“What is this supposed to be, Alena? Another one of your tricks?” she demanded, her voice sharp and accusing.

"It's all my fault," Alena muttered, looking away from Alison and wiping her tears.

Alison's brow furrowed at Alena's statement. "What are you saying?" she asked, scanning Alena warily.

Alena turned to face Alison. "I know you stabbed Alicia," she said sharply, her expression grim as she regained her composure.

"What?" Alison exclaimed indignantly, her heart racing. "What is that accusation?"

"I have everything, Alison," Alena's voice was cold, but her eyes burned with certainty. "Wilson is working for Rose. The nude pictures, the blackmail—those are ours. My and Rose’s handiwork." She let out a dry, humourless laugh, her gaze unwavering.

"Rose was the mastermind," Alena continued, her voice thick with bitter truth. "She sent Wilson to you. And I—I'm the blackmailer. On Dad’s birthday, Rose made sure Alicia found out about you and Wilson. She texted her, knowing full well what would happen when Alicia saw you together at the party."

Alena's jaw tightened as she pressed on. "Rose knew. She knew that once Alicia caught you with him, you'd panic. You’d be terrified of her exposing your secret. And you would do anything to keep your reputation intact. That’s when she used Wilson to push you into a corner—making you feel like killing Alicia was the only way to protect yourself."

Alena's eyes flashed with regret. "And it worked, Alison. Everything went exactly as Rose planned."

Alison scoffed. "Sounds silly, doesn't it?"

Alena shook her head. "Not at all, Alison. I'm serious. Rose plans to have you arrested tomorrow morning. That's why you need to leave now before it's too late. I know it’s hard to believe right now, but I need you to trust me. Just do as I say—time is running out. I'm not doing this to have Berliny; I'm doing this to save you and Alicia."

Alison shook her head as if she couldn’t understand what Alena was saying. It felt like a bombshell had been dropped on her, and pain gnawed at her heart at the thought of Rose betraying her. Rose... She had always been there, comforting me when I was hurt. How could she...?

"This can’t be true. You don't expect me to believe you, do you?" Alison smirked. "You can't trick me. Stop defending yourself. All you’ve ever wanted is the company, and you think I'll fall for your fake sympathy?"

"Do you really think you can escape Alicia's incident?" Alena scoffed. "You’re the culprit. Do you think Rose will help you once you're arrested?" She paused. "When you go to her for help, she’ll tell you that you don't deserve it. She’ll tell you she found out about the nude pictures. What will you do then? Beg her for forgiveness? Imagine how ashamed you'll be—you won’t even be able to say ‘I’m sorry.’"

Alison stared at Alena, her face scrunching as she tried to control her tears. Each word Alena spoke felt like a hammer to her chest. But Rose was her mother. Why? Why would she do this? She locked eyes with Alena, searching for sincerity in her confession.

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As though she could read Alison’s mind, Alena continued, "Rose is not your mother." Her voice was firm.

"She's not our mother, Alison," Alena’s voice trembled with a mix of desperation and sorrow. "We’ve been living a lie. I know it’s hard to believe, but I swear it’s the truth."

Alena stepped closer, her gaze burning with urgency. "I didn’t understand until I started to remember—memories I had buried deep. Our real mother... she died in a car accident. I lost everything about her—every moment, every memory—because when I heard about her death, the shock erased it all."

When Alison shook her head, struggling to believe Alena’s story, Alena cupped her face. Her voice cracked as she continued.

"Please, Alison, you have to believe me. This isn’t some lie I’ve made up. I’ll tell you everything when you’re ready, but for now, just know this: Rose is not our mother. She’s Wilson and Olive's mother. She’s been using us, manipulating us, to take the White properties for herself and her sons."

"Wilson... No... this can’t be true. She’s my mother. She’s the one who’s taken care of us since we were kids..." Alison recalled the years spent with Rose, still unwilling to believe that she wasn’t her real mother.

"Come to your senses, Alison!" Alena yelled, shaking her sister. "I’m telling you the truth right now!"

"And you want me to believe you?" Alison shoved Alena’s hands away, her gaze hardening. "You really want me to believe you?" She yelled into the air, her breath coming in panicked gasps. Her lips trembled as she fought the urge to cry. "No," she shook her head. "I won’t trust you. No," she turned her back on Alena and buried her face in her hands, muffling her sobs as she cried.

The weight of the truth crashed down on her. She could see the sincerity in Alena’s eyes, and she knew deep down that she was telling the truth. But how could she accept this bitter reality? How could she change her perception of someone she had seen as her mother for so long?

"Alison..." Alena whispered, tears in her eyes as she watched her sister break down. "It’s all my fault for not remembering sooner. It’s my fault for letting Rose control us. But," Alena placed a hand firmly on Alison’s shoulder, her grip resolute, "It’s time to stop her. I’ll fight until my last breath to fix our broken relationship and our home. I’ll take back what’s ours and put Rose in jail. And if I lose my life..."

For the first time, Alison heard Alena’s voice break into tears. She turned toward her sister, overwhelmed by the emotions swirling inside her as if Alena’s pain was becoming her own.

"Take care of Alicia," Alena whispered through her tears. "Give her the company if she wants it. Please, protect her."

"Stop," Alison choked, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face. She pulled Alena into a fierce embrace, clinging to her as if letting go would shatter her world. "Stop saying things like that—like you're not going to make it."

Her words came out in uneven gasps, raw and unfiltered. "When I saw Alicia lying there, in that pool of blood..." Alison’s voice cracked, and she buried her face in Alena’s shoulder. "It was in that moment I realized—I wanted her to live more than anything. The thought of losing her... it broke me. It terrified me."

She paused. "Since then, my life has been a nightmare—an endless spiral of fear and guilt. And now, the thought of losing you too..." Her voice faltered, and a sob escaped her lips. "I can’t. I just can’t. I thought I hated you both, but I was wrong. I was so wrong. I never wanted you dead."

Her hands tightened around Alena’s shoulders. "If I had known—if I had seen the truth sooner—I wouldn’t have fallen into Kelvin and Wilson’s trap. I would have fought for us, for Alicia." Her breath hitched, and she shook her head, struggling to hold herself together. "Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Please, stay strong. Stay alive. We need you. Alicia needs you..."

Her final words came in a broken sob. "She’s dying..."

Alena's grip tightened around Alison as she patted her back, offering comfort. "I’ll stay strong for you all. I’ll be here whenever you need me." She kissed Alison’s forehead before gently pulling away.

For a brief moment, they stood in silence, their gazes locked, the warmth of their embrace speaking louder than words. In that fleeting instant, the weight of everything else faded, leaving only the profound, bittersweet joy of sisterhood—a bond they had almost forgotten but now held onto tightly.

Suddenly, they heard the door of the minivan open, and a short, overweight man stepped out. He shouted, "It’s time, Alena. It’s getting late!"

"You should go, Alison," Alena said, patting her sister’s shoulder with a small smile. "Stay silent when you're out there—no calls, no messages. I’ll know how to contact you."

Before parting ways, Alison felt as though her heart might shatter, she pulled Alena into a tight hug, holding her sister as if she might disappear. "Fine. Take care of yourself, Alena. I’ll wait for your message."

Alena nodded and waved as Alison walked toward the minivan. Before getting in, Alison turned to look at Alena and returned her wave.

"Bye, Alena!" Alison called.

Alena’s smile widened. "Bye, dear Alison."