August 9th, 2025
Back at the George Hotel - Georgetown, South Carolina - 7:49 PM
The night was deep over South Carolina, its sky smeared in indigo and pearl-gray clouds. Far below, the city slept, glowing with scattered veins of golden streetlights, but in the tallest hotel, the penthouse suite was lit with the soft warmth of lamps.
It smelled faintly of jasmine and lavender, a calm atmosphere designed for the rich.
Elizabeth Ravenglass sat elegantly on a white leather sofa, her posture flawless, every curve and line of her body arranged with the grace of someone who understood both power and presentation.
Draped across her lap, Madison slept, her breathing steady, her head resting against Elizabeth's thigh. One of Elizabeth's hands gently combed through Madison's black shadowy hair, tender and unhurried, as though she were brushing away invisible tangles.
Elizabeth's other hand held a phone pressed lightly to her ear. The screen was muted, her eyes calm, but her tone was velvet laced with steel.
"Gentlemen, I believe we understand each other now," she said softly. "The video was… problematic. But fortunately, problems can be deleted. Scrubbed. Forgotten."
A man's voice from the other end, crisp and bureaucratic, responded:
"Yes, Ms. Ravenglass. Our cybercrime division is cooperating with the platforms. The viral spread has been slowed, but as you know… the internet never forgets."
Elizabeth smiled faintly, her fingers still gliding through Madison's hair. "The internet forgets if you tell it to. And I am not asking it to forget. I am demanding it."
A second voice, this one female, cautious and professional, joined in:
"We've issued takedowns across all major sites. However, private accounts - individual reuploads - remain a challenge. The numbers multiply."
Elizabeth's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes sharpened. "Then multiply your efforts. If a person uploads it again, you delete it. And then you find them. You knock on their door. You make them understand what 'consequences' mean. Do you understand me?"
There was a pause. Then the male voice again, lower this time:
"Yes, ma'am. We understand."
Elizabeth leaned back slightly, sighing through her nose, her composure flawless. "Good. I am a reasonable woman. I believe in law. Justice. Order. Handle it legally. Make them face charges, fines, whatever the books allow. But make no mistake…" Her tone softened into a dangerous purr. "…if the law fails, then you will not. Am I clear?"
Silence. Then, finally, both voices agreed in unison.
"Crystal clear, Ms. Ravenglass."
Elizabeth let a faint smile curve her lips. "Excellent. Then we are concluded. I expect an update within forty-eight hours."
"Understood."
She tapped the screen delicately and ended the call, lowering the phone to her lap. For a moment she simply sat in silence, listening to the faint hum of the air conditioning, the ticking of an ornamental grandfather clock in the corner, and Madison's steady breathing. She gazed at the sleeping girl, her lips curling into something almost maternal.
But then, slowly, Elizabeth picked the phone up again. Her eyes glimmered - not with tenderness, but with a secretive, simmering excitement. She dialed another number.
The line rang once. Twice. Then clicked.
A distorted voice answered, electronically masked, neither male nor female. The sound was hollow, mechanical.
"Good evening, Ms. Ravenglass. What is it you are seeking tonight?"
Elizabeth's smile widened. She adjusted Madison's head gently on her lap so as not to wake her. Her tone dripped with a honeyed thrill.
"Can you find me… an Ian Everhart?"
The distorted voice paused, as though listening between her words. It did not ask who Ian was. That was not its job. Instead, it simply responded:
"Locating is possible. Acquisition is possible. What are your… conditions?"
Elizabeth let her eyes wander toward the ceiling, feigning thought though she already knew what she wanted. "Locate him. Plant something on him. A permanent GPS. Silent. Invisible. I don't want him to slip through fingers."
There was the faint scratch of typing, a shuffle of paper, or perhaps it was only the distortion crackling. Then the voice replied, smooth and respectful:
"Understood. Tracking device of permanent nature. He will be marked, and his movements will belong to you. Payment… the usual?"
Elizabeth chuckled softly, tilting her head down so her hair brushed against Madison's temple. "Yes. The usual. And remember - subtlety. I want no fuss. No alarms. No signs. He must never know."
