As the days passed after Lucasโ first birthday, I found myself caught between two worldsโthe life I was trying to build as a mother to Lucas and the painful past that was clawing its way back into my present. Jackโs revelation haunted me, replaying in my mind during quiet moments. Was it really possible? Could someone have caused Leonโs death? The thought made my stomach churn, but I couldn't shake it.Despite the inner turmoil, life continued. Lucas was growing quickly, taking more steps each day, babbling new words that filled the house with joy. My Aunt Lou, Letty, and Lena were always around, giving me the support I needed to raise him. William, too, was a constant presence. His role as Lucas' godfather had strengthened our bond, though things remained strictly platonic after Iโd rejected his romantic feelings. He never brought it up again, for which I was grateful, but it did make me feel awkward at timesโhow he could be so caring even after Iโd turned him down.One afternoon,
It was a late afternoon when I found myself pacing the length of our living room, staring at the untouched coffee on the table. The memories of that night refused to leave me, the moment that had haunted me for weeks now. Justinโa name I had hoped would never cross my mind again. But the fear had taken root, growing like a dark shadow that loomed over me.I had watched him fall.I had watched him bleed.So why did the idea of him being alive claw at my insides?Leon's voice echoed in my memory from that night, strong and certain. โHeโs dead, Margarette. Thereโs no way anyone could have survived that.โ Jack had been there too, nodding, reassuring me that Justin was gone. But now, as the doubts took hold, all I could think about was the possibility that maybe we had all been wrong. No body was ever found. What if he had survived? What if he was hiding, plotting?I shook my head, trying to shake off the creeping paranoia, but it was too late. The seed had been planted. It had started wi
It had been another year, and Lucas was now a lively, playful toddler, always running around, laughing at the smallest things. His energy was boundless, and watching him grow had been the only thing that kept me grounded after everything that had happened. But as I stood in the living room, watching him chase after his favorite stuffed bunny, my mind wandered.I couldnโt keep living like this.All I could think about was his future. The fortune Leon had left for Lucas was more than enough to sustain us for years, but something didnโt sit right with me about relying solely on that money. Leon had worked hard for his wealth, and I wanted to make sure Lucas had something more than just an inheritance.But I hadnโt worked in years. It seemed impossible to even consider going back to the corporate world. I could barely remember what it felt like to sit in an office, much less handle the pressure of the business world again. Besides, who would hire someone who had been out of the game for so
It had been a week since the audition, and the silence from the producers was deafening. Every morning, I would check my phone, my emailsโanything that might indicate whether I had landed the role or not. But each time, there was nothing. As the days passed, I started to convince myself that maybe it just wasnโt meant to be.I wasnโt sure if I was more disappointed or relieved. Part of me wanted this so badly. The idea of stepping into a role, of being someone else for a while, had reignited something in me that I hadnโt felt in years. But the other part of me, the one that doubted every step I took, told me that maybe this was for the best. I hadnโt acted in so long. Maybe it was foolish to think I could just waltz back into the industry like I belonged there.โLucas, slow down!โ I called as I watched my little boy zoom around the living room, making car noises as he pushed a toy car across the floor.He giggled but didnโt listen. Instead, he sped up, making the car crash into the wa
The drive to the production office was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. I couldnโt stop replaying Aunt Lou and my cousins' words of encouragement in my head, reminding myself that Iโd made it this far, that this was just the beginning. But as I pulled up to the sleek, modern building where the meeting was being held, a knot of anxiety formed in my stomach. I took a deep breath, adjusted the strap of my purse, and stepped out of the car. Youโve got this, I reminded myself as I walked through the glass doors into the lobby. The receptionist greeted me with a warm smile, and after a quick check-in, I was led down a long corridor to a large conference room. The walls were adorned with posters from past movies, some of them critically acclaimed blockbusters. It was a reminder of the gravity of the industry I was about to step into. This is real, I thought. This is happening.The door opened, and I stepped inside. The producers, seated around a large wooden table, turned to look at m
The tapings had become my daily routine now, and I threw myself into the work with everything I had. I was determined to prove myself, not only to Scarlet but to everyone who doubted me. I woke up early, made sure I was the first one on set, and stayed focused throughout the day. Every scene, every lineโI treated it like it was my last chance to shine.But even with all the dedication I poured into the job, Lucas was always at the back of my mind. Coming home to him was the highlight of my day. Iโd always make it a point to rush home after shooting wrapped up, just so I could spend a few precious hours with him before bed. I was lucky to have Lena and Letty, who took turns taking care of him while I was away. It was reassuring knowing that Lucas was in good hands with my cousins, but still, I missed him terribly while I was on set.One day after filming, just as I was about to leave the studio, I received a call from William.โIโm close by, at the studio submitting some papers,โ he s
I decided it was time to take a different approach with Scarlet. Instead of letting her sabotage get to me, I would play my own game—discreetly and smartly. I didn’t want to stoop to her level, but I needed to show her that I wasn’t the pushover she thought I was.The day after our last confrontation, I arrived on set with a calm resolve. I greeted the crew warmly, made small talk with the makeup artists, and ensured I was visible, friendly, and professional.No one would ever be able to accuse me of being difficult to work with. It was clear Scarlet had been spreading rumors, her whispers weaving a narrative that I was a diva trying to rise in the industry by flirting with William. But I would make sure her words came back to bite her.
Things had been going well, or so I thought. After weeks of dealing with Scarlet's schemes, I finally felt like I was coming out on top. I had gained the respect of the crew, and my performance on set was being praised. It felt like I was proving myself, slowly but surely. But, of course, that was just a fragile illusion.One afternoon, after wrapping up a particularly difficult scene, I was headed back to my dressing room when I overheard two of the crew members talking in hushed voices."I don’t know, man. Did you see what happened with Scarlet yesterday? Poor thing’s been dealing with so much drama. It's like Margarette’s really out to get her."My heart sank. *Out to get her?* What were they talking about? I wasn’t the one causing tr
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