Chapter 6: CHAPTER SIX : TWISTED TIDES
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INT. ANATOMY LECTURE HALL — MORNING
Sunlight streamed through towering glass windows, catching on polished desks and glinting off scalpel displays. ANISSA sat upright, scribbling notes while PROFESSOR MARLOWE dissected the human circulatory system with practiced intensity.
PROFESSOR MARLOWE
And that, class, is why the brachial artery is crucial for upper limb circulation.
He cast a pointed, satisfied glance at Anissa.
As students packed their bags, he made his way to her desk.
PROFESSOR MARLOWE
Anissa — excellent work on your last assessment. You've reclaimed your top spot in anatomy. I'm proud of your focus. Keep this up… greatness is within reach.
ANISSA
(smiling, weary)
Thank you, sir. I won't let you down.
He gave a curt, approving nod and moved on.
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EXT. CAMPUS COURTYARD — AFTERNOON
Anissa, NELLY, DORIS, and HANNAH lounged on the sun-warmed grass, laughing over pointless gossip. For a brief moment, Anissa felt weightless.
NELLY
Girl, the way you crushed that test? Even Marlowe couldn't hide his grin. Drinks on you tonight.
ANISSA
(laughing softly)
Once my bank account decides to resurrect, sure.
Their laughter was cut short as Anissa's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and frowned.
TEXT MESSAGE (UNKNOWN NUMBER):
I know your secret. See me or it goes viral.
Her stomach knotted. Blood drained from her face.
DORIS
Yo, you okay?
ANISSA
(forcing a smile)
Yeah… probably some spam.
But her pulse screamed otherwise.
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INT. ANISSA'S DORM ROOM — NIGHT
The room was dark except for the cold blue glow of her phone. Another notification pinged.
TEXT FROM TERRY:
Sis… Mom's worse. The cancer's spreading. She's barely breathing. If we don't start stronger treatment, we might lose her.
Anissa's throat tightened. A lump threatened to choke her. She wiped at tears already blurring her vision.
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INT. DERULO ESTATE — MIDNIGHT
Steven lounged on a leather couch in his sprawling living room, sports highlights flickering on the TV. His inner circle — MILES (lawyer), VIC (bodyguard), and GINA (manager) — filled the space.
STEVEN
(smooth, lethal)
She thinks I don't know. Tanya's been using my name, my money, my damn brand. And fertility issues? I been knew. Barren as a wasteland.
MILES
We pressing charges?
STEVEN
Not just that. I want every contract she ever signed because of me revoked. Model deals, endorsements — gone. I want her broke, on her knees, begging to breathe.
GINA
(smiling darkly)
Consider it done.
Steven leaned back with dark satisfaction, eyes gleaming.
STEVEN
No room for snakes in my world.
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INT. ANISSA'S DORM BATHROOM — EARLY MORNING
Anissa stared at her reflection. Pale. Shaken. Her stomach twisted with nausea. Her breasts ached.
She swiped open the calendar app on her phone. Counted the days.
Her breath hitched.
ANISSA (V.O.)
No… no way.
A chill crawled down her spine.
A pregnancy test wasn't a maybe anymore — it was a must.
She gripped the counter, her vision swimming
TO BE CONTINUED....
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