11 . Lauren Is BACK, and She’s Hiding a Secret That Could Change EVERYTHING!

 

🚨😱 LAUREN IS BACK, AND SHE’S HIDING A SECRET THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING! 💔🔥 WAYNE NEVER EXPECTED THIS!

An original fictional drama inspired by the characters and storytelling style of Kountry Wayne’s skits. This is not a report of real-life events.

Lauren is BACK! And this time, she isn't returning to apologize, beg for forgiveness, or pick up where she left off. She's returning with a secret so explosive that it could destroy relationships, expose hidden betrayals, and force Wayne to confront a past he thought was buried forever.

Everyone believed Lauren had finally moved on. After weeks of silence, unanswered phone calls, and mysterious social media activity, her name had almost disappeared from the conversations surrounding Wayne, Amber, Anthony, Dave, Shayla, and D'Nisha.

But what nobody knew was that Lauren had been watching everything from a distance.

And while everyone else was busy fighting over relationships, business deals, and loyalty, Lauren had been collecting information that could change their lives forever.

The biggest question wasn't why Lauren had returned.

It was WHO she was coming back to expose.

💔 CHAPTER 1: THE RETURN NOBODY SAW COMING

It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon when Wayne received a phone call from an unfamiliar number.

He was sitting in his office, reviewing paperwork for an upcoming podcast episode, when his phone started vibrating.

At first, he ignored it.

But the caller tried again.

And again.

Finally, Wayne answered.

"Hello? Who is this?"

For several seconds, there was nothing but silence.

Then a familiar voice spoke.

"Wayne… it's Lauren."

Wayne immediately sat up.

"Lauren? Hold on. Lauren, where have you been?"

She didn't answer his question.

Instead, she said something that made his expression change.

"Wayne, we need to talk. And this time, you need to listen to everything I have to say."

Wayne leaned back in his chair.

"What's going on? You disappear without telling anybody anything, and now you calling me like something happened?"

Lauren took a deep breath.

"Something DID happen, Wayne. Something that involves you, Amber, Dave, and somebody you trust more than you should."

Wayne stopped moving.

"What are you talking about?"

Lauren replied quietly.

"I'm back in Atlanta. And I have proof."

Before Wayne could ask another question, she ended the call.

For the first time in weeks, Wayne looked genuinely worried.

Because Lauren didn't sound angry.

She sounded serious.

And Wayne knew there was a difference.

😱 CHAPTER 2: AMBER SEES LAUREN AND IMMEDIATELY PANICS

Later that evening, Amber was leaving a restaurant when she noticed someone standing beside a black SUV.

She looked once.

Then she looked again.

"Lauren?"

Lauren slowly turned around.

"Hey, Amber."

Amber froze.

"Girl! Where have you been? Everybody been asking about you!"

Lauren smiled, but it wasn't the warm smile Amber remembered.

"I needed some time away."

Amber walked closer.

"Well, you could've told somebody! Wayne was asking questions. Dave was asking questions. Everybody thought you were done with us."

Lauren folded her arms.

"Interesting. Dave was asking about me?"

Amber hesitated.

"Yeah… I mean, everybody was."

Lauren stared at her.

"Amber, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Have you been telling Wayne everything?"

Amber immediately became defensive.

"What does that mean?"

"It means exactly what I said."

Amber looked around the parking lot.

"Lauren, I don't know what you're trying to start, but I'm not doing this today."

Lauren reached into her purse and pulled out a small envelope.

"I wasn't going to say anything. But after what I found out, I can't keep pretending."

Amber's eyes dropped to the envelope.

"What's that?"

Lauren looked directly at her.

"Something you should've told the truth about a long time ago."

Amber's face changed.

And for the first time, she looked afraid of what Lauren might know.

🔥 CHAPTER 3: THE SECRET MEETING WITH DAVE

The following morning, Lauren arranged a private meeting with Dave.

She didn't want Amber there.

She didn't want Wayne there.

And she definitely didn't want Anthony finding out about it.

Dave arrived at a small coffee shop and spotted Lauren sitting alone in the corner.

"Lauren! Man, where you been hiding?"

Lauren didn't smile.

"Sit down, Dave."

Dave laughed nervously.

"Okay… why you talking like I'm in trouble?"

Lauren placed her phone on the table.

"Because I need you to explain something."

