"E- Ex-husband?” Hayley stuttered, her knees growing weak.This was one of the days she dreaded_ Adrian finding out the truth about her or her past. She feared the day she would finally tell him the truth. But at that moment, Hayley wasn't ready to tell him shit. She had to navigate her way through this predicament as soon as possible.“Yes, Nina. Your ex-husband!” Adrian snapped, his tone demanding.Hayley blinked twice and regained her composure, her shocked expression wearing off. “What do you mean my ex-husband? Did you think Damian Logan is my ex-husband? The father of my child?” She questioned in denial.“Why. Isn't he? I'm tired of your lies, Nina. Tell me the damn truth!” Adrian walked over to her, staying by the doorway as they gazed at each other intently.So much for a dumb and slow-witted man, Hayley huffed inwardly recalling Leonardo's words. It didn't even take Adrian long before he found out the truth.“When have I ever lied to you, Adrian? I don't understand your accus
Leonardo Anderson arrived at Clasold City exactly at 4 pm after staying on air for nearly six hours. On getting to the airport, his personal assistant, Toni Scott was already awaiting him. Toni Scott was a tall, gangling man around twenty-eight years of age. He was handsome with long brown hair that cascaded on his face. He was Leonardo's most trusted aid among his numerous workers. Scott rushed over to Leonardo when he caught sight of him. “Welcome back, Sir. How was your trip?” Scott greeted with a grin, taking the small traveling bag from Leonardo's grasp. Leonardo patted his back, his eyes roving the airport as they walked toward the car. “Thank you, Toni. It was fine.” He lowered his head, glancing at the time on his wristwatch. It was almost 4:30 pm. Leonardo turned to Scott. “How long will it take before we get home from here? I don't want to be late for dinner.” Scott replied sedately. “About 45 minutes, Sir.” Leonardo contemplated before he continued. “I have to ma
Mother.” Leonardo called, announcing his arrival as he stepped into the mansion, heading towards the big dinning hall, already occupied by his family members. “Leonardo,” Dana Anderson, who was standing by the dining table, instructing the servants on what to do, turned when she heard her second son's deep voice. Dana looked at him with a frown. “You're late.” She told him as he approached her. Leonardo pulled her for a hug. He apologized softly. “Sorry mother. Scott doesn't drive as fast as he used to be.” He pulled out of the hug, smiling at his mother. “Hmm I see.” Dana said. “Did you miss your son, Mother?” Leonardo asked, his eyes sparkling in delight as he stared at his beautiful mother. “Of course. Aren't I supposed to?” Dana asked, furrowing her brows at him. Leonardo only chuckled. Leonardo turned to the rest of them. His face turning expressionless as his eyes met with that of his brothers, one after the other. They were all sat at the table, about to have di
"Wow Congratulations, big brother." Loretta beamed with joy. "Congratulations, Lorenzo. I'm happy for Brenda and you." Dana chimed in, grinning. "Thank you. Thank you," Lorenzo replied grinning from ear to ear.But in that instant, Leonardo turned to Lorenzo, his face etched with disbelief. He asked fazed. "Brenda is pregnant?" Leonardo was taken aback not because it held any significance to him, but because it was a miracle that Lorenzo's wife was able to conceive. He was truly happy for Brenda.Lorenzo shrugged indifferently in response to his brother's question. "Yes. You know miracles do happen. Some of us here are just unlucky enough to experience it." He sneered, looking wickedly at Leonardo.Leonardo's expression grew stony, understanding the double meaning behind Lorenzo's words. His past. But he wasn't bothered about it anymore. They could mock him for all he cared, if only they knew he had a five-year-old daughter, already the first grandchild and the future heiress to th
Hayley was annoyed by the persistent knocking on her door. She heaved herself out of bed, making her way toward the entrance. The fact that she wasn't expecting anyone that day only infuriated her. Irritation and annoyance were etched on her face, angry at whoever had come to disrupt her much-needed nap that Saturday afternoon. All Hayley wanted was some rest after a long and exhausting week. Was that too much to ask for?As Hayley swung open the door to get to the entrance, her anger only intensified upon seeing him standing there. Hayley was not only shocked but completely stunned.Leonardo smirked at her, his eyes slowly wandering over her body. Hayley was dressed in a short black dress that exposed her cleavage and slender legs. His hungry, seductive, and enthralling stare caused Hayley's skin to break out in goosebumps and her heart to flutter in a way she couldn't explain."Hello, mi reina," he purred in a husky voice, his gaze returning to hers.Hayley met his gaze weakly. "L-
Glancing at the time on her fancy wristwatch, Hayley's face contorted with worry as she lifted her head in the direction of her toddler's room. Hayley was running late for work, and Daisy's delay was causing her stress."Baby, where are you?!" Hayley called out, still gazing towards her room. "We're running late. Please come now."She waited, but there was no response, no sign of Daisy either.Letting out a sigh, Hayley impatiently made her way to her room. She found the door was open. And there Daisy was, sitting on her bed with her backpack on, her face wearing a very sad expression. Hayley walked up to her, crouching down in front of her."What's wrong, baby?" She asked, her voice filled with concern as she looked at Daisy. "What is it?"Daisy replied sadly, avoiding eye contact with her mom. "I don't want to go to school."This was surprising, considering how enthusiastic Daisy usually was on Mondays and when Hayley helped her get ready for school."Why not, baby? What's the mat