"And...also, can you provide me something....dessert?" Elizabeth added.
"Dessert." The distorted voice said.
"Like....additional personal informations of Victoria Everhart?"
"Consider it done," the voice answered without hesitation. "As always, it is a pleasure serving you, Ms. Ravenglass."
Elizabeth's chuckle deepened, low and rich, echoing faintly in the golden silence of the penthouse. "And the pleasure, darling, is always mine."
She ended the call. The phone slid from her hand onto the velvet cushion beside her. For a few heartbeats, there was nothing but quiet.
Then...
"No… don't die… please…" Madison murmured suddenly in her sleep, her voice cracking, her body shifting uneasily. Her hands clenched into weak fists against Elizabeth's thigh. "Don't kill him. I'll give you everything. Just… don't kill him…"
Elizabeth froze, staring down at her. Madison's forehead glistened with a fine sheen of sweat, her lips trembling.
The woman's entire body was caught in the grip of some nightmare, some memory or vision, and she shook faintly, helpless.
Elizabeth sighed - long, deep, and heavy. Slowly, she bent her head down and pressed a soft kiss to Madison's cheek.
Her hand resumed its gentle combing, stroking the strands of hair in steady rhythm.
"Shhh…" Elizabeth whispered. "Calm down, my sweetheart. Nobody will hurt you. Not while you're in my arms."
Madison's trembling slowed. Her fists unclenched. Her breathing eased into steadiness again.
Within moments, the nightmare seemed to loosen its grip, and Madison drifted back into the quiet depths of sleep, lips parting slightly as she exhaled.
Elizabeth leaned her head against the back of the sofa and let out another sigh. The lamps bathed her in gold, but her eyes were distant, almost burdened.
For all her power, all her charisma, all her sharpness, there was something heavy in that moment - like a queen ruling a kingdom but still unable to shield her princess from the shadows of her own dreams.
She whispered, half to Madison, half to herself:
"…Don't worry, sweetheart, everything will be alright. Everything will..."
The penthouse fell silent once more.
Back at Ricky's second house - 8:15 PM
The night was calm, the second house quiet save for the echoes of laughter bouncing from its walls.
Ian and Ricky sat sprawled across the living room sofa, both holding bottles of beer, chuckling over another ridiculous memory from the orphanage days.
"You remember when Devonte tried to smuggle that stray puppy into the dorm?" Ricky laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
Ian grinned, shaking his head. "Yeah, and we had to hide it in the laundry room. The damn mutt wouldn't stop barking. Thought old man Jenkins was gonna bust us all."
"Devonte swore he trained it to be quiet, like some ninja dog." Ricky's laughter doubled.
Ian chuckled softly, nostalgia softening his usually hardened face. "Guess some things never change. Devonte always thought he could talk his way out of anything."
They shared another laugh, but then-
A piercing voice ripped through the night.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH! HOW DARE YOU-"
Both men froze, eyebrows furrowing at once. The voice was unmistakable.
"Ellie…" Ian muttered.
Ricky's jaw tightened. Without a word, they set their bottles down and hurried toward the door.
As soon as they stepped outside, the scene before them was chaos incarnate.
At the entrance of Ricky's home, Ellie stood in her boots and jacket, fists clenched, her eyes blazing with fury. She was cursing at the top of her lungs, hurling words sharp enough to cut steel.
Across from her, nearly naked, wrapped in nothing but a hastily clutched white cloth, was Jessica - Ricky's wife. Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks flushed, and her lips trembling between rage and humiliation.
And beside her, equally disheveled and wrapped in a sheet from the bed, stood a man. A stranger. Naked beneath the cloth.
Ian's eyes widened in disbelief. Ricky's stomach twisted, his breath shallow, his fists clenched.
Ellie's voice cracked through the tension like lightning:
"You whore! You absolute fucking whore! You cheated on Ricky with THIS piece of trash?"
Jessica's face contorted in anger as she shouted back.
"Don't you dare stand there and judge me, Ellie! You don't know shit about my life!"
