The days following the incident with Justin and Regina were filled with a tumultuous blend of determination and dread. I kept telling myself that I wouldnโt let them get to me, that I would push forward and secure the victory in the lawsuit. Every morning, I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose, reminding myself that I had to prove to Justinโand to myselfโthat I wasnโt someone who would simply surrender to his manipulations.On one such morning, as I descended the stairs, the smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me, mingling with the faint scent of the flowers Aunt Lou always kept in a vase by the kitchen window. But instead of the usual peaceful start to the day, I was met with an unusual sightโAunt Lou, standing by the living room couch, her hand clutching the phone to her ear, her expression strained. She was talking to someone, and the anxiety etched into her features made my heart skip a beat. I hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to intrude, but as Aunt Louโ
The silence in the car was almost suffocating, each of us wrapped up in our own thoughts. I glanced at Uncle George as he drove, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles had turned white against the worn leather. It had been years since Iโd last seen him, and though the circumstances were far from ideal, the wear of time was etched deeply on his face. He looked older, more burdened by the weight of lifeโs unexpected blows.Aunt Lou sat beside him, trying and failing to hide her tears. She dabbed at her eyes with a crumpled tissue, thinking no one noticed. But I did. I saw everythingโthe silent sorrow in the set of her shoulders, the tremor in her hands.I wanted to say something, anything, to ease the tension, but the words just wouldnโt come. Instead, I stared out the window, watching the world blur past, my own emotions a tangled mess that I couldnโt begin to unravel.The car hummed quietly, the sound only amplifying the tension.When we finally arrived a
The morning light filtered through the thin curtains of the hospital room, casting a pale glow on the sterile environment. My heart pounded in my chest, but I tried to push down the nerves as I prepared myself to donate blood for Lena. After a restless night, I knew that this was the least I could do for Aunt Lou and my cousin.The nurse smiled at me as she prepped the needle. "Youโre doing a wonderful thing," she said softly.I forced a smile back, trying to ignore the slight tremor in my hand as I clenched and unclenched it. "Iโm just glad I can help."The donation itself was quick, though the aftermath left me feeling light-headed. The nurse offered me juice and a snack, insisting I rest for a bit, but I was too anxious to stay still. I needed to see Aunt Lou, to make sure she was okay.As I walked out of the donation room, I found Aunt Lou pacing in the hallway, her worry etched into every line of her face. When she saw me, her expression shifted to one of relief, though concern s
"I feel fine," I insisted as Leon and I were arguing that I wanted to go and take turns with Aunt Lou to look after Lena. Aunt Lou must be pretty exhausted now and would need my help inside the ICU.But Leon was being stubborn into telling me that I needed to rest more. This was one reason I didnโt want him here, he could be over frantic than I was over my body. I still know myself better when I feel unwell."You're not fine," Leon countered softly. "You nearly fainted earlier. You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"His words brought back the hazy memory of collapsing in his arms, the world spinning around me. "I didn't mean to worry you."Leon sighed, his fingers tracing small circles on the back of my hand. "I know you didn't. But you need to take care of yourself too."Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and Aunt Lou rushed in, her face a mixture of relief and worry. "Oh, Margarette! Thank God you're okay," she exclaimed, hurrying to my side."Aunt Lou," I began,
Leonโs touch was deliberate, every movement sending a ripple of heat through my body. He began by slowly undressing me, his lips never leaving mine, capturing every gasp of breath, every moan, as his hands roamed my skin. His mouth was all-consuming, leaving me breathless, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his kiss.As my clothes fell away, Leonโs mouth descended to my breasts, his tongue flicking over my nipples before he began to suck, drawing moans from deep within me. Each pull of his lips on my sensitive skin sent waves of pleasure down my spine, making me arch into him, desperate for more.โI see youโre liking this,โ Leon murmured against my skin, his voice thick with desire. He continued to suck on my nipples, making them swollen and tender. His hand slipped beneath my panties, his fingers finding my clit with a skillful ease, massaging it in slow, deliberate circles.โYouโre making this hard for me, Leon,โ I managed to utter, my voice trembling with need.He lifted his hea
The sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom like a gentle reminder of the comfort surrounding me. I stretched lazily, feeling the lingering warmth of the sheets, but something was missing. Leon wasnโt beside me. The bed felt oddly empty without his reassuring presence, and a sense of unease flickered in my chest before I noticed the scent wafting into the room.The rich, savory aroma of sizzling bacon and eggs slowly coaxed me from the last vestiges of sleep. My stomach responded with an insistent growl, urging me to investigate. I blinked against the morning light, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I sat up. The realization that Leon wasnโt in bed was unsettling, but the smell of breakfast guided me, soothing the initial worry. He must be in the kitchen.Curiosity and hunger combined, prompting me to slip out of bed. The cool wooden floor beneath my feet was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bed, but it helped to clear the fog from my mind. I pad
The drive to the café had been quiet, filled with the comfortable silence that Leon and I had grown accustomed to. It was a peaceful ride, the kind where I could simply enjoy the company without feeling the need to fill the space with words. Yet, underneath that calm exterior, I could sense something different in Leon—a subtle tension that hadn’t been there earlier. He was focused, more so than usual, and it made me wonder what was on his mind.We arrived at the café, a quaint little place tucked away on the outskirts of town. The sign above the door read "Rafael’s Café," and there was a certain charm about it, as if it held years of stories within its walls. As we stepped inside, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, mingling with the quiet chatter of a few patrons.
