d with a vivid mark where

s voice cutting through the moment like a whip.

isted in shock, his ey

front of Rosanna, shiel

the rising bruise on her cheek, and something s

make his blood boil. It was clear sh

e'd make her. Today, she'

before it could fall, Maia's hand shot u

d him hard. Jarrod stumbled back

standing before him. The person

ailed after him when he occasionally

Four years behind bars had carved out som

his strengt

uldn'

stant bullying and abuse - fresh bruises forming

ied for help. Never

her teeth into the prison's top dog and wrestled her to the flo

ining, Maia sharpened her instincts and b

aded. She'd earned both h

avering. "Maia, you've completely lost it! We're talking about some old clothes and

rd. After a short pause, she wrapped Rosanna

ell. She was going to buy everything back - new and fresh - so you wouldn't be haunted by the past! But you? You didn't j

old laugh slipped

sed four years ago - righ

back then too. And Maia?

as Maia. She had already buried every last bi

Sandra - the woman s

d respected Sandra, even if Sa

ted into something

ia said, her voice tight with restraint. "And still, you let her thro

tention to Maia's life, but this particular ha

o Rosanna, Sandra'

s life made her overcompensate. And when Ros

should've been Rosanna's - or so Sandra believed. So w

stole the treasure from Radiant Jewels, she st

ay any lingering guilt Sandr

psake from Vicki? It was always meant for a true Morgan. Even if it were still around, Rosanna would have every r

in twisted in

every Morgan in that hou

her feel like she belonged. And now Maia had faile

art deepened, shar

you flipped out over some garbage. Let me guess - you're broke,

, it looked cheap to him. He never i

tossed them at her feet. "This enough for your little tr

immed red as she stared down the

he owed them gratitude. After all, t

elp them through their darke

t illusion h

from her - she

ruelty. It was time they learned t

ide. She took the cash

ed the money into pieces and t

anything from you." With that, she turned and walked stra

e as he clenched his jaw,

e doorway. "You'll regret this, you ungrateful bitch! Without us,

rning, Maia! That was out of the goodness of our hearts! No one forced you to walk away - you

ss laugh escape

that made her look like the victim

oling anyone. You called the press yourselves. Was that supposed to be a warm welcome? Or just a perfor

walked away, never

ing the Morgans standing stiff and speec

r, voice trembling with tears. "This is all

Sandra focused on comforting Rosan