Vicky scrolled through his phone, her eyes cold and calculating.
"Even after being so utterly useless... this phone holds something of value to me."
Her tone sent a chill down the room.
"You drugged her drink at that pool party a year ago… just because she broke up with you. You made her swim half-naked, pulled off her bra, all while she was too intoxicated to understand. She thought she could outsmart you—offered her life savings mixed with fake cash, got her clumsy brother involved for backup... but you kidnapped her. Threatened her. Blackmailed her for a hundred grand, dangling those photos over her future."
Gasps rippled across the room.
"You lost everything when your father's debts caught up with you. Yet, you clung to this iPhone 11 like your life depended on it. And now... this? Criminals like you don't know the meaning of humanity."
She stared him down. No one dared speak.
"Who are you?" Marcus croaked. "And how do you know all this?"
A nearby officer, stunned, muttered, "She speaks like a trained investigator… or a federal agent."
Vicky gave a faint, grim smile.
"There's always a crime scene. And P—"
She stopped. Her face went pale.
"Vicky?" Nathan stepped forward.
Suddenly, she backed away, wide-eyed. "What did I just do...?"
Her heel hit a shard of broken glass. Blood bloomed from her foot. Without another word, she bolted out the door.
Nathan, Ruben, and the twins dashed after her as the police rounded up the remaining goons.
Inside, Evan stood frozen. "What…?"
"Yes," Robert said grimly. "Aid was stolen earlier this month. Only Paige can help recover it."
"How?!" Evan demanded.
Robert sighed and began explaining.
"Damn it... that's my sister," Evan whispered.
"But this is..." Natasha's voice trailed off, eyes locked on the old portrait.
"Paige Victoria Samuels… Oh my god. How didn't I see it sooner?"
Evan hung his head.
"I'm sorry. We shouldn't be dragging you away from your family right now, but Nathan's life is at risk. If we had Aid, we wouldn't even bother you—" Robert began.
Evan cut him off.
"I know. But she can't… She's my sister now."
A beat of silence followed.
"What do you mean?" Natasha asked, confused. "We know she's your sister."
"She's Victoria now. Not Paige."
Robert's eyes widened. "Wait… you didn't—?"
Evan nodded slowly. Regret weighed on his every breath.
Outside, hidden beneath the brush, Vicky sat alone—shaking, disoriented. Images flickered through her mind like broken film reels. Faces she couldn't name. Places she didn't remember. The pounding headache grew unbearable.
She clutched her head, rocking slightly.
Elsewhere, Nathan moved with purpose—instinct leading him to her. And there she was: crouched beneath a bush, trembling.
"Vicky…" he whispered.
She looked up, dazed. Then, without warning, she flung herself into his arms. Nathan stood frozen—his arms limp, but his heart pounding. Something about her touch stilled his nerves, like last night, when everything felt right just for a moment.
Vicky blinked and pulled back.
"I… I'm sorry," she whispered, avoiding his gaze.
"What's wrong? Why were you panicking?" he asked gently.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it," she murmured, stepping away.
But Nathan grabbed her hand.
Back at Aid
"What did you do?" Robert demanded, disbelief in his eyes.
"I did what was best," Evan replied flatly.
"Wait, what happened?" Natasha asked.
Robert nearly lost it. "Evan, no! You didn't—"
"He wiped Paige's memory," Robert said, voice like thunder.
Natasha gasped, stunned speechless.
Just then, Nathan called—he'd found Vicky.
Later, she looked confused to find the entire group waiting. She tried to slip away, but Ruben offered a ride. She refused.
"I'm heading back to Goreangab," she said, stubborn as ever.
"That's… miles away!" Monica protested.
"She's unbelievably stubborn," Nathan muttered. "She stays in Goreangab and wants to foot it?"
"You even know where she stays?" Monica raised a brow. "That's a good sign."
Daniels threw his hands up. "Do you have to be romantic even after a trauma?! Gosh!"