She took a couple of absentminded bites, about to share what she’d just seen, when her gaze drifted to a travel magazine on the dashboard.

    Her brow lifted. “You nning a trip?”

    b9:01 /bbMon/bb, /bbSep /b15 B