Tara stormed into the house, her footsteps sharp against the floor.
"Mom, I need answers," she demanded, arms folded, eyes blazing.
Peige froze. She knew exactly where this was coming from.
"Dawn's gotten into your head, hasn't she? That ungrateful loser," Peige snapped, her voice dripping venom.
Tara didn't flinch. "What happened between you and Dad?"
Peige waved her off like she was brushing away dust. "That's none of your business. Your focus should be on your future, Tara — the bright future both your parents are building for you. The past doesn't matter."
Tara hissed, spun on her heel, and slammed the door behind her. Left alone, Peige's face twisted — from confusion to fury.
"Dawn," she muttered, her lips curling into a dangerous smirk. "You'll pay for this. Every last bit."
Meanwhile, at Dawn's apartment, joy filled the air. Dawn hopped around the living room, unable to contain her excitement, while her siblings sat watching, amused.
"Looks like someone's on cloud nine," Jason teased.
"Or maybe she's in love," Leslie chimed in with a sly grin.
Dawn gasped, her eyes wide. "We're barely even friends! I'm just… happy I could pull off the job."
"What job?" Leslie asked, narrowing her eyes.
Dawn blinked, caught. "Huh?"
"You just said you were happy to pull off the job. What job?" Leslie pressed.
"Cheering up someone who was sad," Dawn replied quickly.
Leslie arched a brow. "So now you're a humanitarian?"
"Go inside, all of you," Dawn waved them off, trying to hide the truth. The twins exchanged suspicious looks but obeyed.
Across town, Peige paced her apartment, her phone clutched tightly. When it finally rang, she answered in a low voice.
"Hello? Is it done? Good. I'll come to the hospital for the results."
She hung up and smirked.
"This is just the beginning, Dawn. You ungrateful, lying bitch."
Later that evening, Dawn sat on the phone with Daphne until a knock came at her door. She quickly ended the call and rushed to open it.
"Alex!" she exclaimed, hugging her friend tightly.
They sat down, and Alex leaned forward. "What's going on with you lately? You seem… different. What's happening in your life?"
Dawn hesitated, her smile faltering. "I'll tell you everything. Just… not now. You've already helped me so much, I don't want to dump my problems on you again."
"But I'm not complaining. I'm your friend — I want to help you." Alex's voice was gentle, steady.
Gratitude softened Dawn's eyes. "Thank you. But right now, I just need you to stay with my siblings. There's something I have to fix."
Alex nodded slowly, though worry lingered in her gaze. Dawn squeezed her hand once, then left.
At the Manchesters' home, Dawn greeted Daphne and slipped upstairs. She knocked lightly before entering Adam's room.
Adam glanced at her, then turned his face away.
"Look, I'm sorry for the other day," Dawn said softly. She moved closer, her voice trembling with sincerity. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have done that without your consent. Please forgive me."
Silence. Adam's eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Dawn sighed, defeated. "Goodbye, Adam."
She left the room quietly. Only after she disappeared did Adam turn, watching the empty doorway with unreadable eyes.
At Peige's house, little Tara giggled as she dashed around the living room. "Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! Where are you, Daddy?"
Peige chuckled from her seat. "It's called hide and seek, sweetheart. Daddy can't give you clues."
Minutes later, Tara found him crouched behind a plant. She squealed, and he pulled her into his arms. They laughed until the sound filled the whole room.
Then — the laughter shifted. Dark whispers crept into her dream.
Why are you smiling, Tara? Your family is gone. Your mother ruined everything. She stole your childhood.
Tara jolted awake, her breath sharp. "Mom? …Is that you?" she whispered into the shadows.
Shaking, she grabbed her phone and dialed her father's number. "It's time I knew the truth."
Back at Dawn's apartment, the door creaked open. She froze.
"Peige?" Dawn's voice hardened instantly.
"How did you get in?"
Peige sat comfortably, ignoring the question. "I know I haven't been the best aunt to you and your siblings. But I'm here to make things right."
Dawn scoffed. "Make things right, how? This isn't a game, Peige. You can't undo years of pain. Get out before I call the cops."
Peige rose, reaching for a hug, but Dawn shoved her back. "Don't touch me."
The noise brought the twins rushing in. "What's going on?" Leslie asked.
"Go back to your rooms," Dawn ordered. "I'll handle this."
"Wait," Peige interjected, eyes flicking to the children. "I came to apologize. I regret how I treated you."
Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Cut the act. What's your angle this time?"
Peige smiled, sly and poisonous. "I know I'm not your real aunt. But that's no excuse for how I behaved."
The room froze.
Jason frowned. "What do you mean… not our real aunt?"
Dawn's heart dropped.
Peige reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope, placing it into the twins' hands. They opened it — and gasped.
"No!" Dawn lunged forward, snatching it from them. Her eyes scanned the paper, rage surging through her veins.
Peige only laughed. "You should have told them yourself."
"Is it true?" Leslie's voice trembled.
Dawn tore the paper in half, her hands shaking. "No! Don't listen to her—" She reached for them, but the twins stepped back, retreating to their rooms. Doors slammed, locks clicked.
Dawn stood frozen, heart breaking, as Peige's laughter echoed in her ears.