But Adaline's thoughts were elsewhere. "Oh, I can't wait to hear Lilah's cell door slam shut. And then, maybe a little ‘accident’ in prison?"

The idea of a life without Lilah felt like a dream she was desperate to grasp.

Helga, ever the voice of encouragement, replied, “Your time is coming, darling. The world's your oyster."

Yet, Adaline was getting restless. “Where the heck is Bertha? I'm dying to get the full scoop."

“Patience, dear. We can relax now that.."

Before Helga could finish, a familiar voice chimed in, "Is that what you think?"

Lilah, with all the poise of a movie star, swung the hospital room door open. The smirk on her face said it all. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be resting, you sure are busy plotting."

Adaline's face drained of color. "Why aren't you in a cell? Let me guess, Mr. Harris pulled some strings? You think that won't bite him back? Soon enough, everyone will know he's pulling favors for his lady love. The Harris Group won't last."

Lilah chuckled. "Your concern is touching, really. But the thing is, I walked out of that station fair and square. You, however..."

As Lilah's final words hung in the air, two officers stepped into the room, badges glistening. “Adaline Phillips," one began, his voice stern, "we need a word regarding accusations of slander and deceit."

Adaline's face transformed with shock and disbelief, while Helga jumped to her defense. “Officers, you must be mistaken. Adaline would never. Is this some sort of mix-up?"

Helga's eyes, however, darted accusingly at Lilah. She was convinced Lilah and Gerard had a hand in this.

One of the officers, clearly not in the mood for games, responded curtly, “We have evidence. Solid evidence."

He gestured, and in walked a familiar doctor. Adaline's confidence wavered instantly at the sight of him. She didn't anticipate his appearance.

Soon, Helga was ushered outside, leaving Adaline to face the police.

From the hallway, Helga shot Lilah a look so icy it could freeze the Sahara. "“Lilah Phillips, she's your own flesh and blood. You've already caused her so much pain. What more do you want?"

Lilah, the weight of years of unequal treatment bearing down on her, finally voiced the doubt that had haunted her. “Is she truly my sister?"

Caught off guard, Helga stammered, “What? Of course! You are twins; you were both inside me for months. Adaline's all you have left if anything happens to your father and me."

Lilah, sarcasm dripping from her words, retorted, "Twins, huh? Yet, you treat us worlds apart."

Helga's anger flared. "How can you be so ungrateful? Because of you, Adaline was kidnapped and almost lost her life! And yet you have the audacity to feel jealous?"

Challengingly, Lilah shot back, “Adaline disappeared for three years.

The girl who came back seemed like a stranger. What if the one you're protecting so fiercely isn't Adaline at all?" Each word was deliberate, questioning everything they had known.

Helga looked Lilah squarely in the eye. "We did a paternity test; it confirmed she's your sister."

"And did Dad get tested too?"