LOGINLeonard didn't answer immediately.His gaze remained fixed on the document in his hands.With every page he turned, his jaw tightened further.A custody petition.Not a request to take Ash away from the Ashcroft family.Not a request for release from prison.Instead, it was a formal petition seeking regular visitation rights with her son.Leonard slowly closed the file.Silence filled the room once more."She wants to see Ash?"The lawyer nodded."Legally, Vanessa is still his biological mother."Leonard leaned back in his chair.Tired.So incredibly tired.Because for the first time, he was beginning to understand something.Vanessa was a murderer.But she was still a mother.And unlike him—At least she had fought for her child."What do you recommend?"The lawyer hesitated."Legally speaking, the court will most likely grant at least part of her request."Leonard let out a short laugh.Not because it was funny.But because of the irony.Vanessa was sitting in prison, yet she was st
Elena's innocent words made Leonard stop in his tracks.He didn't turn around immediately.But his entire body froze.Because there was no hatred in Elena's voice.No anger.Only the fear of a little girl who didn't want a stranger disrupting her world.And somehow, that hurt far more.Adele gently stroked her daughter's hair."It's okay, sweetheart."Elena wrapped her arms tightly around her mother's waist."I don't like it when that man makes Mama cry."A sharp ache tightened in Leonard's chest.Because the child was right.Every time he appeared, old wounds were torn open again.Every time he showed up, there were tears."Let's go home."Sebastian's voice was calm.He picked Elena up and started walking toward the car.Elena still had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.As if the safest place in the world was right there.Leonard watched them.And for the first time—He truly understood what Arabella must have felt.Watching someone else fill a place that should have been his
Elena's words hit Leonard far harder than any accusation he had ever faced.The little girl clung tightly to Sebastian's neck.Her face was still wet with tears.Her small body trembled.And all that fear was directed at Leonard.Not at a stranger.Not at a criminal.But at her own biological father.Leonard stood frozen in place.His gaze remained fixed on Elena.His daughter.The child who had been living only a few steps away from him all this time.The child he had seen laugh.The child he had seen play.The child he had seen calling Sebastian Papa.And now he finally knew why.Because when Leonard wasn't there—Sebastian was.When Leonard abandoned them—Sebastian stayed.When Leonard chose to slander them—Sebastian chose to protect them.Slowly, Leonard lowered his hand.He didn't even dare move closer anymore.Because the fear in Elena's eyes was too obvious.Too real."I won't hurt you."Leonard's voice was quiet.But Elena only buried herself deeper against Sebastian's shoul
"...Arabella?"Leonard's voice was nearly drowned out by the sound of the waves.But it was enough to freeze everyone in place.Adele stood several steps away from him.Meanwhile, Elena was still crying in Sebastian's arms.No one moved.No one spoke.Because that one name had finally been spoken.The name that had been buried for years.The name that had been hidden for years.The name that was supposed to be dead.Leonard stared at Adele without blinking.He no longer even seemed aware that Elena had been in his arms only moments earlier.His entire mind was focused on one thing.Arabella.And the longer he looked at Adele's face—The more certain he became.Those eyes.That voice.The way she looked at him.Everything."Adele..." Leonard's breathing grew heavy. "You..."But before he could finish—Adele laughed.Not a happy laugh.Not a relieved laugh.But a laugh filled with years of pain."Finally."Her gaze never left Leonard."You finally figured it out."The words struck him h
Vanessa froze instantly."Leonard is looking for Arabella?"Her lawyer nodded."And that's not all."He opened several documents."He's investigating Adele as well."A wave of unease immediately settled in Vanessa's chest.Because she knew.Sooner or later, this day was always going to come.Leonard had been slow to realize many things.But he wasn't stupid.And once he started suspecting something, he would never stop until he found the answer."Does he know already?""Not yet."Vanessa let out a quiet breath.Yet somehow, the feeling of uneasiness remained.Because this time, the situation was different.Leonard had lost everything.And people who had lost everything were often far more dangerous.Three days later.A small seaside town.The sky was clear.A warm breeze drifted through the air.Elena ran across the sand, laughing.Teddy was tucked securely in her arms.Meanwhile, Sebastian walked several steps behind her."Careful. Don't fall.""I'm not going to fall!"Elena's immedi
Leonard's question still hung in Sebastian's office.But Sebastian didn't answer immediately.Instead, he walked back to his desk and picked up a glass of water.That only made Leonard more frustrated."You're not going to answer?"Sebastian shrugged."Answer what?""Stop playing games with me.""I'm not playing."Leonard clenched his jaw.Meanwhile, Sebastian set the glass down on the desk."Adele is Adele.""That's not an answer.""It's the only answer you're going to get."Leonard's gaze sharpened.He felt he was so close.So incredibly close.Yet there was still one wall he couldn't break through."I know you're hiding something.""Maybe.""Sebastian.""You should be using all this energy to save your company."The atmosphere shifted instantly.Because that was the reality Leonard kept trying to avoid.Ashcroft Group.A company that was dying.A company his family had once been so proud of.And now it stood on the brink of collapse.But Leonard shook his head."I'll find the answe
Sebastian's words echoed in Adele's mind throughout the entire night.She wanted to trust him.She truly did.Because she was tired too.Tired of keeping secrets.Tired of pretending to be someone else.Tired of carrying memories that should have died long ago.But on the other side of the city—Le
The thought haunted Leonard throughout the entire day.Arabella and her baby girl.Two names that had been buried so deeply for years that he had almost stopped thinking about them altogether.But now they had returned.Not because of Vanessa.Not because of the media.Not because of the documents
Leonard stared at her for a long moment.He should have been angry.He should have argued back.Yet strangely enough, he only looked more exhausted.“And what if I don’t want to save it?”Adele frowned.“What do you mean?”“Ashcroft Group.” Leonard let out a quiet laugh. “My family. Everything that
Sebastian’s words lingered in the air.“Then you’d better be prepared to hear an answer you won’t want to hear.”Leonard stood several feet away from him.His gaze remained fixed on Adele.As though her answer was the only thing that mattered now.“Adele.” His voice was lower this time. “I’m waitin







