Mag-log inNATALIA'S POV I was sitting alone in the sitting room half-watching a movie, when the front door opened.I lifted my head when I heard the sound of the front door opening and Leonardo walked into the mansion. He looked like he was in a hurry, his expression serious as he crossed the foyer toward the staircase."Leonardo." I greeted him.He didn't stop or even look at me. My brows pulled together. Had he not heard me?I watched him disappear upstairs before turning back to the television. Whatever had happened, I would find out soon enough.A few minutes later, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.I looked up and the sight in front of me made my stomach drop.Leonardo was coming downstairs with Riley. She was blindfolded, her hand resting in his as he guided her forward. They were both smiling and looked happy together. My fingers tightened around the edge of the sofa.The message was supposed to work. Yet here they were having fun together.Whatever hurt my message had caused
LEONARDO’S POV The moment the private jet touched down on the rooftop, I stepped off and headed straight for Riley's room. I didn't stop to speak to anyone. I needed to see her. I reached her door and knocked. “Come in.” I opened the door and found Riley sitting on the edge of her bed, her attention fixed on her phone. She looked up when I entered, and the hurt I had been dreading was there, quiet but unmistakable. I crossed the room and sat beside her. “Riley, I'm sorry.” She lowered her phone. “For what?” “For leaving you alone at the resort.” Her expression softened slightly. “I shouldn't have left,” I continued. “After I checked on Natalia, I somehow fell asleep. When I woke up, it was morning. I rushed back to the resort, but you'd already checked out.” She stared at me for a moment. “You fell asleep?” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yes.” She looked down at her phone again before setting it aside. “It's okay.” I frowned. “It's not.” The tension inside me finally
RILEY’S POV The night had grown too quiet.I sat alone on the terrace, staring out at the lake. Moonlight shimmered across the dark water, breaking apart with every gentle ripple. My champagne glass was nearly empty.I checked my phone. It was 12:43 a.m., and Leonardo still hadn't returned.I told myself not to worry. Maybe Natalia needed him longer than expected. Maybe something had happened that required his attention.A while later, I checked the time again. 1:08 a.m.I sighed, picked up my phone and typed.“When are you coming back?”I sent the message and the reply came almost immediately.“I won't be able to come back again. Book a cab and come home yourself tomorrow.”I stared at the screen, reading it again and again.I felt anger inside me and then deep hurt.I had spent the entire night believing Leonardo would come back. He had promised me he would.And now he was telling me to go home alone. My fingers tightened around the phone.What had been the point of bringing me
NATALIA'S POV The moment Leonardo and Riley stepped into my room, I knew they were going somewhere together.Leonardo told me they would be gone for the day, and I smiled as though the news didn't bother me.“Have fun,” I said.“Thank you,” Riley replied. His hand settled against her lower back as they turned toward the door. Then their hands found each other. Their fingers intertwined so naturally, as though they had done it a hundred times before. Leonardo glanced down at Riley with an expression I’ve never seen on his face, and she looked up at him with that smile I had started to hate.I watched the door closed behind them, and my smile disappeared.I hated how easily Riley had become part of his life and had somehow become the person Leonardo looked forward to coming home to.My fingers tightened around the blanket covering my legs.I couldn't let them have an entire day together. I needed to interrupt it.But I wouldn't rush. Patience had always been more useful than anger.
By evening, the sun had begun to sink toward the horizon, painting the lake in warm shades of gold.Leonardo glanced at his watch. “You should go back to the room.”I frowned. “Why?”“I have something waiting for you.”I narrowed my eyes. “Another surprise?”“Go.”I rolled my eyes. “You enjoy bossing me around.”“More than you know.”I laughed under my breath and headed back toward the resort. The moment I opened the door to our room, I stopped.A wine-colored dress lay across the bed. It was simple but elegant, the kind of dress that didn't need anything excessive to make an impression. Beside it rested a diamond necklace that caught the light when I stepped closer. Then I noticed the small card on the dress.I picked it up and read: Tonight, I want the whole world to know who stole my attention.A smile spread across my face. “That man.”I touched the dress, already imagining how it would look on me.It was perfect. Not overly extravagant, just elegant enough to make me feel beaut
I woke up before my alarm. That alone should have told me how nervous I was.I stared at the ceiling for a few seconds thinking about the date. A smile spread across my face before I could stop it. I threw the covers aside and got out of bed.I had no idea where Leonardo was taking me, which was already driving me insane. He had refused to tell me anything beyond the fact that I needed to be ready early.He claimed it's a surprise, knowing perfectly well that I hated surprises.I opened my wardrobe and stared at my dresses.I pulled one out, decided it was too much, and put it back. The next one looked too simple.I groaned. “Why am I acting like this?”After far too much consideration, I settled on a short polka-dot pleated dress.By the time a knock sounded at my door, I was ready.“Come in.”The door opened, and Leonardo stepped inside.He wore a dark shirt with tailored trousers, the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms. He looked annoyingly perfect for someone who had probably
was still looking at the ring that had rolled out of my bag, when the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. The corridor went silent the moment Leonardo arrived. Clarisse froze and the other maid straightened instantly, bowing their heads. Leornado stood there, his gaze sweeping over
The knock came again. I stood in the middle of the room, breath uneven and my palms damp, I stared at the door contemplating whether to open the door or not. I reached for the door knob, my fingers trembling, I twisted the door knob and the door swung open. Leonardo stood there, his expression u
I stood frozen on the porch, the envelope clenched so tight in my fist my knuckles burned. Leonardo Blackwood The name echoed in my head. My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out the distant hum of the city. Avery was slumped against the doorframe behind me, half awake and unconscious. My vi
RILEY’S POV “Third heist of the month,” I shouted, raising an invisible glass with my free hand. “Here’s to many more.” “To our gaddamn luck,” Avery fired back, unleashing that low, wicked laugh of hers— the kind that cut through the adrenaline and had me laughing right along with her, despite







