Kieran didn't see it that way. "Of course, it benefits me. Look at you! You came back, didn't you? Regretting not giving me that 40,000 yet? You could've saved us both the trouble if you'd just handed it over earlier."

"You-"

"Now it's 100,000," Kieran interrupted, reclining smugly in his wheelchair. "You want the trending posts gone, don't you? Pay up-100,000, not a penny less. Otherwise..." His voice dropped, laced with menace. "I've still got a few things up my sleeve." The blatant threat made Karina's hands tremble, her voice quivering as she spoke. "One hundred thousand? Wasn't it forty just a few days ago?"

Kieran sneered. "That was the old price. It's 100,000 now, take it or leave it."

Karina could taste blood in her mouth. Her lips had been bitten raw without her noticing. Rage and utter disappointment overwhelmed her.

This was her family. Twenty years of being with them, and all they had ever done was take. They had given her nothing in return.

mind wandered to the happy, harmonious families she occasionally saw-fathers kind and caring, mothers warm and

you won't take down those posts, I'll find another way. Worst case? I'll take it to court. Let's see how you explain where all the money I've

with a sharp crash, shards flying

winced at the

you for twenty years, and this is how you repay us? Fine, go ahead, sue

this house alive."

steadied herself despite the pain. Her leg throbbed, but she refused to show weakness-not in front of them. She pressed down on the bleeding wound, straightened

you dare!" Mr. Stone

Two steps in, Mrs. Stone grabbed her arm, stopping

her eyes misting with unshed tears. "Mom,

for your own good," she said meekly. "You know how Kieran is. If you leave like

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