Ste''s blood pressure shot straight to the roof the moment she nced at the video.


    She demanded, "Where did this videoe from?"


    "It looks like it leaked from some rich kids'' group chat. But now it''s all over the inte."


    Without another word, Ste grabbed her phone and called Cedric rke.


    Cedric picked up almost immediately, beating her to the punch: "You saw the video too, didn''t you?"


    Ste paused. "You saw it as well?"


    "Yeah. I''m already in the parking garage. Juste down-I''m by Section C."


    "Got it!"


    She hung up and made a beeline for the underground garage.


    ***


    Meanwhile, in a quiet hospital room, Julia slowly opened her eyes.


    "Gee..."


    Gina rushed to her side. "I''m right here. How are you feeling? Want some water?"


    "I want to go home."


    Gina frowned. "You''re still sick, Julia. You can''t just leave now."


    "The holidays are four days away. I want to spend New Year''s at home."


    "At least wait until Ms. Kensington gets here, okay? We''ll talk it over together." "If I go home, she''lle home too."


    Julia pushed herself upright, meeting Gina''s worried gaze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Gee, all of you have been hiding things from me. But I have cancer. If Dr. Lockwood hadn''t slipped up this morning, I''d still have no idea."


    Gina froze, stunned into silence.


    After a moment, she finally stammered, "You... you know?"


    "You shouldn''t have kept it from me. I''m not that fragile. If I''m sick, I''ll get treated. No need to act like it''s the end of the world."


    "Is that really how you feel?" Gina studied Julia''s face, searching for cracks.


    "Call Star for me, will you? Tell her I know about the leukemia, and I''ll cooperate with treatment. But it''s the holidays—people are supposed to be home. Just let me spend these few days with Bryn, so we can see in the New Year together." Julia''s voice was calm and steady, as if the diagnosis hadn''t shaken her at all. Gina had to admit, she made a good point.


    Spending the holidays in a hospital... it just didn''t feel right.


    So, Gina called Ste.


    After hearing Gina out and discussing it with Cedric, Ste agreed: Julia could go home for a few days. It would help keep her spirits up.


    ***


    Out in the Kensington family''s backyard, the "intervention" against Briony was far from over.


    Mack''s brute strength was terrifying-he pinned Briony down, mming her into the ground again and again.


    Briony fought back with everything she had, but it was no use; her forehead struck the ground several times, hard.


    At some point, she started bleeding, a fresh trickle of blood running down her temple.


    The moment Briony saw the blood, panic shot through her. She had no intention of dying here.


    Just as Mack went to force her down again, she gritted her teeth and shoved him with all her strength.


    Mack, caught off guard, stumbled backward-the framed portrait he was holding slipped from his hands and crashed to the ground.


    Crack!


    The ss over the photo shattered.


    “Oh, dear Lord!” Madeline shrieked, banging her cane against the ground in distress. "This is sacrilege! Utterly disgraceful! You ungrateful girl! Mack, pick up your father''s portrait-now!"


    Snapped out of his daze, Mack scrambled to retrieve Malcolm''s broken photo.


    Madeline was deeply superstitious. A smashed memorial photo was a terrible


    omen.


    "Hurry, bring it here!" Madeline barked.


    Mack hurried up the steps, handing the photo to Madeline.


    She stroked herte son''s picture with trembling hands, tears streaming down her face. "The priest was right. This girl is a curse on our family! Mack, as long as that wretched girl breathes, the Kensingtons will never know peace!"


    Mack''s brow furrowed. "Grandma, are you saying "


    Madeline''s eyes zed as she red at Briony, who was struggling to her feet, blood still dripping down her forehead. "Let the Rottweiler out of the back yard."