Emily was indoors with Daisy that evening when Freya showed up at the door, bearing gifts for the toddler. "Freya!" The toddler innocently scampered to hug her babysitter, Freya Williams. Emily also regarded Freya with warmth as she stepped aside for her to enter the house. "Welcome, Freya. How are you doing?" Emily asked with concern as she closed the door behind them after they had entered. "I'm great, thank you," Freya replied politely. She then turned to Daisy, who was settled in her arms and she gave her the bar of chocolate she brought for her. "Thank you, Freya," Daisy genuinely accepted the chocolate bar. The three of them settled on the couch, and Emily exhaled heavily, reaching for the remote control on the table. She switched through the channels, searching for an entertaining show for her guest and a show also suitable for the toddler. Meanwhile, Freya chatted with Daisy just like old times and even patted her hair as Daisy told her about her day. She stared at t
As soon as Freya Williams covered a few steps away from Hayley's home with Daisy still by her side, she pulled out her phone and made a call after glancing around to ensure no one was watching her."Hey, Wendy," She spoke uneasily, her breath hitching as Wendy answered the phone. "Do you have her?" Wendy's curt response flowed into her ears.Freya exhaled heavily, stealing a glance at the innocent toddler who awaited her patiently.Nodding eagerly, Freya redirected her gaze, glancing around as she replied. "Yes. Yes, I do have her right here with me." She answered."Alright. Go straight to the plaza across the street, that's the place we're going to make the exchange. We'll be right there shortly.""Hope you have my money ready, Wendy?" Freya's voice was almost in a whisper. "I don't want any excuses, alright?""Trust me and walk. I'll see you soon, Freya Williams. Bye for now." With that, Wendy ended the call, leaving Freya hanging.Annoyance coursed through Freya and her brows furr
"How can I trust that the two of you won’t harm her?" Freya arched an eyebrow at Wendy after handing Daisy over to them. Wendy scoffed incredulously before replying. "We’re not monsters, Miss Williams. The girl is merely serving as leverage in the meantime. Nothing more. I assure you—" "Leverage to what?" Freya interjected sharply, cutting off Wendy's sentence. Wendy shot Freya a brief glare, irritation bubbling beneath the surface at her relentless questioning. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled heavily and took a few steps closer to Freya, who stood her ground as she observed Wendy intently. With her face inches away from Freya's, Wendy stated, "You’ve been compensated for the job, Miss Williams. I would appreciate it if you refrained from probing into my motives any further. I despise being questioned, but what I detest even more are those who meddle in others' affairs. Do you understand?" Her tone turned serious as she continued, "So, why don’t you be sensible, take the money, a
Emily felt a great surge of anxiety as she processed Hayley's request. A bead of sweat formed on her temples and her heart raced with apprehension, unsure of how to respond. She had anticipated this moment, acutely aware Hayley would inquire about her daughter. What the heck was she supposed to say? This was bad. If Hayley sensed that something was amiss, it would distract her from the competition coming up the next day, and Emily couldn’t afford that, especially considering Freya might arrive later with Daisy. Although she remained uncertain about that thought, she tried to reassure herself. Freya didn't pose any threats and Hayley had deemed her as family, so there was nothing to worry about, right? But deep down, a part of Emily knew there was everything to worry about. The thought of Daisy being in danger stirred deep anguish within her. Emily longed to believe that Daisy was safe with Freya. She tried to compose herself by reassuring herself of this."Hello, Em... I’m waiting,"
Hayley returned to the retreat the following, infused by a new sense of determination and joy bubbling within her. It was finally the long-awaited Day of the competition, a pivotal moment that would determine her future. Though she wasn't all that concerned about winning as now she had more than she could ever ask for, she remained determined to put in her best effort and aim for the prize. She had already crafted her first masterpiece for the competition. Having already completed her first masterpiece, she was now set to dedicate the next four hours to creating her second as two pieces were required for the competition. After dropping her off in the parking lot, Leonardo wished her good luck. He had wanted to accompany her inside, but she declined, wanting to avoid the scrutiny of the gossipers in the retreat. Before reluctantly leaving, Leonardo assured her that he would always be there for her if she needed him. With a grateful smile, she exited the car. As she walked to her room