As soon as Leon left, I headed straight inside and walked through the sterile hallways. Yet, my mind was still on Leon, on the secrets that seemed to be lurking just beneath the surface. But for now, I had to set those thoughts aside. I had to see and check on my cousin, Lena, besides, there was someone else who needed me now, and it was Aunt Lou.As I head inside the recovery room, where Lena had already been transferred since she was already doing good, I found Aunt Lou inside signing some documents that Uncle George would be mailing today for the company back in Anacortes, her expression softening as she raised her head and saw me. Lena was asleep, her breathing steady, and I could see the relief in Aunt Louโs eyes. It had been a difficult journey, but there were signs that things were finally starting to improve.โHowโs she doing?โ I asked softly, stepping into the room.Aunt Lou turned to me after staring at Lena for a moment, a smile tugging at her lips. โBetter, much better.
The rain was falling again.It always did on days like thisโdays that felt like endings.I stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stormy waters of Anacortes, my coat pulled tightly around me, the hood shielding my face from the wind that carried the scent of salt and something olderโsomething like goodbye.Leon stood behind me. I didnโt have to turn around to feel him there. His presence was familiar now, carved into my skin like muscle memory. Heโd been my gravity, my storm, my salvation, and my ruinโsometimes all at once.โItโs really over, isnโt it?โ I whispered, more to the wind than to him.He didnโt answer right away. His silence was as heavy as the stormclouds above us.โI wanted to fix everything for you,โ he said finally, his voice hoarse, like it had been dragged across a battlefield. โI wanted to give you a life that didnโt hurt.โI closed my eyes. The ache in my chest pulsed with every beat of my heart. โYou did,โ I said. โFor a while, you did.โI heard the crunch
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. โIโm not the same person I was before,โ I said, my voice firm, unwavering. โAnd Iโm not walking away this time.โThe manโs eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, just enough for me to catch. And then, before I could even register what had happened, Leon moved.Faster than I could blink, Leon was in front of me, his hand grabbing the gun and twisting it out of the manโs grasp. The force of it sent the man stumbling back, but he didnโt go down easily. His bodyguards rushed in, but Leon was already a step ahead, disarming one of them with a swift, calculated move.I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what I was witnessing. Leonโalways so calm, always so carefulโwas ruthless. He was like a force of nature, determined to protect me at all costs.But the fight wasnโt over yet. The man recovered, his eyes burning with rage. โYou really think youโve won?โ he spat, his voice dripping with venom. โYouโre nothing but a pawn in a game you canโt ev
The sound of boots drew closer, pounding the floor with an urgency that echoed through the cavernous halls of the estate. My heart raced as the reality of what I had just heard crashed into me like a tidal wave. The man who had once been a part of my lifeโmy familyโs betrayer, the one who had orchestrated their deathsโstood there, calmly, as if this was just another night for him.Leonโs grip on my hand tightened, but I didnโt let him pull me away. I could feel the air thickening with tension, the walls pressing in as everything I thought I knew began to crumble.The intruders were only moments away.The manโheโsmirked, watching us. โYou think this will end well? Youโve no idea what youโre up against. My people are everywhere.โI took a step forward, ignoring Leonโs silent plea to retreat. โYou killed them. And you thought I would be the next one to fall in line?โ My voice was a whisper, but it held a power I hadnโt realized I had. โYou were wrong.โThe manโs face faltered, just for a
Next Morning at the Estate Archives. The basement was cold and damp, and the air smelled of mildew and secrets. Old boxes lined the walls, labeled in my fatherโs tidy script. Financial records. Land deeds. Correspondence.Leon sifted through a crate of documents while I dug through another.Then something caught my eye.A faded folder labeled: Project Thornfield.I opened it slowly.Inside were blueprintsโplans for development across coastal land that was supposed to be protected forest. There were signatures from multiple board members, including names I recognized.And then, one I didnโt.N. Vallis.Leon leaned over. โYou know that name?โI shook my head. โNo. But look hereโhe signed off on the project two weeks before my parents died.โLeon pulled out his phone. โIโll run a background check.โI kept flipping through the documentsโand found something that made my blood run cold.An aerial photo.Of the cliffside. Our property.With a giant red X drawn over the coordinates where my p
