Tyrson’s first destination was COY, but as he approached the building, something felt off. The usually bustling atmosphere was replaced by a crowd of people milling about outside.

As Tyrson stepped out of his car, a throng of paparazzi descended upon him, like a pack of hungry wolves.

The security guards tried valiantly to hold back the frenzied crowd, but the photographers continued to snap away, their cameras flashing like a hailstorm of light.

Their questions firing at him like bullets. One reporter hollered, "MR GRIFFIN, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU RAPED MISS CAESAR AFTER SHE BROKE OFF YOUR ENGAGEMENT?"

The question hit Tyrson like a punch to the gut, and he realized the true nature of the situation. He clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with fury.

The reporters’ frenzied questions continued, their voices growing louder as Tyrson was ushered inside.

"WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED?" a reporter shouted as the door slammed shut behind him.

Inside his office, Tyrson found Manson pacing anxiously. When Manson saw Tyrson, he visibly relaxed, walking towards him with a look of concern on his face.

"Find out who leaked the story!" Tyrson commanded, his tone icy.

Manson hesitated, unsure how to break the news that there was a bigger problem. "Meryl has been kidnapped," he finally said, his voice heavy with dread.

Tyrson's eyes widened in shock. "What?" he gasped, the blood draining from his face. "What do you mean, 'kidnapped'?"

"They were attacked yesterday," Manson began, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "Cassie was shot, and Meryl was kidnapped." He said.

Tyrson’s eyes hardened, his face turning ashen white with rage. “Michelle?” he asked, his voice cold and dangerous.

"She's safe at the hospital with..." Manson started, but Tyrson was already gone, a whirlwind of fury and determination as he stormed out of the room.

Manson hurriedly trailed after Tyrson as they slipped through the secret passageway, evading the paparazzi outside.

"Where are you going?" Manson asked, his eyes wide with concern as Tyrson climbed into his car.

"I need you to stay with Michelle," Tyrson replied, his voice razor-sharp with determination. "Make sure she's safe. I'll handle the rest."

Before Manson could reply, Tyrson peeled out of the driveway, his tires screeching on the pavement.

*

"Julia!" Tyrson bellowed, rage boiling within him as he burst into Julia's house. He stormed towards her room, but was suddenly met with an unexpected obstacle: Iris.

"You can't just storm into someone's house like that," he seethed, his eyes blazing with hatred. "Get out."

Tyrson ground his teeth together, his jaw clenched. "Out of my way," he growled, seething with fury. But Iris remained rooted in place, defiant in the face of his threat.

"How dare you show your face here after what you did to my sister?" Iris snarled, grasping Tyrson’s collar.

Tyrson’s response was swift and brutal. He slammed his fist into Iris’s face with a vicious right hook, the force of the blow causing him to stagger backward.

"Maybe you should ask your sister what she’s been up to," Tyrson spat, his eyes locked onto the now-visible Julia.

Julia's smile twisted into a smug smirk as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “I knew you’d come back to me,” she taunted.

Tyrson’s anger surged. In a blur of motion, he seized Julia’s throat, pinning her against the wall. The impact of her body against the unforgiving surface sent a shockwave through her body.

"Where’s Meryl?" Tyrson demanded, his grip on her neck tightening.

Iris's voice rose in alarm. "Tyrson, stop!" he shouted, trying to pry him away from Julia. But before he could reach them, Tyrson swung at him with the force of a freight train. Iris crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

"Iris!" Julia shrieked, terror gripping her as Tyrson's violent rage became increasingly evident.

"If you don’t tell me where Meryl is…" Tyrson growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"W-what are you talking about?" Julia sputtered, her voice strained as she tried to loosen Tyrson’s grip on her throat.

"You messed with Meryl," Tyrson seethed, his face inches from hers. "And I know you tried to kill Michelle. Don’t even pretend to be innocent. You’ve been working with Ludovic." He tightened his hold, and Julia’s face began to flush, her eyes tearing up.

"I... I'll talk," Julia rasped, her voice hoarse from Tyrson’s stranglehold.

Tyrson released his grip, and Julia crumpled to the floor, sucking in deep breaths of air. She clutched at her throat, her eyes watering as she struggled to regain her composure.

"Speak," Tyrson ordered, looming over her, his expression hard and unforgiving.

*

Ludovic's laughter echoed through the room, but it abruptly ceased when Meryl met his gaze.

"What do you mean you’re pregnant?" he scoffed, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "You think you can fool me with that?"

Meryl rolled her eyes, unfazed by his skepticism. "Find out for yourself," she shot back, adjusting her position on the bed and using the remnants of her torn clothing to cover her exposed chest.

One of Ludovic's men entered the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence. He approached Ludovic, who murmured something into his ear before the man nodded and swiftly departed.

"Get dressed," Ludovic commanded without turning to face Meryl, his voice laced with authority. "We're leaving soon."

Meryl sprung to her feet. "Where are we going?" she demanded, her voice quavering with a mixture of fear and defiance.

Ludovic, however, ignored her question, his focus fixated on the exit.

"Where are you taking me?" Meryl called out desperately as she sprinted towards the door, her feet pounding against the floor.

But before she could reach the exit, Ludovic slammed the door shut, leaving her trapped inside. Meryl slammed her fists against the unyielding wood, her desperation and fear fueling her futile efforts.

*

Tyrson wasted no time. After uncovering Ludovic's location, he alerted the police, who quickly organized a team to surround the premises.