Emily wasn't one to bawl her eyes out when things weren't going her way. She was a counterpoint of Hayley in terms of handling situations like a mature lady, but this time around, it was different. Her eyes bore the marks of a long night filled with tears, and a dull ache throbbed in her head as she rubbed her weary eyes.Upon lowering her hand from her eyes, a wave of loneliness flooded her as reality began to sink in once again that morning. A splitting ache slammed her head as she recalled the search for Daisy had been futile the previous night. Just as said before, Emily scoured the neighborhood for them when she couldn't find them at the first ten restaurants/ice cream shops she visited. All were to no avail as she was always met with negative responses. The neighbors around didn't tell her much as they claimed they hadn't seen anything. To compound Emily's frustration, Freya wasn't still taking any of her calls. Emily didn't know where she lived, so she hadn't gone there the
Lillian's heart twisted with envy as her eyes fell on the toddler, once again struck by the remarkable resemblance she bore to Leonardo. A DNA test didn't even need to be carried out first before anyone knew she was his child. The little one mirrored him so closely that it caused a sharp pang in Lillian's chest.She was jealous because her son lacked any physical traits of the billionaire, and she would always have to resort to using grey contact lenses and dyeing Ethan's hair black just so he'd have some features of Leonardo. But Daisy's own wasn't like that. Despite the toddler's hair being blonde, it did little to conceal the resemblance she shared with her father. For that, Lillian already resented her.To her, Daisy's existence was the reason Leonardo had turned his back on herself and her child. She felt Daisy was the cause of her downfall and the reason her son wouldn't receive any of Leonardo's affection. Lillian wasn't pleased with that and she also wasn't hesitant to harm Da
Leonardo's sank in disbelief as he processed the news. "What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean Daisy's been kidnapped? By who?!" He demanded sharply, his heart racing with trepidation as he struggled to accept the news. Emily sniffled on the other end. "I don't know Leonardo. But I think," She stammered, her voice breaking as she tried to speak. "I think by Lillian. She asked me to tell you this." "What?" Leonardo was shocked. "I don't know, Leonardo," Emily cried out. "Please, please, we need to do something about this immediately. I'm scared..." "How? How did this happen? Oh my God!" He massaged his temples, his heart clenching with pain at the realization that his daughter was in danger. "Freya. It was Freya." Emily sobbed. "Have you contacted the police?" Leonardo inquired. "No. She warned me not to involve the police; otherwise, she'd ensure we never saw her again..." "Alright. Thank you for informing me, Emily. I'll take it from here..." "Please, Leonard
His tongue danced around her sensitive bud, drawing a soft whimper from Hayley as she tangled her fingers in his hair, tugging at the strands. Her legs were hung over his shoulders as his head remained buried in her core.Hayley gasped for breath as Leonardo traced his tongue along her slit, teasingly reaching her clit, sucking and licking with an intensity that suggested he had everything to lose. "Ah, yes, baby, right there..." Hayley moaned, tilting her head back in ecstasy, her eyes fluttering shut. Despite the air conditioning in Leonardo's room, beads of sweat glistened on her temples, her body ignited with an unquenchable desire."Mm, mm, L-Leonardo," she squirmed beneath him, but his firm grasp held her in place, preventing her from escaping his tantalizing ministrations.He continued to suck and lick until she began to writhe in response, her legs trembling as her climax approached. High-pitched moans escaped her lips as she begged him to continue, but in typical fashion, Le