She pressed play on an audio recording.

A man's voice could be heard discussing a private business arrangement, a large payment, and information that was never supposed to reach Wayne.

Dave's smile disappeared.

"Where did you get that?"

Lauren watched his reaction carefully.

"So you recognize the voice?"

Dave looked around.

"Lauren, turn that off."

"Why?"

"Because you don't understand what you're playing with."

Lauren leaned forward.

"Then explain it to me."

Dave rubbed his forehead.

"That recording is old."

"Old doesn't mean it didn't happen."

Dave lowered his voice.

"Lauren, if Wayne hears that, everything is going to get messed up."

Lauren's eyes filled with disappointment.

"So it's true?"

Dave didn't respond.

And sometimes silence tells a bigger story than words.

Lauren stood up.

"I gave you a chance to tell me the truth."

Dave grabbed her wrist gently to stop her from leaving.

"Lauren, wait. Please don't take that to Wayne."

She pulled her hand away.

"Then you better give me one good reason why I shouldn't."

🚨 CHAPTER 4: SHAYLA DISCOVERS LAUREN'S REAL REASON FOR RETURNING

News of Lauren's return spread quickly.

Shayla heard about it from D'Nisha, who claimed Amber had been acting strangely ever since seeing Lauren.

But Shayla wasn't convinced that Lauren had returned simply to cause drama.

She decided to visit her.

When Lauren opened the door, Shayla immediately noticed several folders spread across the living room table.

"Girl, what is all this?"

Lauren quickly gathered the papers.

"Just some personal stuff."

Shayla raised an eyebrow.

"Lauren, don't do that. I know you. You look like somebody who hasn't slept in three days."

Lauren sighed.

"Because I haven't."

Shayla sat beside her.

"Talk to me."

For several moments, Lauren struggled to find the words.

Then she finally said:

"Shayla, what if I told you that somebody has been lying to all of us for months?"

Shayla shook her head.

"That's not exactly breaking news around here."

Lauren didn't laugh.

"No. This is different."

She opened one of the folders and showed Shayla a copy of a financial document.

Shayla read the first page.

Then the second.

Her expression changed.

"Lauren… wait a minute."

Lauren nodded.

"Now you see why I came back."

Shayla covered her mouth.

"Does Wayne know about this?"

"No."

"Does Anthony?"

"No."

Shayla looked terrified.

"Lauren, you can't just walk into Wayne's office and throw this on his desk. If this is real, people are going to lose everything."

Lauren looked down at the papers.

"Somebody already lost everything, Shayla."

Shayla stared at her.

"What do you mean?"

Lauren's eyes began filling with tears.

"Me."

💔 CHAPTER 5: THE REAL REASON LAUREN DISAPPEARED

For weeks, everyone assumed Lauren had left because she was unhappy with the skits, the drama, or the people around her.

But that wasn't the whole story.

Lauren revealed that before she disappeared, she had been approached about a confidential business opportunity.

The arrangement was supposed to involve a new entertainment project, with several familiar faces from Wayne's circle.

She had been promised a meaningful role and a share of the future profits.

But after she signed the preliminary paperwork, things changed.

Meetings were canceled.

Messages stopped coming.

And eventually, Lauren discovered that her name had allegedly been used in negotiations she had never approved.

Even worse, she believed someone close to Wayne had deliberately kept him from learning what was happening.

Shayla was stunned.

"So you're saying somebody used your name to make a deal?"

Lauren nodded.

"And when I started asking questions, they told me to stay quiet."

"Who?"

Lauren hesitated.

"That's the part I can't tell you yet."

Shayla became frustrated.

"Lauren! You can't tell me all of this and then leave out the most important part!"

Lauren wiped away a tear.

"Because I still don't know whether that person was working alone."

Suddenly, her phone lit up.

An anonymous message appeared.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM ATLANTA."

Shayla read it over Lauren's shoulder.

"Oh, no. Who sent that?"

Lauren stared at the screen.

"I don't know."

A second message arrived.

"IF WAYNE FINDS OUT WHAT YOU HAVE, EVERYBODY GOES DOWN."

Shayla slowly stood up.

"Lauren, this is bigger than some business drama."

Lauren nodded.

"I know."

😳 CHAPTER 6: WAYNE CONFRONTS LAUREN FACE-TO-FACE

That evening, Wayne showed up at Lauren's house.