"I promise to treat you right. To protect and love you, mi reina. To..." "Mi reina?" Hayley interrupted, her voice trembling as she stared at him. His piercing grey eyes met hers, a sincere saying on his lips. "Yes, baby. You are now my queen, and I, your king."Leonardo bent down, trailing kisses on her bare feet. Hayley watched him, each touch from his lips sending shivers down her spine and igniting a tingling sensation throughout her body.Leonardo and she lay naked on the bed, the only thing he had on was the pendant she had just gifted him.Still showering her feet with kisses, he gradually traced his lips up her leg, savoring every moment as he moved closer to Hayley's thigh. He paused.Leonardo gazed up at her, their eyes meeting weakly."Do you want me, baby?" He asked, his gaze still locked on hers. Hayley's flashback was abruptly interrupted by Daisy's excited voice breaking through her reverie."Uncle Damian!"Hayley snapped back to reality and saw Leonardo standing out
Hayley stood back, her eyes widening, and her mouth opened in utter disbelief. She couldn't believe Leonardo stayed outside in the rain. The question of why lingered in her mind.Trying to gather her thoughts and figure out her next move, Hayley paused. Leaving him outside in such weather was not the ideal thing to do.Memories of how Leonardo had entered the rain the last time to rescue her after an encounter with her stepmother, Wendy, six years ago flooded back. Hayley remembered he fell ill for days after that night.Recalling his act of heroism that day, Hayley thought it was time to reciprocate the kindness. That would be his saving grace in this situation. Concluding, she exhaled.As her hand reached for the doorknob, hesitation crept into Hayley's mind. Was helping him the right thing to do after what he did to her five years ago? Her heart ached at the thought, but she pushed it aside, unwilling to let it sway her decision. She sighed again. Opening the door, Hayley met his
ONE MONTH LATER.[Court in Session.]"With this compelling evidence provided, I find it incumbent that you both witness the insides of a prison cell for fifty years, Mrs. Wendy Forbes and Miss Lillian Lopez. You both are hereby sentenced to fifty years in prison, for the crimes of attempted murder and kidnapping. Sentence to be executed immediately," The prosecutor and judge delivered the verdict, her tone unwavering. She was a ruthless prosecutor, one who had zero tolerance for convicts. As the prosecutor, Alexa McKanne made to return to her seat, she halted in her tracks as a shrill noise pierced through the courtroom."Nooo!!" Lilian emitted a heart-wrenching cry, her sharp voice reverberating throughout the courtroom and catching the attention of everyone present.The gathering erupted in murmurs, prompting the judge to call for silence.Meanwhile, Hayley, who was seated next to Leonardo across from Lillian and Wendy, caught Lillian's glare filled with contempt. Despite the palpab
A brief wave of disbelief washed over Leonardo as he stared at Hayley in astonishment. "What?" he blurted out absentmindedly, a hint of excitement seeping into his voice.Hayley felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she observed his reaction, realizing this was the first time she had seen his response to her pregnancy news."Are you serious, baby?" Leonardo asked, his eagerness palpable as his gaze shifted to Hayley's abdomen, contemplating whether she was teasing him or if she truly meant it.A genuine smile spread across Hayley's face as she rolled her eyes at his question. "Yeah, duh...""Mi reina!" Leonardo exclaimed, a surge of pure excitement bubbling within him. He could hardly fathom it. His joy was boundless as he reached for Hayley's hand, holding it gently.Hayley reveled in his excitement, her eyes filled with affection as he began to speak."Hayley Forbes..."She interrupted him, shaking her head playfully. "No, it’s Nina or Hazel now. I can't go by that name anymore, Leona
Hayley hurried with overwhelming joy and excitement toward Leonardo's room, with Daisy beside her. Her elation was palpable as she realized that Leonardo was awake; she could hardly contain her eagerness to see him. At the same time, Leonardo engaged in conversation with his brother, Lorenzo, who had remained by his side since the women had departed an hour earlier following his awakening. Leonardo had undoubtedly been taken aback to see his family upon waking. However, his initial surprise gradually shifted to confusion when he noticed the absence of both his woman and daughter. However, they had reassured him that Hayley had stepped out briefly and would return shortly, while Daisy was in another room with Rosalie and Emily. With this information, his anxious heart began to settle as he accepted their reassuring words. After a further thirty minutes had elapsed without Hayley's return, Leonardo's concern began to intensify. Unable to contain himself, he called out to Lorenzo, who
