Rhea Sinclair slowly opened her eyes in the hospital room, wincing in pain as she tried to move. A bandage and plaster adorned her side, and she couldn't help but wonder what had happened. A nurse passing by caught her gaze and Rhea asked, "Did I just undergo surgery?"
The nurse chuckled. "No, the wound wasn't deep enough for that." Rhea's eyes widened slightly, still trying to process.
The nurse then asked for an autograph, but Rhea dismissed her with a curt "shoo." As the nurse left, Rhea reached for her phone and saw multiple missed calls from Talia. She dialed Talia's number, and when Talia answered, Rhea explained the situation - how Isla had stabbed her and the men she sent to warn Isla had behaved poorly.
Talia's tone was apologetic, but her words sent a chill down Rhea's spine. "I have one more thing I need you to do for me, Rhea. If you want the multi-million dollar gig with my company, which would catapult you to becoming the world's biggest and richest model, you'll have to do what we discussed earlier - elimination."
Rhea hesitated, weighing her options. "I'll think about it," she said finally, before hanging up the phone. The prospect of becoming a top model was enticing, but at what cost?
Rhea Sinclair sat in the hospital, her gaze wandering to a mother-daughter duo nearby. They were laughing and chatting, their affection for each other palpable. The mother's gentle touch and warm smile as she tended to her daughter's needs touched Rhea's heart.
As she watched, Rhea's thoughts turned inward. She reflected on her own relationship with her daughter, Isla. She recalled the countless times she'd pushed Isla to become a supermodel, ignoring her true passion for writing. The harsh words and criticism she'd hurled at Isla still lingered in her mind.
Rhea felt a pang of regret and guilt. She realized she'd ruined Isla's dreams, forcing her into a career she didn't truly desire. Now, as she saw Isla's success, Rhea's motivations had shifted. She wanted to bring Isla down, to strip her of the fame and success she'd never wanted for her daughter in the first place.
But as Rhea observed the loving mother-daughter duo, something shifted within her. She began to see Isla in a new light, as her own daughter, deserving of love and support. Rhea thought about what she'd gain if Isla was brought down, but more importantly, she considered the harm Talia had caused to Isla.
A newfound determination emerged within Rhea. She decided to support Isla, the daughter she'd brought into this world. Despite their past conflicts, Rhea chose to put aside her own ambitions and be there for Isla, to help her navigate the challenges she faced. This marked a turning point for Rhea, as she began to prioritize her daughter's well-being over her own desires.
Isla's door knocked and she woke from her deep thoughts.
"Come in, please." Isla was shocked to see her mother at the door, holding on to her side.
"What the freaking hell do you want from me? Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Isla cried out.
"Hey, so you really wanted to kill me?"
"I just said it out of anger, and plus I wanted to protect myself and career." She shrugged. Rhea sat near her.
"I didn't tell you to sit."
"Isla..." She tried to touch her hand.
"I - you might find this surprising, but I - I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."
"Oh. You are sorry? Sorry for what exactly? For sending all those men to r@pe me? For joining hands with Talia? For sending Alexander Dills, signing a deal to tryna ruin me? For signing me out of your modeling society? For killing my husband?"
"Why did you kill Brian? Was it because of the RiseUp code? Or, are you sorry for making me a supermodel in the first place? You've done so many things to hurt me. You've broken my heart over and over again and you think you can just come and apologize?"
"Isla... I know I'm not supposed to be apologizing to you right now."
"Even when I finally found a man, you sent Wendy to get down with him? What is wrong with you? Why do you want me ruined?"
"I don't want you ruined Isla. You are my daughter. I've realized all my mistakes, and I'm ready to be your mother. All these years I've been an antagonist in your life. I'm ready to love you, Isla. Just please, I'm begging you, find a place in your heart to forgive me. I swear, I won't let Talia touch you ever again. It's - it's okay if you become a better model. I'll go for therapy and I'll get through it all. I will make sure Talia gets punished. I'll make sure she never gets to touch you."
"I'll think about it, Rhea. I'll suggest you leave me alone."
Isla strutted down the runway, her confidence and poise captivating the audience. She showcased her stunning face and exquisite dress, her movements fluid and deliberate. As she reached the end of the catwalk, she pouted and blew a kiss to the cheering fans, basking in their adoration.
After leaving the runway, Isla checked her phone and saw that someone had been calling her. She picked up, and Julie's voice was on the other end. "Hey, girl! We've planned a vacation for the Daisy Damsels alone. We're all set to leave soon!"
Isla's excitement grew as she arrived at Julie's house. However, her enthusiasm quickly turned to confusion when she saw Cade waiting for her, alone in the house. "Where's Julie and everyone else?" Isla demanded, her tone firm.
Cade's calm demeanor only fueled Isla's frustration. "There's no one here," he said. "They've all gone on vacation, and I thought it would be nice for us to have some alone time here."
Isla's anger flared. "I want you to leave," she said, her voice rising. But Cade refused, his expression unyielding. Isla's unease grew, and she wondered what Cade's true intentions were.
The door slammed and it was locked from the outside.
"What the fuck? Who was that?" She struggled with the door knob. Cade went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, cuddling her from behind.
"Calm down. Don't you feel safe with me anymore?"
"Yeah, I don't! I have so much work to do at home! How do I live with you here? Let me go home!" She pushed him off.
"What's wrong with you? It's only for a few days."
"I'm not interested."