As the wailing sirens of police cars pierced through the air, Ludovic's instincts kicked in. He knew they were coming for him. But he wasn’t one to go down without a fight. He’d already made preparations.

Ludovic sprinted back to the room where he’d imprisoned Meryl, but the space was empty, the window wide open.

“Damn it!” he cursed, rage welling up within him.

As the police breached the house, they swiftly overpowered Ludovic’s remaining men, subduing and apprehending them.

In the midst of the chaos, Tyrson searched frantically for Meryl, scouring the various rooms with a sense of urgency. But with each moment that passed, his worry intensified.

“Meryl!” Tyrson shouted, his voice echoing through the building. He desperately examined every room, every corner, but she was nowhere to be found.

Finally, Tyrson entered a room, but he sensed a movement behind him. Ludovic leapt from the shadows, his fist swinging with deadly intent. Tyrson, swift as a panther, dodged the attack, narrowly avoiding the blow.

Ludovic, refusing to give up, whipped out his gun and aimed it at Tyrson. However, Tyrson’s reflexes were as quick as lightning. He kicked the weapon out of Ludovic’s hand, sending it clattering across the floor.

The two men engaged in a hand-to-hand combat. Tyrson easily overpowered Ludovic, delivering a bone-crushing kick to his face. The impact sent Ludovic crashing to the ground, dazed and defeated. then he pinned his neck with his elbow.

Tyrson pressed his elbow against Ludovic's neck, exerting a crushing pressure. "Where is Meryl?" he demanded, his voice filled with a dark, dangerous intensity.

Ludovic let out a maddening cackle. "She’s in a place where you’ll never find her," he taunted.

Fueled by rage, Tyrson unleashed a savage punch into Ludovic’s already battered face.

As Tyrson was about to unleash another blow, the police stormed in, Meryl in their protection. The officers swiftly cuffed Ludovic and whisked him away.

“Tyrson!” Meryl sobbed, throwing herself into his arms. He enveloped her in a tight embrace, his face etched with concern.

"You must have been terrified," he murmured, his voice gentle.

"Cassie got shot!" Meryl cried, her words muffled against his chest.

He drew Meryl in closer, his embrace offering a sense of comfort. "She's fine," he assured her. The trio made their way out of the building, but before they could reach their car, Julia sprinted toward them.

The sight of her sent Tyrson into action, signaling to the officers to apprehend her. "What are you doing?" Julia screamed, flailing in the officers’ grips.

"Let me go! Tyrson, you fool!" she shrieked as the officers dragged her to the waiting police van.

The officers were about to shove Julia into the van, but Meryl suddenly rushed in, halting them in their tracks.

Julia’s glare turned to Meryl, her venomous gaze filled with contempt. “Are you satisfied now, you b*tch?” she hissed, her words seething with hatred.

Meryl’s hand connected with Julia’s cheek in a thunderous smack, the sound reverberating throughout the air. The onlookers gasped, stunned by the unexpected strike.

"That's for trying to hurt my child," Meryl seethed, her voice trembling with emotion as she delivered another forceful slap that left Julia’s cheek reddened and marked with the shape of Meryl’s fingers.

"And that's for messing with me," Meryl spat, as another slap echoed across the scene, sending a fresh batch of tears streaming down Julia’s face. Meryl raised her hand for a fourth hit, but Tyrson's firm grip on her wrist halted her movements.

"Let the police handle it," Tyrson said, guiding her hand down. He then approached the detective, handing him a flash drive. "Here's evidence of Julia's involvement in the attempted murder of Michelle."

"We have reason to believe that Ludovic’s crimes extend beyond kidnapping Meryl," the detective revealed, his tone grave. "It seems he was also involved in illegal activities and may be responsible for the death of Joanna."

Tyrson’s eyes widened in shock. The detective continued, handing him a flash drive. "We recovered this while searching Julia’s house. There’s potentially more incriminating evidence on here."

Tyrson watched as the police vehicles sped away with Julia and Ludovic in the back, his eyes fixed on the road as they faded into the distance.

He turned to Meryl, his gaze immediately falling on the angry red marks that marred her skin, his eyes softening as he noticed the wound on her lip.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Julia earlier," Tyrson apologized, his voice heavy with regret.

Meryl wrapped her arms around him, offering a comforting embrace.

"We should check on Cassie and Michelle," Tyrson said. And she nodded, her expression somber as she climbed into the passenger seat. Tyrson followed suit, walking around to the driver's side and sliding into the car.

*

"Mom!" Michelle yelled, a smile spreading across her face as she caught sight of Meryl. She ran to Meryl, her arms wrapping around her in a fierce embrace.

Meryl knelt before her, showering her daughter's face with kisses. “I'm so glad you’re safe," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.

"I was scared you'd never come back," Michelle whispered, the words trembling with fear and relief.

Meryl pulled Michelle in close, offering her a loving, protective embrace.

Meryl gently lifted Michelle's chin, gazing into her daughter's eyes. “You’re a strong girl, hun,” she said softly, and Michelle gave a small nod, her expression brimming with gratitude.

Michelle's eyes flicked up to Tyrson. “Mr. Philanthropist, you saved Mom again,” she said with a smile. Tyrson moved forward and gently brushed his fingers through her hair.

"Well, she is your mom," he replied, his voice filled with warmth.

Just then, Iris burst into the room, a wide smile on his face. “Cassie’s awake!” she exclaimed, breaking the tender moment between Tyrson, Meryl, and Michelle.