Anna" called her mom.She was laughing again. That carefree, wind-in-her-hair, sun-on-her-face laugh.
Annalise stood barefoot on soft grass, the golden haze of a spring afternoon washing over her. Her mother was there—wearing that soft blue sundress she always wore on warm days. She twirled once, then knelt down, cupping Annalise's cheeks.
"You'll always find me in the stars, my little light," her mother whispered, gently tucking a strand of Annalise's straight hair behind her ear.
"But what if the stars go away?" young Annalise asked, frowning.
Her mother smiled, eyes full of so much warmth it made the whole world glow.
"Then close your eyes. I'll still be there."
The memory shimmered like sunlight on water... and then faded.
Darkness swallowed the light.
Annalise jolted awake.
She sat up slowly, her chest tight, her breath shallow. The hospital walls were still white and still, the machines humming like lullabies on repeat.
A shape stirred beside her.
Delphine.
Her grandmother sat slouched in the visitor's chair, fast asleep, silver hair falling gently over her shoulder.
Annalise eased herself upright, wincing slightly. She grabbed the water bottle on the nightstand and took a long sip, then quietly padded to the window.
Outside, the city sparkled beneath a velvet sky. But she wasn't looking at the buildings. She was looking at the stars.
You'll always find me in the stars.
Her fingers brushed the glass.
"I miss you," she whispered. "Every day."
Later – At the Leamington Estate Press Room
The lights were blinding.
Annalise sat beside Delphine, poised and still. Cameras flashed. Reporters leaned in like wolves waiting for a stumble.
Delphine spoke first.
"For years, my granddaughter has lived hidden—not out of shame, but for safety. Today, that ends."
Gasps.
Annalise leaned toward the mic.
"My name is Annalise Leamington. Daughter of Evelyn and Smith Leamington. The rightful heir to the Leamington legacy."
More gasps. A few jaws dropped.
"I didn't ask for this title," she continued. "But I won't run from it."
Then came the question. The one they'd all been waiting for.
"Some claim your mother was involved in a murder-for-money scheme... and that you're not the real heir. What do you say to that, Miss Leamington?"
The room held its breath.
Annalise didn't flinch.
She reached for a set of documents. Calm. Confident.
"My mother, Evelyn, was not part of any crime. Yes, she was a witness—nothing more. The people responsible were her own relatives. She didn't hide it. But my father, Smith Leamington, kept it quiet to protect the woman he loved from the media frenzy."
She held up a notarized will.
"This is my father's final testament. It names me as the sole heir. My blood. His legacy."
She looked them all in the eye.
"So let's stop rewriting history. My mother was not a criminal. I am not a fake. And this—" she gestured to herself, her voice rising "—is who I've always been."
A pause.
Then applause—thunderous, genuine.
And for the first time in a long time, Annalise felt seen.
Backstage – Minutes Later
"You didn't just shut them up," Han said, meeting her with a small, proud smile. "You educated them."
Annalise let out a breathless laugh. "I've been quiet too long."
He stepped closer, his tone softer now. "I like the new and confident you."
Her cheeks flushed. "You think?"
"I know."
Meanwhile – Clyde & Rezi
Rezi scrolled through the trending page on her phone. Hashtags like #SheIsLeamington, #JusticeForEvelyn, and #QueenAnnalise were blowing up.
"She broke the internet," Rezi murmured.
Clyde smirked, setting a folder on the table. "And now we break Carlos."
Inside the folder: offshore accounts, falsified documents, backdoor deals.
"This'll crush his last moves," Clyde said. "You ready?"
Rezi tightened her ponytail. "Let's bury him."
Elsewhere – Carlos' Office
Carlos Leamington slammed his fist on his desk. Again.
The screens surrounding him were flashing headlines:
"Annalise Leamington: The Heiress Speaks"
"New Evidence Clears Evelyn Leamington's Name"
"Public Apologies Flood In After Truth Is Revealed"
Carlos seethed. "She turned the tide."
He looked to his assistant.
"Plan B. Now. I want eyes on everyone—Delphine, Annalise, Han, Rezi, Clyde."
But in his gut, Carlos felt something terrifying:
He was losing.
And the girl he thought he erased from the story?
Was now the one writing the ending.