Her son had always excelled in school, eventually attending a top university andnding a coveted job at a major corporation. He was the cream of the crop among his peers and had always been her greatest pride.


    But now, because of her moment of greed, he was about to lose his job and his future. It was something she could never forgive herself for.


    "Ma''am, I don''t know what came over me. I took the money from Miss Karina and spied on you and the master for her. Whenever you and he were intimate, I was supposed to notify her immediately. It''s all my fault. You can hit me, curse me, have me arrested—anything. I''m begging you, please don''t take it out on my son. He''s worked so incredibly hard, and it wasn''t easy for him to get where he is today..."


    Just as Gina was sobbing out her confession, Noah happened to push the door open, utterly bewildered by the scene before him.


    "What''s... going on here?"


    Noah had just returned from the hospital, where he had spent the entire night with Nic.


    Nic had been up all night with vomiting and diarrhea, too miserable to sleep. Karina''s incessant crying had only frayed his nerves further.


    His eyes were bloodshot, his face etched with exhaustion.


    "Gina, the master asked you what''s wrong," Cynthia said, her tone dripping with cold


    sarcasm.


    The moment Gina saw Noah, she scrambled over and fell at his feet, crying, "Sir, it was Miss Karina! She gave me a million dors to watch your every move! Every time you and the mistress were intimate in your room, I would tell Miss Karina, and she would call you away... Sir, I''m so sorry, truly sorry. I''ll give you the money back, just please, spare me..."


    Noah froze, stunned into silence by Gina''s words.


    Nic had always been a healthy child and rarely got sick. Buttely, her frequent illnesses had raised his suspicions.


    But a young child couldn''t lie or fake an illness. Karina had exined that she''d recently started Nic in preschool, and it wasmon for illnesses to spread among the children when one of them got sick.


    Noah had checked with the


    preschool teacher and spoken to et


    friends with kids; it was true that children often got sick from exposure after starting school.


    So, he had let his doubts go.


    But now, Gina''s confession hit him like a physical blow.


    Karina


    bribed Gina. Whenever


    he and


    were close, Karina


    use Nicole''s "illness" as an


    excuse to pull him awa


    to pull him away.


    He barely dared to consider *how* Karina had been making Nic sick.


    Karina was Nic''s own mother. Nic was just a little girl. How could she bring herself to do it?


    ...


    Eden''s case was closed, but the investigation into the Walker family was still quietly underway.


    On the day of Eden''s public trial, Bet and Yvonne were there, apanying Emma.


    The trialsted nearly two hours before the verdict was announced.


    As two guards led him away, sentenced to ten years in prison, his face was a mask of bewilderment and terror. His eyes darted istinctively to the gallery desperately searching for a lifeline.


    But Frank hadn''t bothered to show up. Mrs. Thompson Sr. was still lying in the ICU, unable to attend.


    No one from the Walker family appeared at the trial either. They had clearly cast Eden aside.


    Last week, Ynda had an abortion at the hospital, terminating a well-developed male fetus. The Walkers were truly ruthless.