The search for Phyllis and Sharon had reached a breaking point. Days of fruitless leads and growing despair had pushed Nick to the edge. Time was slipping away, and with every passing moment, the hope of finding them dwindled. Left with no other option, Nick did something he had long avoided—he turned to Victor. His father wielded immense power and influence, and if anyone could uncover the truth, it was him. But asking Victor for help meant stepping into a world of secrets and manipulation, a legacy Nick had tried so hard to escape.

Determined yet wary, Nick made his way to Victor’s grand estate, each step heavy with trepidation. He needed answers—why had his pleas been ignored? Why had Victor’s vast network failed him now? But before he could confront his father, fate intervened. As he reached Victor’s office, the slightly ajar door revealed a hushed conversation. Instinctively, Nick stopped and listened, his heart pounding as he recognized the voices inside—Victor and Michael.

What he heard chilled him to the core. Hidden in the shadows, Nick strained to catch every word. Michael’s voice trembled with fear as he spoke of the consequences if they didn’t act soon. “If we don’t put an end to this now, the police will be on us. I can’t go to jail,” he admitted in a panic. But Victor remained eerily calm. “No, Michael,” he said in his signature steely tone. “We have a greater purpose. Releasing them now would unravel everything we’ve put in place. This isn’t just about avoiding the law—it’s about securing the future.”

Nick’s blood ran cold. Victor and Michael had been orchestrating everything. But what stunned him even more was Victor’s ultimate plan—not only to release Phyllis and Sharon but to ensure they became allies. “If they stand together,” Victor explained, “the chaos will be controlled. Their unity will serve as proof of our success.”

The weight of his father’s betrayal was too much to bear. Without thinking, Nick burst into the room. “Enough!” he roared, his voice echoing through the grand hall. Michael and Victor turned, their faces frozen in shock. Fury burned in Nick’s eyes as he grabbed Michael by the collar. “You’ve been hiding this from me all along! How could you play with people’s lives like this?”

Michael stammered, his earlier confidence crumbling. “I—I thought I was doing what was necessary. But I never wanted it to go this far. I was following orders.”

Nick turned to Victor, his rage boiling over. “Is this what you truly believe? That suffering is just a means to an end?”

Victor’s response was chillingly composed. “Sometimes, the greater good requires sacrifices. Their ordeal is unfortunate, but necessary for the future we’re building.”

Nick clenched his fists. “You’re talking about people’s lives like they’re chess pieces. This isn’t strategy—this is manipulation at its worst.”

Michael, visibly shaken, interjected, “I never wanted it this way, Nick. I was caught in the plan. I made bad choices, but I thought I was protecting us.”

Nick’s grip tightened. “Protection? Is that what you call this? How many more lives will you destroy for your so-called transformation?”

A heavy silence filled the room as Nick stood at a crossroads. He had three choices: Expose Victor and Michael, dismantling the web of deceit but risking Phyllis and Sharon’s safety; play along and manipulate the situation from within; or betray his own family by turning them in to the authorities.

The weight of his decision bore down on him. Phyllis and Sharon’s lives were at stake, but so was his moral integrity. With one last glare at his father, Nick knew what had to be done.

“I’m done with your games,” he declared. “I refuse to let you manipulate lives any longer. If that means exposing you both, then so be it.”

Michael’s face paled, and even Victor’s unshakable facade showed a flicker of surprise. Nick’s decision wasn’t just an act of defiance—it was a declaration of war against the corruption that had plagued his family for too long. He pulled out his phone and dialed a trusted contact in law enforcement. “Tell them everything,” he said.