Dawn walked into the hospital, her steps quiet but steady as she made her way to Ava's room. Inside, Daphne and Adam sat by Ava's bedside. Dawn greeted them warmly.
"How are you, Dawn?" Daphne asked with a gentle smile.
"I'm good, thank you," Dawn replied, smiling back.
"Did you manage to solve the problem at school?" Daphne asked.
"You remember?" Dawn blinked, a bit suprised.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Daphne chuckled.
Relief softened Dawn's face. "Yeah, it's all resolved now. I just came to check up on Ava, like I promised."
Daphne glanced at Adam, who still hadn't lifted his eyes from Ava. He looked stuck in some deep place inside his mind. With a small sigh, Daphne stood up.
"I need to take this call. I'll be back in a minute," she said, slipping out and leaving them alone.
"Hey, Adam," Dawn started, a little hesitant.
"Hi," he replied, voice flat, eyes still locked on Ava.
She swallowed. "I know you're angry. You have every right to be. I just… I'm sorry. I went too far." Her voice cracked a little.
"Ava's sleeping," Adam said lowly. "I don't want to disturb her."
The words cut through Dawn like a knife. She held back the tears, turned, and walked toward the door—only to bump straight into someone Tara.
Dawn froze, heartbeat rising. Tara looked nervous.
"What are you doing here?" Dawn whispered.
"I'll explain later. I promise."
Dawn hesitated, then gave her a stiff nod. With one last glance at Adam, she walked away. Tara exhaled, relieved, then stepped closer to Adam with a soft smile, trying to comfort him.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, at Alex's workplace, a familiar face appeared.
"Good day, ma'am. How can—" Alex stopped mid-sentence. "Peige?"
"I need to speak with you," Peige said urgently.
"I can't talk right now, I'm working," Alex replied, noticing the way Peige kept glancing behind her.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked.
"I just… I need your help," Peige pleaded, her voice shaky.
* * * * * *
Across the street, Dawn picked up her repaired phone from a shop. As she walked home, a text popped up on the screen. It was from Tara:
Pick up pizza and let's talk.
Dawn's stomach dropped. Rage lit up under her skin. This has to be about Alex. She turned straight toward the pizzeria.
The moment she walked in, her breath caught. Alex was there — sitting with Peige. Their eyes met, and Alex's face twisted in panic. She rushed toward Dawn to explain, but Dawn shoved her aside, ordered her pizza coldly, and stormed out.
Alex stood frozen, hurting. When she turned back, Peige was gone. And then it hit her that she'd been set up. Peige had been watching the door the whole time.
It was all a trap.
* * * * * *
Back at her apartment, Dawn slammed the door shut. Rage and betrayal boiling in her chest. She collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in her hands as the tears came. She thought everything was finally over. She was wrong.
A few minutes later, Tara let herself in and found Dawn asleep on the couch. She tapped her gently. Dawn stirred, forcing a weak smile.
"You okay?" Tara asked.
"I'm fine," Dawn lied.
Tara opened the pizza box, eating straight from it. "Come on, have a slice."
"I'm not hungry," Dawn muttered. "Tell me why you were at the hospital."
Tara hesitated, then spoke fast. "When you told me Adam rejected you, I couldn't stand seeing you hurt. So… I went to him. I told him about you. I thought maybe he'd accept you if he knew how you feel."
Dawn shook her head, voice breaking. "Thank you, but I don't need Adam's pity."
"It's not pity, it's a chance for him to know you better ..."
"That's bullshit, Tara!" Dawn snapped, tears spilling. "I'm tired of people messing with my life. If he doesn't want me, then fine!"
She buried her face in her hands again. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."
"I get it," Tara said softly. She stood, touched Dawn's shoulder. "Take care of yourself." Then she left.
* * * * * *
At the Manchester home, Daphne cornered Adam in the sitting room.
"What was Tara doing at the hospital?" she demanded.
"I don't care," Adam muttered. "She said Dawn sent her. Dawn is obsessed, Mom. She's trying to replace Ava."
"What? That's not true," Daphne argued. "Dawn isn't obsessed; she's a good girl."
"Why are you defending her? What is she to you?" Adam shot back.
"She's my daughter," Daphne said firmly.
Adam scoffed. "Yeah, right. You're in on this too. Well, I'm done. I want nothing to do with anyone." He stood to leave, but Daphne's sharp voice froze him.
"Enough, Adam! Can't you see? Ava might not wake up!"
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Adam went still, face pale, eyes wet. "So that's it? You think I should just give up on her?"
"I didn't mean it..." Daphne gasped.
"You didn't mean replacing Ava with Dawn too, right?" his voice cracked, then he stormed upstairs.
Daphne sank onto the couch, sobbing. She only wanted to help him heal… not break him worse.
* * * * * *
Back at Dawn's apartment, her siblings had just come back from school when the doorbell rang.
"Who's there?" Dawn asked.
"It's Alex. Please, Dawn, listen to me, I can explain."
Fury burned in Dawn's chest. She walked to the door. "You've got some nerve coming here. Get out of my house."
Alex begged, but Dawn grabbed her phone, ready to call the police. Leslie and Jason rushed in.
"At least hear her out," Jason pleaded.
"She'll lie again," Dawn snapped.
"If you won't, then let us. Please," Leslie said.
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Two minutes. That's all." She walked upstairs with Amy.
Leslie opened the door for Alex. They sat down. Alex hugged her tightly, voice shaking.
"I swear, I didn't do this."
"We believe you," Leslie said. "But you have to prove it to Dawn."
"That's why I came. At the pizzeria, Tara borrowed my phone. Said hers was dead. Right after that, Dawn walked in. Tara must've told her to check my phone."
Jason frowned. "But why? What does Tara gain?"
"I don't know yet. But Peige came to me today. She kept looking over her shoulder, like she was expecting someone. Then Dawn walked in. It has to be connected. I need to know if it was Tara who texted Dawn about the pizza?"
Jason and Leslie exchanged a look.
"That actually makes sense," Leslie said. "We'll help you."
Alex exhaled, relieved. She left — but none of them knew Tara had been outside the door the whole time.
Listening. Smirking. Planning.