The next morning, Mia woke up feeling anxious. Today was the day they would spring the trap on Marcus and Jessica.
Ryan was already awake, sitting on the balcony with coffee, staring at the sunrise.
"Couldn't sleep?" Mia asked, joining him.
"Kept thinking about what happens after today," Ryan admitted. "Once I expose my mother... there's no fixing that relationship."
Mia took his hand. "She tried to hurt our baby, Ryan. You're doing the right thing."
"I know. It just... it's hard."
"Do you want to call it off?" Mia asked quietly. "We could just avoid her, keep our distance—"
"No," Ryan said firmly. "She won't stop. As long as she thinks she can control me, she'll keep trying to destroy you. This has to end."
They sat together in silence, watching the sun rise over the city.
Finally, Ryan's phone buzzed. A text from Tom.
**Tom:** Everything is ready. Marcus is on his way to your mother's house now.
Ryan stood up. "It's time."
---
**At Jessica's mansion...**
Marcus Vance arrived at exactly nine AM, as agreed.
Jessica's butler led him to the study, where Jessica sat behind her desk, looking regal and confident.
"Marcus. Good morning."
"Jessica," Marcus said, sitting down without being invited. "We need to talk about the payment."
"Yes, the payment." Jessica opened a drawer and pulled out an envelope. "Here's half of what I promised. You'll get the rest when Mia signs the contract."
Marcus took the envelope but didn't open it. "About that. I'm having second thoughts."
Jessica's expression hardened. "Excuse me?"
"This plan of yours... it's risky. If Ryan finds out—"
"He won't," Jessica interrupted. "Unless you tell him."
"I'm just saying, maybe we should reconsider—"
"Are you trying to back out?" Jessica's voice was ice.
Marcus leaned back in his chair. "I'm trying to renegotiate. I want more money."
Jessica's eyes flashed with anger. "We had a deal."
"Deals change. I want double what you promised, or I walk away. And maybe I'll tell Ryan everything."
"You wouldn't dare."
Marcus smiled coldly. "Try me."
Jessica stood up, her hands trembling with rage. "You think you can blackmail me?"
"I think we're both guilty here, Jessica. The question is, which one of us is willing to pay more to keep it quiet?"
Jessica grabbed her phone. "I could ruin you with one call."
"And I could ruin you right back," Marcus countered. "So what's it going to be?"
Before Jessica could respond, the study door opened.
Ryan walked in.
Jessica's face went pale. "Ryan! What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Mother," Ryan said coldly. He looked at Marcus. "Mr. Vance. Thanks for making this easy."
Marcus stood up quickly. "Blake, this isn't what it looks like—"
"Really? Because it looks like you and my mother were plotting to destroy my wife and steal my company."
Jessica found her voice. "Ryan, darling, you don't understand. This man came to me with—"
"Stop lying," Ryan said quietly. "I know everything."
He pulled out his phone and played the recording from the hotel. Jessica and Marcus's voices filled the room, discussing their plan in detail.
Jessica's face drained of all color.
Marcus looked at the door, clearly thinking about running.
"Don't bother," Ryan said. "There are security guards outside. You're not going anywhere."
"Ryan, please," Jessica said, her voice shaking. "I was only trying to protect you—"
"Protect me?" Ryan's voice rose. "You tried to make my wife lose our baby! You tried to destroy her business! You call that protection?"
"That woman has you under some kind of spell!" Jessica shouted. "She's not good enough for you!"
"She's my wife!" Ryan shouted back. "And she's a better person than you'll ever be!"
Jessica recoiled like she'd been slapped.
Tom appeared in the doorway. "Sir, the authorities are here."
Two police officers entered the study.
"Jessica Blake?" one officer said. "You're under arrest for conspiracy to commit fraud and attempted extortion."
"You can't do this!" Jessica screamed as they handcuffed her. "I'm your mother!"
"You stopped being my mother when you tried to hurt my family," Ryan said coldly.
As they led Jessica away, she screamed at Ryan. "You'll regret this! That woman will destroy you! You'll see!"
Her voice faded as they took her out of the house.
Marcus stood there, sweating. "Blake, we can make a deal—"
"The only deal you're getting is the one the prosecutor offers you," Ryan said. "If you testify against my mother, they might go easy on you."
The officers handcuffed Marcus too.
As they led him out, Tom approached Ryan.
"Sir, there's someone else here who wants to speak with you."
Ryan turned.
Grandpa Samuel stood in the hallway, leaning on his cane, tears in his eyes.