"The fuck I don't!" Ellie barked. "You had everything - Ricky gave you everything! A home, kids, stability! And this is how you repay him? By spreading your legs for some naked loser in HIS house?"
Jessica's chest rose and fell sharply. She spat out her words like venom.
"Ricky's never here! Do you get that? He's always working, always out. I was lonely, Ellie! Lonely! You think it's easy raising kids alone while he builds his empire? All I get is house chores and silence. No love, no intimacy, nothing!"
Ellie's jaw dropped. Then her rage ignited like gasoline on fire.
"You selfish bitch. You think loneliness justifies this? Justifies destroying your marriage, your kids' lives, everything Ricky's built with his blood and sweat?"
Jessica's eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to falter.
"Don't you dare put this all on me! Ricky's to blame too! He made me feel invisible! He stopped caring years ago!"
Ellie scoffed.
"Oh, don't play the fucking victim now. You wanted attention? You should've talked to him, not opened your legs to the first dick that came knocking!"
At that, the naked man - Jessica's affair partner - stepped forward, face twisted in anger.
"Watch your mouth, bitch. You don't know anything about us."
Ellie snapped her head toward him, her eyes glinting with pure venom.
"Shut the fuck up. Nobody's talking to you, you pathetic, homewrecking bastard."
The man's nostrils flared. He stepped closer, his fists balling up.
"You better watch how you talk to me. I'm not afraid to shut you up."
Before Ricky or Ellie could react, Ian moved like lightning.
The man swung his arm back, preparing to strike Ellie.
But Ian's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist mid-air. The man froze, his eyes wide at Ian's grip.
And then - CRACK.
Ian's fist collided with the man's jaw in a brutal right hook. The impact echoed like a gunshot. The man's body twisted mid-air before collapsing onto the driveway with a dull thud.
Jessica shrieked.
"YOU ANIMAL! That's assault! You assaulted him!"
She spun toward Ricky, screaming.
"Do you see this? Do you see what your psycho friend just did? He punched my friend!"
Ricky stood still, his face unreadable, his silence deafening.
Jessica's voice cracked as she demanded again.
"Say something, Ricky!"
Finally, Ricky exhaled, his voice low and tired.
"…Just get out, Jessica."
Jessica's eyes widened in shock.
"What? You - you can't be serious."
"I said get out." His tone was heavier now, steel threaded with pain.
Jessica's lips trembled.
"This is my house too, Ricky! You can't just kick me out like I'm nothing!"
Ricky's composure cracked, his voice erupting like thunder.
"PLEASE!"
Jessica recoiled, stunned. She had never seen him break like this.
A heavy silence fell over the driveway, broken only by the shallow breaths of everyone present. Finally, Jessica spoke, her voice cold as ice.
"This isn't the end, Ricky. You'll regret this."
She stormed inside, her feet pounding against the wooden floors. Seconds later, she emerged with her clothes stuffed into a bag, her face twisted with hatred.
The man stirred on the ground, groaning in pain as he struggled to stand.
Ricky didn't wait. He stepped forward and, with all his pent-up fury, kicked him square in the ribs. The man cried out and collapsed again, unconscious.
Ricky stood tall, chest heaving. Then, almost humorously, he muttered through clenched teeth:
"…That was satisfying."
Ian raised an eyebrow but said nothing, simply watching the broken man writhe on the ground.
Jessica shoved her bag into the car, climbed in, and with one last hateful glare at Ricky, slammed the door. The engine roared to life, and within seconds, both she and her lover disappeared down the street.
The three friends stood in silence on the driveway, the air thick with bitterness and exhaustion.
Ricky finally let out a tired sigh, rubbing his face with both hands.
"This is gonna be… hard. So fucking hard."
Ellie, still seething, walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. Her voice softened slightly.
"Don't worry, Ricky. We've got your back. Right, Ian?"
Ian glanced at Ricky, then at Ellie, his expression steady. He nodded once.
"Yeah. Always."
Ricky lifted his gaze, his eyes filled with both pain and gratitude. He gave a small, broken smile.
The three of them stood together under the night sky, the bond between them forged stronger through betrayal, fury, and loyalty.