He didn't call ahead.

He didn't send a message.

He simply knocked on the door.

When Lauren opened it, Wayne looked exhausted.

"Can we talk?"

Lauren stepped aside.

Wayne entered the living room and noticed the folders.

"So this is what you've been doing?"

Lauren crossed her arms.

"What do you mean?"

"Amber tells me you're asking questions. Dave acting weird. Shayla won't answer my calls. And everybody keeps saying you got some big secret."

Lauren stared at him.

"Wayne, do you trust me?"

He frowned.

"What kind of question is that?"

"Just answer."

"Yeah, Lauren. I trust you."

She nodded.

"Then I need you to promise you won't interrupt me."

Wayne sat down.

"Okay."

Lauren placed the envelope in front of him.

Wayne opened it.

Inside were copies of agreements, messages, and payment records.

He studied them silently.

At first, he looked confused.

Then his expression hardened.

"Where did you get this?"

Lauren answered quietly.

"From somebody who finally decided to tell me the truth."

Wayne flipped to another page.

"Hold on… this has my company name on it."

"I know."

"And this says I approved the agreement."

Lauren nodded.

"That's what they told everybody."

Wayne looked up sharply.

"Lauren, I never signed this."

Her eyes widened.

"You're sure?"

Wayne pushed the paper across the table.

"Lauren, I KNOW my own signature."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Wayne said something Lauren wasn't expecting.

"Somebody has been using my name."

🔥 CHAPTER 7: ANTHONY GETS DRAGGED INTO THE DRAMA

The next morning, Wayne called Anthony.

"Bro, I need you to come to the office."

Anthony could hear the tension in his voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Just come."

When Anthony arrived, Wayne was waiting with Lauren.

Anthony looked surprised.

"Lauren? You're back?"

Lauren nodded.

"Hey, Anthony."

Wayne pointed toward a chair.

"Sit down."

Anthony laughed.

"Why does everybody look like somebody died?"

Wayne slid the documents across the desk.

Anthony began reading.

After a minute, he stopped.

"Wayne… what's this?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out."

Anthony looked at Lauren.

"Where did this come from?"

Lauren replied, "A business arrangement somebody wanted hidden."

Anthony read another page.

Then his expression changed.

"Wait. Why is my name on this?"

Wayne leaned forward.

"Exactly."

Anthony stood up.

"Hold on. I didn't approve none of this!"

Lauren looked directly at him.

"Then somebody wants us to believe you did."

Anthony paced across the office.

"This is crazy. Somebody's trying to set us up."

Wayne nodded.

"And whoever it is knows all of us."

Suddenly, Anthony stopped walking.

"Wayne… have you talked to Dave?"

Wayne looked up.

"Why?"

Anthony hesitated.

"Because Dave asked me something strange a few weeks ago."

Lauren moved closer.

"What did he ask?"

Anthony swallowed.

"He wanted to know whether you ever let somebody else sign business paperwork on your behalf."

Wayne slowly stood up.

"Dave asked you that?"

Anthony nodded.

"And I told him no."

Wayne picked up his phone.

"Then Dave has some explaining to do."

💣 CHAPTER 8: DAVE REVEALS AN EVEN BIGGER SECRET

Dave arrived at Wayne's office expecting an ordinary meeting.

Instead, he found Wayne, Lauren, and Anthony waiting for him.

He stopped at the doorway.

"What's going on?"

Wayne held up the documents.

"You tell me."

Dave immediately recognized the papers.

His face changed.

"Where did you get those?"

Wayne slammed the folder onto the desk.

"STOP ASKING WHERE WE GOT THEM!"

Dave stepped back.

"Wayne, calm down."

"No! You knew about this?"

Dave looked toward Lauren.

"Lauren, you weren't supposed to bring that here."

Wayne's eyes widened.

"So you DID know!"

Dave rubbed his face.

"Listen, it's not what y'all think."

Anthony interrupted.

"Then tell us what it is!"

Dave finally admitted that he had attended meetings about the project.

He claimed the original plan was legitimate, but the agreement had changed after an outside investor became involved.

According to Dave, the investor wanted control over the project and insisted that Wayne's name be attached before funding could move forward.

Wayne stared at him.

"And you agreed?"

Dave shook his head.

"I didn't sign anything for you."

