Reborn From Oblivion

Morris stayed quiet. Slowly, he unclenched his fists. From the get-go, he never

meant to mess with her future. So why did he start dreaming big just because she threw him a little kindness?

"You're right," he admitted with a bitter laugh. "I wish her nothing but the best."

"That's more like it."

Switching gears, Officer Baldwin said, "Hey, Number 13, I came by because I need your help with something."

Number 13's reply was as solid as a rock: "Not interested."

Officer Baldwin was caught off guard. "I haven't even told you what it is yet. How can you just say no?"

"Not interested," Number 13 repeated.

His heart felt like it had flatlined. There's no greater sorrow than a heart that's lost its spark. He had no more ties to this world.

Officer Baldwin tried to reel him in. "Look, if you help me out, you could earn some brownie points and maybe even get your sentence reduced."

"I'm good here," Number 13 replied.

He didn't want to leave.

Officer Baldwin was floored. He finally got it. "Ah, so Ashley broke your heart, and now you don't want out?"

"That's a tough break."noveldrama

Initially, Officer Baldwin thought it was a blessing that Ashley and Number 13 weren't tangled up. It saved them from constant drama. But seeing Number 13 go back to his cold and distant self, he realized he'd missed something.

"What if I bring Ashley back and ask her why she's been avoiding you?"

Number 13's eyes flickered ever so slightly. He suddenly looked up. "I want to see Ms. Nellie."

Officer Baldwin saw his chance. "But you gotta help me first."

Number 13 hated being cornered. "Forget it."

Officer Baldwin backed down. "Okay, okay, I'll call her. But just to be clear, once I help you, you need to return the favor."

At the Stewart Mansion, Nathalie

was shattered. As soon as she got

home, she fell sick-weak and

running a low fever. The doctors

all kinds of tests but found

Ban

Finally, a psychologist figured it out:

"Nathalie's having a severe

depression relapse."

Lincoln, desperate to mend his daughter's heart, suggested, "Vivian, how about a little trip? A new setting might do you good."

Nathalie shook her head. No place had Nathan. What was the point? She'd rather stay home.

Lincoln felt helpless about his daughter's illness. His grief morphed into a fiery urge to strike back at those who'd hurt her.

Ashley showed up in the late afternoon, toting a fancy fruit basket and some supplements. Pretending to visit her cousin, Lincoln, in a moment of oversight, let her in.

With an open mind, Lincoln thought family squabbles shouldn't drag in innocent relatives. Plus, he secretly hoped that Ashley, as Nathalie's cousin might cheer her up. Little did he know, Ashley was the root of Nathalie's gloom.

As Ashley walked into Nathalie's room, she noticed that Nathalie was in the big room her parents used to have. The mansion's wings mirrored each other, so the layout was almost identical. Seeing this, Ashley was taken aback.

The first thing out of her mouth was, "Wow, your room is huge," with a hint of jealousy seeping through.

"My dad picked this room for me," Nathalie said, playing it cool.