THREE WEEKS LATER...The investigation moved faster than Iโd expected. With the board fully on our side now, the paper trail unraveled like a thread pulled from an old sweaterโeach piece of evidence exposing the next. Shell companies. Forged contracts. Witnesses who had remained silent out of fear but were finally coming forward.Still, no one had seen him since the day of the summit. He had vanished without a trace. No flights. No offshore activity. No messages. It was like heโd disappeared into smoke.But Dorian didnโt believe in ghosts. โHeโs hiding,โ he said as he handed me a thick folder. โAnd thisโthis will force him out.โI flipped through the documents. Bank records. A property registered under an alias. Hidden deep in the woods outside of Anacortes. I felt my stomach twist.Leon stepped up behind me, his hand grazing my shoulder. โLetโs pay him a visit.โThe cabin was barely more than a shadow tucked between trees. No lights. No car. Just silence and the thrum of insects in t
Sunlight crept cautiously through the cracks in the blinds, casting golden slivers across the hardwood floor of the safe house bedroom. I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, a blanket draped around my shoulders and the journal heavy in my lap. The cover was cracked, worn with age and secrets. My fingers hovered over the first page for what felt like an eternity.Leon was nearbyโhe hadnโt slept much, either. He stood at the window with a mug of black coffee, watching the world outside with quiet alertness. When I finally opened the journal, he turned slightly but didnโt speak. He knew I needed silence for this.The first entry was dated nearly two decades ago.July 14th. We signed the contract today. Two families, one future. The woman from Delmar Holdings is more cunning than I expected. She knows weโre desperateโand she used it. I told Mariana to trust me. That this was the only way. God help me, I hope Iโm right.My breath hitched. Marianaโthat was my motherโs name.I flipped thro
MARGARETTE'S POVBefore we could react, the door behind us burst open.Three armed men rushed in, dressed in black, their movements precise and rehearsed. Leon shoved me behind him, drawing his gun up in an instant. Dorian, who had been lingering near the entrance, took cover behind a cabinet, gun already out.โEliseโs father wasnโt bluffing,โ I breathed, my heart hammering. โHe had backup ready.โLeon fired the first shot, catching one of the intruders in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor. Chaos erupted. Dorian ducked low and returned fire, narrowly missing another attacker who retaliated with a spray of bullets that shattered the windows.I crouched behind an overturned table, the sound of gunfire drowning out my thoughts. The locket in my palm dug into my skin, its edges sharpโa painful reminder that I couldnโt afford to lose control now.โEliseโs father!โ I shouted to Leon. โHeโs escaping!โThrough the haze of smoke and broken glass, I saw the man slinking toward
The sound of footsteps pounding in the hallway was the last thing I heard before the door slammed open.I barely had time to react before a rush of armed men poured into the room, their eyes scanning every corner, landing finally on me. There was no mistaking the intent behind their cold stares.โGet down!โ Leonโs voice crackled through the earpiece again, but there was no time to obey. I couldnโt allow myself to hesitateโnot now, not when the truth was within reach.I raised my gun, my hands steady despite the chaos unfolding around me. I wasnโt going down without a fight, not after everything I had lost. Not after everything Eliseโs father had taken from me.Before the first man could react, I fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the confined space, the bullet finding its mark in the manโs chest. His body crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud, but the others didnโt hesitate. They moved in faster, their guns drawn, but I was ready.I ducked behind the desk, using it as cover
Dawn came in silver slivers through the cracks in the window. I hadnโt sleptโnot really. My mind was too loud, looping the footage over and over like a broken reel.Leon sat across from me at the table, sipping his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Neither of us had said much since the footage. We didnโt need to. The truth had cut so deep, it didnโt leave room for small talk.But I had questions.And I needed answers.โHow long do you think heโs known I survived?โ I finally asked, voice hoarse.Leon didnโt look away from his mug. โLong enough to start covering his tracks. But he didnโt expect the locket to resurface.โMy hand instinctively reached for it. The locket was warm now, like it had absorbed my grief and fury. Inside was a picture of my mother and meโher arm around my tiny shoulders, her smile soft but tired. A photo I hadnโt even remembered until last night.โHe killed her,โ I whispered. โHe killed my father. For what? A project?โโNot just a project,โ