Why Is He Back??

Carter Goldsmi..... oops.. sorry... Winston

The heavy, metallic clank of the cell door echoed through the dimly lit space, sending a shiver down Nicole's spine. The jail guard, a burly man with a rough demeanor, entered with a smirk plastered on his face. He nudged Nicole with his boot, startling her awake, before turning his gaze to Mildred, who was curled up on the cold, hard bench.

"Wh... who is it?" Mildred mumbled, her voice weak from the days spent in captivity.

"Shut up, bitches, and get up. It's your visiting hour," the guard barked, his voice as gruff as his appearance.

Nicole rubbed her eyes, confusion clouding her expression. "We had our lawyer come in yesterday..."

"I said shut up!" the guard snapped, grabbing them both by the arms and dragging them out of the cell. "Be thankful that someone actually wants to see your faces."

They were led down a narrow, dimly lit corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly, the oppressive atmosphere closing in around them. The guard pushed them through a door into a meeting room, its lights kept deliberately low. The room was eerily quiet, with only the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the distance.

In the corner, shrouded in darkness, stood a figure-tall, imposing, and radiating an aura of danger. The guard handed over a thick wad of cash-500 pounds-and quickly retreated, leaving Nicole and Mildred alone with the stranger.

As the figure stepped into the dim light, the glint of sharp eyes was unmistakable. It was Carter, his expression a mask of barely controlled rage.

"How the fuck did you both land in jail?" Carter's voice was cold, cutting through the silence like a knife.

Mildred and Nicole instinctively moved toward him, seeking comfort in his presence, but Carter held up a hand, stopping them in their tracks. The icy glare in his eyes was enough to freeze them in place.

"I asked, how the fuck did Zack Goldsmith find out the truth about you?" His words were laced with venom, his teeth gritting in barely suppressed fury.

Nicole, ever the schemer, attempted to deflect the question. "Forget about me, Carter, but aren't you getting a bit too cozy with Olivia? I think your intentions have changed..."

Carter's lips curled into a devilish grin as he let out a cold, mirthless laugh. He took a seat on a nearby chair, crossing his legs with deliberate casualness. "Oh, my dear Nicole, I assure you, my intentions remain exactly as they've always been. I haven't forgotten what the Goldsmiths and the Wilsons did to me."

He leaned back, his eyes narrowing as he allowed the dark memories of his past to flood back into his mind.

---

**Flashback:**

Years ago, Richard Winston had stormed into Lucius Goldsmith's opulent study, his heart pounding with a mixture of rage and desperation. The lavish room was decorated with priceless artifacts, a testament to the immense wealth and power the Goldsmiths wielded.

"Lucius, you bastard!" Richard's voice boomed, the anger in his tone undeniable. "How could you abandon Lydia and me like that? You left her broken and alone, while you continued your life as if nothing had happened!"

Lucius sat behind his grand oak desk, his expression cold and indifferent. He barely looked up from the papers he was signing, his attention seemingly elsewhere. "Lydia was a mistake, Richard," he said dismissively. "You knew that from the beginning. I have a family-an actual, legitimate family. Zack is my heir, not some illegitimate child."

Richard's face twisted with fury as he slammed his fists onto the desk, causing the ornate pen holder to topple over. "you a bastard, Lucius! Landon is your firstborn, the rightful heir to the Goldsmith empire!"

Finally, Lucius looked up, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Richard with a mixture of disdain and boredom. "landon are nothing but a complication, Richard. A loose end I should have cut off long ago."

He opened a drawer and pulled out a sleek black briefcase, tossing it onto the desk. It landed with a heavy thud, the latches clicking open to reveal stacks of neatly bundled cash. "Take this," Lucius said coldly. "And disappear. Consider it a final payment for services rendered."

Richard recoiled in disgust, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "You think you can buy me off, Lucius? Lydia is spiraling into depression because of you! She's lost everything, including her dignity!"

Lucius's gaze hardened, and his tone turned icy. "Leave now, Richard, while you still have the chance. If you continue down this path, I'll ensure that neither you nor Lydia ever trouble me again."

Richard left that day, seething with anger and humiliation. He took the briefcase but refused to be silenced. Determined to fight for his rightful place, he went to the only person he thought could help him-**Charles Wilson**, the head of the prestigious Wilson & Co. Law Firm and Olivia's father. But when Richard approached Charles, pleading for assistance, Charles coldly turned him away, deeming him a threat to his best friend's secrets.

In a desperate move, Charles had Richard killed, silencing him permanently to protect Lucius's reputation. This act of betrayal devastated Lydia, who fell into a deep spiral of depression and despair. Her mind shattered, Lydia eventually took her own life, attempting to take young Landon with her. But Landon, resilient and resourceful, managed to escape his mother's tragic final act, though the scars would never heal.

From that day forward, Landon swore vengeance on both the Goldsmiths and the Wilsons. He adopted a new identity-Carter Winston-and meticulously plotted his revenge, biding his time and gathering his resources.

During his college years, Carter wandered aimlessly, consumed by anger and grief. It was during this dark period that **Mildred Goldsmith**, Lucius's estranged sister, found him. She took him in, feeding and clothing him, and giving him the education he needed to continue his plans. Mildred, who harbored her own deep-seated hatred for Lucius-her sons had been murdered on Lucius's orders when they demanded their rightful share of the family empire-recognized the potential in Carter. She saw in him a kindred spirit, someone who could help her exact the revenge she so desperately craved.

Together, they began to plot against Lucius. Their plan grew more intricate and dangerous as they discovered Nicole's obsession with Zack and her burning hatred for Olivia. Seeing an opportunity, they recruited Nicole, manipulating her desires to fit into their larger scheme.

---

**Present:**

Carter's voice broke the silence in the room, pulling Nicole and Mildred back to the present. His tone was low and menacing, every word dripping with calculated malice.

"I have already planted seeds of doubt in Liv's head," Carter said, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "She'll never trust Zack again. Soon, both of you will get exactly what you want. Nicole, you'll have Zack, and I'll have the Goldsmith empire. And as for Olivia... she'll be right where she belongs-under my thumb."

Nicole's smirk widened, though there was an underlying tension in her expression. She had seen what Carter was capable of and knew better than to underestimate him.

Mildred, however, remained silent, her mind racing. The plan was coming together, but she knew that even the slightest mistake could bring everything crashing down. Yet, she trusted Carter-he was their best chance at finally toppling Lucius and taking what was rightfully theirs.

As Carter stood, his decision made, he turned to the two women with a final command. "Get your shit together. We're closer to our goals than ever before. Don't fuck this up."

With that, he strode out of the room, leaving Nicole and Mildred to ponder their next move. The shadows in the room seemed to grow longer, as if echoing the darkness that had taken root in their hearts.