"Grandpa," Ryan said softly.
Samuel walked over and hugged his grandson tightly. "I'm proud of you, boy. I know that wasn't easy."
"She's your daughter-in-law," Ryan said. "Aren't you angry with me?"
"Angry? No. Sad? Yes. But you did the right thing. Jessica crossed a line." Samuel pulled back, looking at Ryan seriously. "How's Mia?"
"Waiting at home. I didn't want her here for this."
"Smart. Go to her. She needs you."
Ryan nodded and left.
---
**At the penthouse...**
Mia paced back and forth, checking her phone every thirty seconds.
Emma sat on the couch, trying to distract her. "Mia, calm down. You're going to wear a hole in the floor."
"What if something went wrong?" Mia worried. "What if Jessica got away?"
"Tom said the plan was perfect. Just trust—"
The door opened.
Ryan walked in.
Mia ran to him. "What happened? Is it over?"
Ryan pulled her into his arms. "It's over. She's been arrested. So has Marcus."
Mia felt tears of relief fall. "Really? It's really over?"
"Really."
They held each other for a long moment.
Emma quietly slipped out to give them privacy.
"Are you okay?" Mia asked, looking up at Ryan.
"I will be," Ryan said. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I'd do it again to protect you and our baby."
Mia kissed him softly. "I love you."
"I love you too."
They sat on the couch, and Ryan told her everything that had happened.
When he finished, Mia said, "What happens now?"
"Now, we move forward. Together."
"Your mother will hate me forever."
"My mother will be in jail for a while," Ryan said darkly. "And when she gets out, she'll have no power over us. Grandpa Samuel is changing his will. Everything goes to our children, not her."
Mia placed her hand on her belly. "Our children. That sounds nice."
Ryan covered her hand with his. "It does."
His phone buzzed with a message from Tom.
**Tom:** Sir, you need to see this. It's about Mia's business.
Ryan frowned and called Tom. "What's wrong with her business?"
"Nothing's wrong. Actually, something's very right. After the news of your mother's arrest broke, five major companies have reached out wanting to partner with Alvarez Innovations. They're calling Mia a hero for standing up to the Blake family."
Ryan laughed in disbelief. "You're kidding."
"I'm not, sir. Her business is about to explode."
Ryan looked at Mia. "Did you hear that?"
Mia had been listening. "I heard. I can't believe it."
"Believe it," Ryan said. "You deserve this, Mia. You built something incredible."
Mia felt tears form again. "These pregnancy hormones are making me cry at everything."
Ryan wiped her tears gently. "Happy tears?"
"Very happy tears."
---
**Two days later...**
The news was everywhere.
**"Jessica Blake Arrested in Conspiracy Scandal!"**
**"Blake Family Drama: Mother Tried to Destroy Son's Marriage!"**
**"Mia Carter: The Woman Who Brought Down a Blake!"**
But the story that interested Mia most was this one:
**"Alvarez Innovations: The Company That Refused to Be Bought!"**
The article praised Mia's integrity and business acumen. It talked about how she'd built her company from nothing and had refused to sell even when offered millions.
Mia read it at breakfast while Ryan made her toast with peanut butter—her latest craving.
"This is surreal," Mia said. "A week ago, everyone thought I was a gold digger. Now I'm some kind of business hero."
"You are a hero," Ryan said, kissing the top of her head. "My hero."
"Smooth talker."
Emma called via video chat. "Mia! Did you see the news? You're famous!"
"I saw. It's weird."
"Weird? It's amazing! You should enjoy this!"
Mia smiled. "I'm trying. But I keep waiting for something bad to happen."
"Nothing bad is going to happen," Ryan said firmly. "I won't let it."
Famous last words.
Because at that moment, Ryan's phone rang.
It was the hospital.
"Mr. Blake? This is County General Hospital. Your mother has been admitted to the medical wing. She's asking for you."
Ryan's expression darkened. "What happened?"
"She collapsed in her cell. We're running tests now."
Ryan hung up and looked at Mia.
"Don't," Mia said immediately. "Don't feel guilty."
"She's in the hospital—"
"Because of her own actions," Mia interrupted. "Not yours."
"I know, but—"
"Ryan, if you go there, she'll manipulate you. You know she will."
Ryan was quiet.
Mia softened. "I'm not saying don't go. I'm saying be careful. Don't let her guilt you into forgiving her before she's earned it."
Ryan nodded slowly. "Come with me?"
"To see your mother? Ryan, she hates me."
