As we walked out of the infirmary and back toward the courtroom, all eyes turned toward me. Justinโs smirk faltered for just a second, and I knewโhe wasnโt expecting me to come back this strong.My steps slow and deliberate, my pulse steadying with every breath. The noise of the crowd hushed as they noticed me return. I could feel everyoneโs eyes on me, but I kept mine focused on the front. Justin, still seated confidently, glanced my way, but this time there was something different in his eyesโsomething uneasy. He didnโt expect me to come back after that.Good. Let him doubt.I sat back down beside Jack, feeling the heat of Ivaโs reassuring presence next to me. Jack gave me a quick nod as the judge re-entered, signaling that the recess was over. The courtroom slowly fell silent again, and it was time for Lauraโs testimony to continue."Ms. Oviedo," Jack said, standing and approaching the witness stand with a calmness that made me feel stronger just watching him, "Weโve heard your v
The soft hum of the car engine blended into the quiet evening as Leon and I drove home from the courthouse.My thoughts, however, were far from the comforting sound of the engine. I kept replaying the courtroom drama in my headโLauraโs false testimony, Justinโs smug face, the looming fear of what might happen next. My heart felt like it was trapped in a vice, and no matter how much I tried to calm myself, the anxiety just keeps on consuming me slowly making me sunk deep within this web.It wasnโt until Leon abruptly altered our rought, I suppose he must have noticed. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw him glance over at me several times, before he unexpectedly turn away from the main road.I blinked, startled out of my thoughts."Where are we going?" I asked, realizing that we were no longer heading toward our house.Leon didnโt answer immediately. Instead, he pulled into a small parking lot and stopped in front of a brightly lit
The drive home after our unexpected ice cream stop was quieter, but not in an uncomfortable way. I felt lighter, the burden of the courtroom tension momentarily pushed aside. Leonโs hand rested on the gear shift, close enough to mine that his presence was a reassuring warmth. Even though my thoughts still lingered on Justin and his potential for violence, Leonโs words had done their job. I trusted him. I had to.We pulled into the driveway, the house looming in the dim light. As we stepped out of the car, the cool night air wrapped around us, bringing with it a sense of finality, as if the dayโs battles were finally behind us."I think I just need to sleep," I muttered, more to myself than to Leon as we walked up to the front door. But before I could reach for the handle, Leon caught my wrist gently."Margarette." His voice was low, serious, and it stopped me in my tracks. I turned to face him, my heart suddenly thumping faster in my chest."What is it?" I asked, searching his face.
The following day, Leon took me out for lunch like we normally do. But for some reason, however, Leon had been quiet throughout our lunch, a knowing smile playing on his lips every time I asked where he was taking me next. I could sense something mischievous brewing, but as usual, he refused to give anything away. Finally, after what felt like forever, the car stopped in front of an elegant boutique. The name was embossed in gold across the large windows, reflecting the midday sun like something out of a dream. A luxury bridal shop."Leon..." I turned to him, my eyebrows raised in surprise. "What are we doing here?"He smiled and got out of the car, walking around to open my door. "Youโll see," he said, offering his hand. I took it, still confused but intrigued.We walked inside, and the soft chime of the bell above the door welcomed us into a world of pure elegance. Gowns of every shape and fabric lined the walls, each more beautiful than the last. My heart skipped a beat."Leon, w
As Leon kissed me deeply, his hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. The heat between us was intense, and I could feel the world melting away, leaving only the two of us in this intimate moment. His lips traveled from my mouth to my neck, soft but insistent, each kiss making my heart race a little faster.I pressed my hands against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my fingertips. The way he looked at meโlike I was the only person who matteredโmade everything else fade into the background."You drive me crazy," he murmured against my skin, his voice low and filled with desire. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto mine. "Do you know that?"I laughed softly, breathless from the intensity of his touch. "I think it goes both ways," I teased, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me. There was something so magnetic about Leon, something that made me feel both exhilarated and completely safe at the same time.His hand slid up my back, sending shiv
My breath hitched, and for a moment, I froze in place. What was she doing here? Of all the places, of all the moments...Regina, with her perfectly styled hair and cold, calculating eyes, was walking straight toward me. Her expression didnโt falter as she recognized me, and I felt the unease bubbling up in my chest."Oh what an unlucky day to come across you here, Margarette," she greeted me coolly, her lips curving into a smile that didnโt reach her eyes."Likewise, Regina, likewise" I replied, my voice strained as I tried to remain calm. I wasnโt expecting this encounter. Not here, not now."What a surprise seeing you here. Window shopping, I assume? I mean, no offense, I doubt you even have any money left what you had taken from the Montefalcos." she asked, her tone deceptively casual as her eyes scanned me, taking in every detail.I swallowed hard. "Actually, I just pick up a new phone."Regina raised an eyebrow. "Oh, how lovely. Always the simple pleasures, hmm?"I bristled at her
As soon as we stepped through the door, Leon's lips were on mine, hot and demanding. His hands roamed my body, and I could feel the fire between us building with every passing second. The entire world melted away; it was just me and him, caught in a bubble of desire and passion.I had my arms wrapped around his neck, kissing him back just as fiercely, completely lost in the moment. His fingers skimmed down my back, making me shiver with anticipation, when suddenly—POP!I froze. Leon pulled away abruptly, his body tensing as the house filled with the sound of popping confetti and the echo of excited voices. My eyes flew open, and my heart stopped in my chest as the lights came on.
After the party had settled down and the house had quieted, I wandered into the kitchen, where Aunt Lou and Letty were busy with the dishes. Despite the tiredness from the long day, they were still chatting and laughing softly as they worked. I smiled, feeling a warm sense of contentment, but I couldnโt help offering to help.โLet me help,โ I insisted, stepping toward the sink.Aunt Lou waved me off with her signature motherly look. โWeโre almost done, child. Thereโs no need.โI crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. โYou say that, but it looks like youโve still got half the kitchen to clean up.โLetty giggled, handing me a towel. โHere, you can dry the plates if you insist.โI took the towel with a playful huff and started wiping down the dishes Letty handed me. The familiar rhythm of household chores, along with their presence, felt comforting after such an emotionally charged day.โSo, Marga,โ Letty started with a mischievous glint in her eye. โHow are things going with you and Leon
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