Lauren pointed at the paperwork.

"Then who did?"

Dave went silent.

Wayne stepped closer.

"Dave. Who signed my name?"

Dave looked at the floor.

Then he whispered:

"There's something else you need to know."

Wayne clenched his jaw.

"What?"

Dave looked directly at Lauren.

"Lauren wasn't the only person they were trying to push out."

Anthony frowned.

"Who else?"

Dave took a deep breath.

"Amber."

😱 CHAPTER 9: AMBER FINALLY BREAKS HER SILENCE

When Amber learned that Dave had mentioned her name, she immediately called Wayne.

"Wayne, don't believe everything Dave is telling you!"

Wayne answered angrily.

"Then come down here and explain it yourself!"

Within an hour, Amber arrived.

She walked into the office and froze when she saw Lauren.

"You really did this?"

Lauren stood up.

"Did what? Tell the truth?"

Amber shook her head.

"You have no idea what you've started."

Wayne interrupted.

"Amber, enough! Did you know about this agreement?"

Amber looked at the folder.

Then at Dave.

Then at Lauren.

Finally, she whispered:

"Yes."

Wayne looked devastated.

"You knew?"

Amber's eyes filled with tears.

"I knew about the original deal. But I didn't know they were using your signature."

Lauren stepped forward.

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

Amber began crying.

"Because they told me if I exposed the deal, everybody would think I was responsible!"

Dave looked shocked.

"Amber, that's not what you told me."

Amber turned toward him.

"Because you were part of the meetings, Dave!"

Dave raised his voice.

"I was trying to protect you!"

Amber shouted back.

"YOU WERE PROTECTING YOURSELF!"

Wayne stepped between them.

"Everybody stop!"

The room fell silent.

Wayne looked at Lauren.

"Is this the secret you came back to tell me?"

Lauren slowly shook her head.

"No, Wayne."

Wayne frowned.

"What do you mean, no?"

Lauren reached into her purse.

"That's only part of it."

💔 CHAPTER 10: LAUREN'S MOST HEARTBREAKING CONFESSION

Lauren pulled out a photograph.

It showed her standing beside an unfamiliar woman outside a hospital.

Wayne studied the picture.

"Who's that?"

Lauren struggled to speak.

"Her name is Vanessa."

Anthony looked confused.

"Who's Vanessa?"

Lauren wiped away a tear.

"She's the woman who gave me the documents."

Wayne looked back at the photograph.

"Okay… and?"

Lauren's voice trembled.

"She worked with the investor who arranged the deal. When she realized what was happening, she tried to stop it."

Dave looked down.

Lauren continued.

"She lost her job. Her reputation was damaged. And she spent months trying to prove she hadn't approved those transactions."

Shayla, who had just arrived, listened from the doorway.

Lauren continued.

"Vanessa helped me understand what was happening. She gave me everything she had because she didn't want anybody else going through what she went through."

Wayne spoke softly.

"Where is she now?"

Lauren paused.

"She's recovering from a serious illness. That's why I was away for so long. I was helping her and trying to find out who was responsible."

Wayne sat down.

For the first time, he understood that Lauren's disappearance wasn't simply about leaving the group.

She had been dealing with something far more complicated.

Lauren looked at him.

"Wayne, I didn't come back to ruin anybody's life."

She held up the folder.

"I came back because somebody used our trust against us."

Wayne slowly nodded.

"Then we're going to find out who."

But Lauren still had one more revelation.

And this one would change the entire conversation.

🚨 CHAPTER 11: THE MYSTERY NAME ON THE FINAL DOCUMENT

Lauren opened the last folder.

Inside was a document that had never appeared in the earlier paperwork.

It was a confidential ownership agreement.

At the top was the name of the entertainment company.

Below it were several signatures.

Wayne's name appeared first.

Anthony's name appeared second.

But the third name was someone nobody expected.

Wayne leaned closer.

"Hold on."

Anthony moved beside him.

"What?"

Wayne pointed at the page.

"Why is THAT name on here?"

Dave immediately looked away.

Amber covered her mouth.

Shayla whispered:

"Oh my God."

Lauren looked at Wayne.

"Now you understand why I couldn't tell you everything over the phone."

Wayne turned toward Dave.

"You knew about this?"

Dave didn't answer.

Wayne raised his voice.

"DAVE!"