"I don't want to face her alone."
Mia took his hand. "Okay. I'll go with you."
---
**At the hospital...**
Jessica Blake looked small in the hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and IVs.
When Ryan and Mia walked in, Jessica's eyes filled with tears.
"Ryan," she whispered. "You came."
"What happened?" Ryan asked, staying near the door.
"They said it was stress," Jessica said weakly. "The shock of... everything."
Mia noticed the way Jessica's eyes kept darting to her, full of hatred even now.
"The doctor said you'll be fine," Ryan said. "You just need rest."
"I need my son," Jessica said. "Ryan, please. I'm sorry. I was wrong about everything. I just... I couldn't see it before."
Mia felt Ryan tense next to her. This was exactly what she'd warned him about.
"Mother—"
"Please," Jessica interrupted. "Forgive me. I'll do better. I'll accept your marriage. I'll even apologize to Mia."
Jessica looked at Mia, but her eyes were cold despite her words. "I'm sorry, dear. For everything."
The words sounded hollow.
"Thank you," Mia said carefully. "But sorry isn't enough to fix what you've done."
Jessica's mask slipped for just a second, her face twisting with anger before smoothing back to weak helplessness.
"Ryan," Jessica said, "send her away. I need to talk to you alone. Mother to son."
"Anything you say to me, you can say in front of my wife," Ryan said firmly.
Jessica's expression hardened. "Fine. I wanted to do this nicely, but you've left me no choice."
She reached under her pillow and pulled out her phone.
"I have insurance, Ryan. Documents, recordings, proof of things you've done in business. Things that aren't exactly legal. If you don't drop the charges against me, I'll release everything."
Ryan stared at her in disbelief. "You're blackmailing me? In a hospital bed?"
"I'm protecting myself," Jessica said coldly. "You forced my hand, Ryan. Choose: me or her."
Mia's heart sank.
But Ryan didn't hesitate.
He pulled out his own phone and made a call.
"Tom? My mother just attempted to blackmail me. Yes, I have it recorded. Add it to the charges."
Jessica's face went white. "You're recording this?"
"Always," Ryan said coldly. "You taught me never to trust anyone, Mother. I learned that lesson well."
He turned to leave, taking Mia's hand.
"Ryan!" Jessica screamed. "Don't you walk away from me! I'm your mother!"
Ryan paused at the door. "No. A mother protects her children. She doesn't try to destroy them."
They walked out, leaving Jessica screaming behind them.
In the hallway, Mia saw that Ryan was shaking.
"Hey," she said gently. "You did the right thing."
"Did I?" Ryan asked. "She's still my mother."
"She's also a criminal who just tried to blackmail you," Mia reminded him. "You can love her and still protect yourself from her."
Ryan pulled Mia close. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Good thing you'll never have to find out."
---
**That evening, back at the penthouse...**
Ryan and Mia sat on the couch, exhausted from the day's drama.
"I have something to tell you," Mia said nervously.
Ryan looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Actually, something's... right?" Mia took a deep breath. "I had my ultrasound today while you were at work."
Ryan sat up. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have come!"
"I wanted to surprise you," Mia said. She pulled out a small envelope. "The doctor gave me this."
Ryan opened it.
Inside was an ultrasound picture.
Two babies.
Ryan stared at it, his mouth open. "Twins?"
"Twins," Mia confirmed, smiling nervously. "Surprise?"
Ryan looked at the picture, at the two tiny shapes, and suddenly he was laughing and crying at the same time.
"Twins," he repeated. "We're having twins."
"Are you happy?" Mia asked. "Or terrified?"
"Both," Ryan admitted. "But mostly happy. So, so happy."
He kissed her deeply.
When they pulled apart, Mia said, "There's one more thing."
"What?"
"I want to renew our vows. Do the wedding properly this time, with friends and family. Start our marriage the right way."
Ryan smiled. "I'd like that."
"Really?"
"Really. But on one condition."
"What's that?"
"I get to plan the whole thing. I want to show you how a Blake wedding should be done."
Mia laughed. "Deal."
They kissed again, both of them imagining the future ahead.
Twins. A real wedding. A fresh start.
Everything seemed perfect.
But neither of them noticed the message that had just arrived on Jessica's secret phone—the one the police hadn't found yet.
A message from an unknown number:
**"I heard what happened. I can help you get revenge. But you'll have to do exactly what I say."**
Jessica, lying in her hospital bed, smiled.
The game wasn't over yet.
Not by a long shot.