But Kayla had no other choice. For now, Shawn was her best tool. Desperate and cornered, he was a weapon she could wield.

She tossed a bundle of cash—$100,000—onto the sand at Shawn's feet. With a cunning tone, she coaxed, "Look at yourself. How are you any different from a rat in a gutter? Don't forget who ruined your life—Felicia!"

"This money is yours," she continued, her voice dripping with manipulation. "But remember, this isn't just for me. It's for you. Your right hand is useless; your debts are mounting, and I'm the only one who can help." Shawn wasn't listening; he was on the ground, clutching the bills like a lifeline, his eyes wild with greed.

"Do you hear me?" Kayla snapped impatiently.

"Yes, I heard you!" He looked up, his face twisted with rage. "Don't worry, I won't let Felicia get away this time. Even if it kills me, I'll drag that brat to hell!"

The venom in his voice pleased Kayla. She smirked. Kayla had outplayed Felicia again. The pawn Felicia thought would drain Kayla dry was now her sharpened weapon.

"Good. Don't disappoint me."

Feeling triumphant, Kayla didn't notice the shadowy figures lurking beyond the beach, hidden in the darkness. Lance and his three lackeys were crouched in silence, their eyes fixed on Shawn.

Lance wasn't just any thug. Protected by the powerful Chavez family, he excelled in loan sharking and ruthless debt collection. His methods were brutal and varied. Shawn might have thought he was hidden, but Lance had been tracking him. The only reason Shawn wasn't already injured was Felicia's specific instructions to keep tabs on him—but not to act… yet.

One of Lance's men whispered, "Mr. Thompson, isn't that Kayla? Shawn's sister? What's she doing here?"

Lance shot him a sharp look. "How would I know?"

Pulling out his phone, Lance's demeanor shifted instantly. A syrupy, servile tone replaced his hard edge, surprising his lackeys. "Hello, Ms. Fuller! It's me, Lance. I have something to report. Yes, we're still watching Shawn. You won't believe this—Kayla showed up and gave him a wad of cash. They're talking, but we're too far to hear." Lance paused, grinning as Felicia's calm voice responded. She promised him a lucrative future deal, making this favor worthwhile. "Don't worry, Ms. Fuller. I'll report back with any updates."

He was about to hang up when Felicia offered a tempting deal: "Give it time, and I'll set you up with a big one. You're sure to profit."

Managing people required a balance of reward and punishment. Leaning solely on Melvin's influence might keep Lance compliant for a while, but not forever. Perks and sweeteners were necessary. Lance couldn't say what promises others made, but Felicia's deals always offered something worthwhile. Lance's grin widened, his arrogance replaced by eagerness. "Don't worry, Ms. Fuller," he groveled. "I'll make sure everything's handled perfectly!"

After the call, Lance kept his eyes on Shawn and Kayla, who were deep in conversation. He couldn't hear them from his distance.

Nearby, a sleek black Rolls-Royce sat parked. Ruben sat quietly in the driver's seat. Kayla, preoccupied with Shawn, didn't notice the car's dashcam had been subtly repositioned, now pointed directly at her.

...

Felicia sat at her desk in the Fuller residence, sketching and scribbling, piecing together her thoughts. The timeline had shifted drastically from her previous life. Everything had changed—from the revelation of her true identity as the Fuller family's biological daughter to her return as the rightful heiress instead of the adopted daughter she'd been. Her broken engagement to Arnold was another key difference. In her previous life, she'd been reluctantly tied to him. This time, despite their mutual dislike, they hadn't been forced into marriage.