Dave finally responded.

"I found out after the agreement was created."

Wayne shook his head.

"No. No, that doesn't make sense."

Lauren pulled out another sheet.

"This is the ownership breakdown."

Wayne read it.

Then he froze.

According to the document, an unidentified party had been assigned a controlling share of the project.

Wayne looked furious.

"So somebody was trying to take control of a business using my name?"

Lauren nodded.

"That's what the paperwork suggests."

Wayne looked around the room.

"Who is this person?"

Lauren replied:

"I was hoping you could tell me."

😨 CHAPTER 12: A PHONE CALL CHANGES EVERYTHING

Just as Wayne was preparing to call his attorney, Lauren's phone rang.

Unknown Number.

Everyone went silent.

Lauren answered on speaker.

"Hello?"

A distorted voice spoke.

"Lauren, I told you not to go back."

Wayne immediately stepped forward.

"Who is this?"

The caller ignored him.

"Those documents don't tell the whole story."

Lauren tried to remain calm.

"Then tell me the rest."

The voice replied:

"Ask Wayne what happened at the private meeting three months ago."

Wayne looked confused.

"What meeting?"

The caller continued.

"The one nobody was supposed to know about."

Anthony looked at Wayne.

"Bro, what is this person talking about?"

Wayne shook his head.

"I don't know."

Then the caller said something that made the entire room freeze.

"The person who started this whole thing is standing in that office right now."

The call disconnected.

Nobody moved.

Wayne slowly looked at Anthony.

Anthony looked at Dave.

Dave looked at Amber.

Amber looked at Lauren.

And Lauren suddenly realized something terrifying.

The person behind the secret arrangement might not be an outsider after all.

It might be someone who had been sitting beside them the entire time.

💥 CHAPTER 13: LAUREN MAKES A DECISION THAT SHOCKS EVERYONE

After the mysterious call, Wayne demanded that everyone stay until the situation was resolved.

But Lauren refused.

"Wayne, this is exactly what they want."

Wayne looked confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"They want us fighting. They want us accusing each other before we even know what happened."

Anthony nodded.

"She's right."

Lauren gathered the documents.

"I'm taking everything to an independent attorney. We're going to verify the signatures, the payments, and the ownership records before we accuse anybody."

Dave looked relieved.

Amber sat quietly.

Wayne watched Lauren carefully.

"You really came back to help me?"

Lauren looked at him.

"Wayne, I came back because I couldn't keep watching people get hurt by secrets."

Wayne lowered his head.

For weeks, he had assumed Lauren left because she didn't want to be part of his world anymore.

Now he understood that she had been carrying a burden nobody knew about.

He walked toward her.

"Lauren… I'm sorry."

She looked surprised.

"For what?"

"For thinking the worst of you without knowing what you were going through."

Lauren's eyes filled with tears.

"Wayne, all I ever wanted was for somebody to believe me."

Wayne embraced her.

But across the room, Dave's phone suddenly vibrated.

He looked down.

A new message appeared.

"SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT. KEEP IT THAT WAY."

Dave quickly locked his phone.

But Anthony had seen the message.

And now Anthony knew Dave was still hiding something.

😱 CHAPTER 14: ANTHONY FOLLOWS DAVE — AND DISCOVERS THE UNTHINKABLE

Later that night, Dave left the office alone.

He drove across Atlanta and parked outside a quiet building.

What he didn't know was that Anthony had followed him from a distance.

Anthony watched as Dave entered through a side door.

Several minutes passed.

Then another car arrived.

A woman stepped out.

Anthony leaned forward.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The woman looked familiar.

She had attended one of Wayne's private business gatherings months earlier.

Anthony remembered seeing her speaking quietly with Dave.

But that wasn't what shocked him.

It was the briefcase she was carrying.

It had the same company logo printed on it as the documents Lauren had shown Wayne.

Anthony quickly took out his phone.

He called Lauren.

"Lauren, where are you?"

"At home. Why?"

Anthony whispered:

"I think I found the person behind the paperwork."

Lauren sat up.

"What?"

"I'm looking at Dave right now. He's meeting somebody."

Lauren's heart began racing.

"Who?"

Anthony paused.

Then he said:

"Lauren… I think it's the woman who originally contacted you about that business opportunity."

Lauren froze.

"That's impossible."

"Why?"

