CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE – THE UNBREAKABLE BOND OF LOVE

Kayla's breath caught in her throat, her mind reeling from the implications of Barbara's confession. "But... why? Why would you go to such lengths, only to undermine your own efforts?" Barbara's expression hardened, her eyes boring into Kayla with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "Because I knew that once the threat of imprisonment was lifted, once the specter of Lance's downfall had been banished, you would inevitably seek to ensnare him once more." Lance made a sound of disbelief, his voice thick with incredulity. "Mother, this is madness. Kayla has done nothing but stand by my side, even when the odds were stacked against us. How could you possibly see her as a threat?" Barbara's gaze never wavered, her conviction burning like a brand. "Open your eyes, Lance. Can't you see the way she's manipulated you, twisted your loyalties to serve her own ends? She's a liability, a cancer that threatens to consume everything we've built." Kayla felt a surge of fury rising with