Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Leona’s pov

It was still dark when I started packing.

It wasn’t the soft grey color that came before sunrise, this one was deep and unkind, reminding me of what was in front of me.

I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t thoroughly think through what I was about to do because thinking about it would make me stop so I continued moving instead.

That envelope was the cause. It made me fold, sip and pack my bags. My suitcase laid on the bed while I shoved clothes into it with shaking hands.

The sound of the rattling zipper closing echoed loudly in the small house that even the walls watched what I was doing.

I slid my passport into the leather case that had been loyal to be for many years, especially during the days of running. My eyes drifted towards the window. The rain stopped a few hours ago but the road would still be very wet.

Adrian. He might still be out there somewhere. He could be awake, staring at the sea the way he used to whenever something was bothering him or eating hin alive. Maybe he wished he never found me. Maybe he didn’t care at all.

Did it matter? I tightened my grip on the suitcase handle. What mattered right now was that from that envelope, someone was using my name again. That person was using everything that belonged to me — my credentials, my signature, the identity I had rebuilt from black ashes.

My heart started pounding so hard and loud when I dragged my suitcase towards the door. For three solid years, I had been accustomed to running, disappearing, treading carefully and existing quietly.

I reached for the door.

“Leona.”

I froze.

Marcus was standing in the hallway. He was barefooted, hair disheveled and his T shirt rumpled like he put on while asleep.

His eyes fell on the case in my hand. “You are leaving.” His eyes returned back to mine.

It was a statement that made my throat lock for a moment. “I have to.”

Hurt flickered in his eyes, something I hated to see. “Because of him?” He asked.

“He came last night.” I closed my eyes in admittance.

Marcus stepped forward slowly. “And?”

“He said someone is using my old login credentials. If investigators follow the data trail… it will lead straight to me.” I forced myself to say the words.

Marcus blinked before he started laughing. But it wasn’t a real laughter.

“Leona…”

“Lila,” I corrected him automatically.

He ignored it. “Do you hear yourself?” he asked. “Adrian shows up after three years with some dramatic story, and suddenly you’re ready to throw your whole life away?”

“I’m not following him.” I zipped up the remaining part of my suitcase that was open. “I’m finding the truth.”

“The same truth almost killed you once.” His voice sharpened.

“That’s exactly why I can’t ignore it.” I finally met his eyes. “If someone is using my name again, it means they’re still trying to destroy me.”

Marcus moved in front of the door, blocking it.

For a long moment we just stared at each other. We were two people who built something beautiful yet fragile out of my broken past. Now, I was watching it crack open again.

“You’re not thinking clearly,” he said softly. “This is old pain talking.”

His voice dropped. “He knows how to control you, Leona. He always has.”

“Maybe,” my eyes glistened as I whispered. “But that doesn’t mean he’s lying.”

Marcus exhaled slowly. His shoulders sagged like he had given up. “Then let me come with you.”

“No.” That response was too fast. “You’ve already done enough for me.”

Disappointment flickered across his face. Slowly, he stepped away from the door.

“Then promise me something.”

“What?”

“Don’t let him make you forget what he did to you.” He said,

My chest tightened. I couldn’t answer that. I just walked away.

I remembered when I met Marcus for the first time. We didn’t know each other at that time but it felt like we had known each other for so long.

That man was there for me, in my very weakest moments. He never judged me or spoke ill of me. He accepted the depressed me and didn’t poke his fingers in my eyes to hurt me.

It’s been three years and Marcus has been there for me all day and night long. Whenever I felt like it was the end of the world, he’d make sure it was just the beginning light.

A half smile settled on my face at those short thoughts. I felt bad for leaving him behind but I didn’t have a choice.

A taxi pulled away just as the first pale light touched the land. I glanced back to see that Marcus was still standing in the doorway. He watching me leave. With a strong mind, I entered the taxi and left.

The flight from Naples to New York felt endless. My seat smelled like coffee. I sat by the window with a paper cup warming my hands but I never took a sip.

My reflection stared back at me from the glass. The woman who forgot her name and fought so hard to rebuild it. Now, she was flying straight back to the place where she lost it.

Exhaustion weighed on me. I relaxed but the memories came as if they were ready to haunt me again. Bittersweet memories that I wished never happened in the first place. I wouldn’t be running and hiding if I was never known with Adrian Voss.

The first time I saw Adrian Voss was at a charity gala. Crystal chandeliers, expensive suits and cocktails, too many hypocrites pretending to care about nobility.

I was there doing PR work for a luxury brand. Adrian Voss was the keynote speaker. He was tall, confident and very controlled. He was the kind of man that walked into the room like he owned it. While he talked, everyone listened.

“You’re the PR strategist, right?” he suddenly asked, stopping right in front of me.

My heartbeat accelerated while I nodded cautiously.

“Adrian Voss.” He held out his hand.

I put mine in them. They felt warm and firm.

“Give me your card,” he said,

Two days later, he offered me a job at Voss Global. I should have said no. But I didn’t and that was my very first mistake.

The plane landed at JFK just after noon. New York was staring right at a small distance.

The entire place was familiar. The same steel doors, glass windows and some other doors and cool noises that came from heels or walking suitcases.

My fingers tightened around my own as I walked through the regular terminal. Every of my instinct told me to turn around, get back on the next plan and disappear again.

But by the time I did turn around, I saw her — Cassandra Vale.