Leon’s smile faded. He straightened up and said, “This is my place. There are people watching both inside and out. If you need anything, just tell the guard outside—they’ll bring it in.”He paused, then added, “I’ll have some books sent in so you don’t get bored. You can watch TV, but forget about contacting the outside world. I've got people intercepting all communication. Until I take you back to my country, this is your life now.”Sarah frowned. “You’re taking me to your country?”“Yeah. You know how much reach Zachary has in East Coast. The only way to keep you safe is to keep you hidden. If you really want to stay away from him, working with me is your best shot.”She didn’t respond, but her silence said enough—she wasn’t going. She wasn’t even entertaining the idea.“I’m not going,” she said flatly.Leon’s voice turned cold. “That’s not your choice to make.”He’d already planned it all out. Once things in East Coast were wrapped up and the Reynold family collapsed, he’d ha
Sarah narrowed her eyes when she said “you all,” and Leon chuckled under his breath.“Who else do you think, besides me?”“You’re really asking that?” She gave him a sharp look. “You and Vivian—obviously. I just want to know if there’s anyone else involved.”Leon’s smile turned sly. “What if I said yes?”He toyed with the hem of his shirt, lashes flickering, but Sarah didn’t hesitate.“It’s the Chancers, isn’t it?”Leon raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”“Come on. In this whole city, who else wants me dead? It’s either you, Vivian, or one of them. And look at me now—do I really seem like someone you need to keep secrets from? I’m already drained. I’m not here to fight. I just want to sit with my thoughts and be left alone.”But the calmer she sounded, the more Leon wanted to push her—just to see if he could still get a rise out of her.“What thoughts?”“Like… the car crash three years ago. Or the one I just survived. Or what happened to Scarlett. I’m guessing you an
Sarah took another drag of the cigarette, eyes clouded as she murmured,"They say people smoke to ease their troubles… So why do I still feel like shit?"Leon had expected anger. Yelling, cursing, maybe even a slap. What he didn’t expect was this eerie calm, this measured tone—as if they were simply catching up over drinks.“Because of the memories coming back?” he asked.Sarah leaned closer. She exhaled a stream of smoke, right into his face, her lips curling into a mocking smile.“Vivian’s really told you everything, huh?”Leon didn’t deny it.“We’re partners, after all.”“Partners?” Sarah sneered. “What’s left in Wilson Corp that’s worth partnering for? Come on, tell me. You didn’t drag me here just to breathe the same air, did you?”Leon met her eyes.“What if I did?”She tilted her head, slipping the cigarette between two fingers with practiced ease.“Since when is Mr. Spencer the romantic type?”“And what makes you so sure I’m not?”Sarah narrowed her gaze.“All this… ju
Melvin could read it clearly from Mrs. Sanders’ expression—she was dead set on not saying a word.“Fine. Please leave my house, Mrs. Sanders.”“You want to cut ties with me?” Her voice rose sharply. “Let me tell you something, Melvin—that’s never going to happen! As long as you’re alive, my blood runs in your veins. I gave you this life! And now, you’re going to talk to me like this? All for an outsider? You’ve broken my heart!”She clutched her head and swayed on her feet.Melvin had intended to leave immediately. But seeing her like this, he couldn’t bring himself to walk away.“Are you alright?”“Take me to the hospital. My head… I’m so dizzy…” She collapsed against him.Melvin had no choice. He supported her and took her to the hospital.---Meanwhile, at Leon’s villa.Sarah sat, arms bound to a chair, her expression bleak and cold. She looked up at Leon without surprise.“So this was your doing?”Leon stood before her, a twisted satisfaction tugging at the corner of hi
“I need to go home. Now.” Melvin’s voice was sharp with urgency.Zachary narrowed his eyes slightly. “You remembered something?”Melvin didn’t answer directly. His face had gone pale. “If I find anything, I’ll call you.”“Alright.”Zachary watched as Melvin stumbled out of the hospital, clearly rattled. Maybe he had figured something out.---Back at the Sanders residence, Mrs. Sanders was still comfortably sipping tea, completely at ease. The entire house had already been tidied up, looking spotless.“You’re still here?” Melvin asked coldly.Mrs. Sanders scoffed, setting down her cup. “Look at you. No manners. I’m your mother—I carried you for ten months—and this is how you greet me? Trying to kick me out now?”Melvin was too anxious to waste time arguing.“Where’s Sarah?”She smiled faintly. “How would I know? Weren’t you the one looking for her?”He gritted his teeth. “You do know. Today was only the first step, wasn’t it? You threw her out—and the second step? What was
Mia paused just before they reached the hospital room. She glanced up at Zachary, eyes wary, voice cautious.“Zach… did you do something wrong that really hurt Sarah?”Zachary didn’t know what Mia defined as “doing something wrong,” but he knew without a doubt—he had hurt Sarah.“…Yeah. It was my fault.”They were steps from the door when Mia suddenly stopped in her tracks.“Then… maybe Sarah doesn’t even want to see me either, right?”She lowered her gaze, thinking silently. When she looked up again, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She glared at Zachary with quiet blame.“It’s your fault. Maybe she hates me now, too.”“She acted kind to me, but it felt… fake. Like she was forcing it. Maybe she really just wants me gone.”Zachary gently ruffled her hair.“Don’t overthink it. Go in—you still want to show her the charm you got, remember?”Mia opened her hand, revealing the small safety charm she had picked up from a temple on their way there. She gave a determined nod an