.Hayley returned to the hospital after delivering the lawsuit documents to the wardress at Wendy's prison. Approximately an hour prior, the prosecutor, Alexa, who was overseeing Hayley's case, had provided her with the papers following their meeting. Hayley then drove to the prison, where Wendy and Lillian were incarcerated, and handed the documents to the wardress, choosing not to visit any of them. That was the least of her concerns; her only interest in seeing them was during the court proceedings, where the judge would render his final decision. With a sigh of frustration, Hayley pulled herself back to the present as she made a right turn onto the highway, heading towards the hospital. She recalled that the love of her life remained unconscious when she left earlier, and a wave of anxiety washed over her as she wondered if he had awakened from the coma. Thoughts of Leonardo tightened around her heart, causing her anguish. Hayley eventually regained composure as she caught sight
Wendy collapsed on the ground, her head buried in her palms as she absorbed the news of Alison's sudden accident. It hit her like a thunderbolt, shattering her heart into pieces. Her daughter had been involved in an accident and according to what the wardress had mentioned, Alison had also fallen in a coma after the incident. Wendy swallowed, her face flooded with tears. Her heart ached painfully as she grappled with the reality. How could this be? How did this happen? She felt a pang of guilt constrict her heart tightly, knowing she was mostly responsible for the unfortunate circumstance that had befallen her daughter. If she hadn't gotten herself in trouble in the first place, none of this would have happened. With that, her cries intensified as she remained on the ground. "I'm very sorry, ma'am," The wardress tried to sympathize, her tone laden with pity. But that did little to console Wendy, whose thoughts were all over the place. Meanwhile, Lillian had also been shocked upon he
"What are you saying? He has a guardian! You can't take that action."Lillian's heart raced with anxiety as she absorbed the unsettling information relayed to her over the phone. Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, her hand trembled slightly as it pressed the receiver to her ear. Beads of sweat began to form on her temples, and her anger flared as the caller finished her statement.Her grip on the phone tightened, and Lillian shot back, her frustration palpable. "What do you mean by that? You can't do that! He has a mother! I am his mother!"She fell silent as the caller replied, a response that clearly unsettled her. Lillian started again. "Listen, you cannot do this to me. Ethan is my son. I’ll be out of here very soon. Just be patient, please." Lillian pleaded, a tear streaming down her cheek that she quickly brushed away.She listened closely to the caller's words until the line beeped, indicating the call had ended.Her heart shattered, and fresh tears flowed down her
Hayley headed out of the hospital as soon as she received the news about Freya's capture. Right after Lillian was apprehended, she had instructed an officer of the law to discreetly conduct a search for Freya, ensuring that she returned to the city in one piece so she could serve her fair punishment for her actions. Hayley was quite surprised by the speed of the development, however, that was the least of her concerns at that moment. A blend of satisfaction and annoyance brimmed within her as she headed out to the awaiting car, parked in the hospital lot. She had nearly forgotten Emily was trailing behind her until Emily's voice sailed into her ears, pulling Hayley from her thoughts. "Where are you going, Hayley? Who was it on the phone?" Emily pressed, her tone filled with concern. Realizing she hadn't shared the news with her, Hayley stopped midway and turned to Emily in an attempt to placate her confusion. "I'll be right back, Em. I need you to stay behind and watch my mother a
Hayley made her way to the restroom section of the hospital and leaned against the door once she stepped inside. Her heart raced, stirred by memories of her confrontation with Clara.Painful tears stung her eyes despite her efforts to remain composed and resolute. She felt she didn't deserve to cry. If anyone ought to shed tears, it should be Clara, not herself. She hadn't done anything wrong.With this resolve, Hayley sniffled back her emotions, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand before heading towards the sink to wash her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror afterward, her chest heaving. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled before further questioning herself if she had been too harsh on Clara or if she truly deserved what she got from her. Her thoughts were disrupted as the door to the bathroom swung open, startling Hayley. Without moving an inch, Hayley caught a glimpse of the person who had just walked in through the mirror and saw it was Emily."Hey, ar
Meanwhile, Clara watched in silence as she absorbed the affectionate scene unfolding before her. Occasionally, her gaze would trail from the newfound couple to Hayley, who watched with enthusiasm and joy. Clara felt her heart pricked painfully, once again remembering that she and Hayley were no longer friends. And it was all her fault. She literally betrayed Hayley. Abandoned her when she needed her the most and turned her back to her in her times of trial and peril. She wondered if Hayley was ever going to forgive her for her actions.Sure, she had only acted out because she didn't like the way Hayley's deception affected Adrian. But recognizing Hayley's other predicament with Wendy and Lillian, she had now come to understand why Hayley had lied to them about her identity in the first place. She was obviously running from something and just didn't want to get entangled with her past again. It was unfortunate that Leonardo had just shown up to thwart those plans of Hayley.Reflecting