Lauren's voice dropped.

"Because she told me she had nothing to do with the final agreement."

Anthony watched the building.

"Well, she's here."

Lauren stood up.

"Anthony, don't go inside. I'm calling Wayne."

But before she could hang up, Anthony saw Dave and the woman come back outside.

The woman opened the briefcase.

She handed Dave a document.

And Anthony caught a glimpse of the heading.

ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP AGREEMENT — CONFIDENTIAL.

Anthony whispered:

"Lauren… I think we just found what you've been looking for."

💔 CHAPTER 15: THE TRUTH IS CLOSER THAN ANYONE IMAGINED

The next morning, Lauren arrived at Wayne's office with Anthony.

They showed Wayne the photograph Anthony had taken of the meeting.

Wayne studied the image.

Then he looked at Lauren.

"Do you recognize her?"

Lauren nodded slowly.

"Yes."

Wayne waited.

Lauren's eyes filled with disbelief.

"She was the first person who offered me the project."

Anthony crossed his arms.

"And now she's meeting Dave in secret."

Wayne picked up his phone.

"I'm calling him."

Lauren stopped him.

"Not yet."

Wayne frowned.

"Why not?"

"Because if we confront him without the original agreement, he can deny everything."

Anthony nodded.

"We need the real documents."

Wayne looked at Lauren.

"What's your plan?"

Lauren took a deep breath.

"I'm going to ask for one final meeting with the investor. I'm going to tell them I want back into the project."

Wayne shook his head.

"Lauren, that's risky."

She replied:

"I know. But somebody has to find out what happened."

Wayne looked concerned.

"And what if they realize you know?"

Lauren stared at the photograph.

"Then at least we'll know what they're trying to hide."

Wayne reached across the table.

"You're not doing this alone."

Lauren looked up.

"For the first time, Wayne, I believe you."

🚨 FINAL CHAPTER: LAUREN'S LAST SECRET LEAVES WAYNE SPEECHLESS

That evening, Lauren received an email.

The subject line read:

YOUR REQUEST FOR A PRIVATE MEETING HAS BEEN APPROVED.

She opened it.

The meeting was scheduled for the following afternoon.

But there was something strange about the invitation.

The location wasn't a business office.

It was a private residence outside Atlanta.

Lauren immediately forwarded the message to Wayne.

Seconds later, her phone rang.

"Lauren, don't go there," Wayne said.

"Why?"

"Because I recognize that address."

Lauren froze.

"You do?"

Wayne took a deep breath.

"That house belongs to somebody I used to work with."

Lauren sat down.

"Who?"

Wayne hesitated.

Then he answered.

"Somebody I haven't spoken to in years."

Lauren looked at the invitation again.

Her hands began shaking.

"Wayne… there's something I haven't told you."

Wayne went silent.

"What now, Lauren?"

She closed her eyes.

"When I was away, I didn't just find the financial records."

Wayne waited.

"I found a second agreement. One that explains why they wanted you involved from the beginning."

Wayne spoke slowly.

"Lauren, what does it say?"

Tears began rolling down her face.

"It says the entire project was designed around your name, your audience, and your reputation."

Wayne felt his stomach drop.

"And?"

Lauren whispered:

"Whoever controls that agreement could try to claim rights to a business you never agreed to create."

Wayne stared at the wall.

For a moment, he couldn't speak.

Then Lauren delivered the final revelation.

"And Wayne… there's one more thing."

"What?"

"The person listed as the original organizer isn't Dave."

Wayne stood up.

"Then WHO IS IT?"

Lauren looked down at the document.

Her voice trembled.

"It's someone who knows everything about you."

Wayne whispered:

"Lauren… tell me the name."

Before she could answer, a loud knock came from her front door.

Lauren turned toward the sound.

Another knock followed.

Then a familiar voice called from outside.

"LAUREN! OPEN THE DOOR! WE NEED TO TALK BEFORE YOU TELL WAYNE ANYTHING ELSE!"

Lauren covered her mouth.

Wayne shouted through the phone.

"LAUREN! WHO IS THAT?"

She looked through the peephole.

Her face went pale.

Because the person standing outside was the last person she ever expected to see.

And in their hand was the one thing that could prove who had been telling the truth all along.

THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.

Lauren whispered into the phone:

"Wayne… you're not going to believe who's standing at my door."