Hayley covered her mouth in disbelief, instinctively scanning her surroundings to ensure she wasn't just daydreaming. Was the love of her life really bent on his knee at the moment, poised to propose to her? Was this a dream? "Hayley, mi reina," Leonardo called, his voice laden with tenderness yet anxiety. Hayley turned back to face him, her face contorting with a whirlwind of emotions. "Baby... What are you doing?" She asked, her eyes traveling downward once more to admire the ring. It was a stunning and enthralling piece. Leonardo picked up the ring from the box and held it in his hand as he began, his attention solely on her. "Make me the happiest man in the world again, mi reina..." "Leonardo," Hayley muttered, glancing back at him in disbelief. Despite Leonardo's anxiousness, he carried on undeterred. "I've come to realize that you're my destiny, baby. Life has no meaning without you in it. I felt the void when you left before. I never want to be in that darkness again, baby
Hayley gazed down at him, a mix of disbelief and amusement flooding her heart as she met his needy orbs. At times, she found it difficult to comprehend the man before her. But she also couldn't deny the sensations that blazed through her when he grasped her hand gently, pleading with her desperately.At first, she contemplated giving him what he wanted. But eventually, she decided against it as she wanted to bide his time. "No," Hayley responded after a while, her voice unwavering. Leonardo's frown deepened, his heart breaking into pieces upon hearing the word. "No?" He felt like cursing, but he restrained himself.Hayley shrugged. "Yes, Leonardo. No, I won't give you what you want. If you love me, you'd wait." She said firmly.Leonardo shut his eyes, feeling a wave of frustration wash away his earlier arousal. He hated the fact that she was being a pain in the ass at that moment. But ultimately, he knew he had no choice but to comply."Are you going to be good now, baby?" Hayley as
After notifying Emily they would be on their way, Leonardo escorted Hayley outside to his awaiting limousine. He had long set aside his raging desires after Hayley had delivered those heartbreaking words to him earlier. Though he yearned for her, he knew she wouldn't let him do a thing to her till after the date night. The pain of being patient till then was excruciating. Nonetheless, he was willing to wait. Hayley's smile was radiant as she walked gracefully towards the car, paying no mind to the paparazzi that continued capturing the moment with their cameras.Leonardo opened the car door for her and she smiled at him thankfully before climbing inside. He followed suit after she had settled in comfortably. He sat across in the seat across hers.Throughout the ride to the date venue, Leonardo's eyes remained glued to Hayley lustfully. His eyes occasionally traveled from her face to her body, and they would linger there for a moment before he redirected his gaze to her face.Hayley f
A dazzling smile adorned Hayley's face as she styled her wavy hair with a hot comb that evening. Seated before an elegant dressing mirror in her room, she delicately applied light makeup while her body buzzed with excitement in anticipation of her date night with Leonardo. He was due to pick her up in an hour, yet she found herself uncertain about what outfit to wear. Just then, Emily entered the room, cradling Daisy in her arms. Catching sight of Emily's reflection in the mirror, Hayley chuckled as Emily paused, seemingly taken aback by her appearance. "Is that really you, Hayley?" Emily asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow as she stepped closer. Hayley laughed softly, dismissing the compliment with a wave of her hand. "Oh, please, don’t start, Em." "Mommy is beautiful!" Daisy chimed in, her face lighting up with an adorable smile. Hayley's heart melted at the compliment, and she turned to Daisy, responding warmly, "Oh, thank you, baby." She stood to plant a gentle kiss on Dais
While they were working in the prison yard that afternoon, Lillian occasionally stole glances at Wendy, who was positioned a few feet away from her. It had been three days since the court delivered its final verdict. And Lillian could attest to the fact that those days had been the most challenging of her life.They worked like lackeys in the yard, all day. She got bullied by her superiors; sometimes, she was denied dinner. While she had thought initially that she was resilient and could survive the prison life, now she was beginning to doubt her strength. Only three days had passed but it felt as though she had been trapped in there for decades. The relentless suffering felt overwhelming most times. Most distressing of all was the thought that her son would soon be placed in foster care, as she had been unable to secure her release from prison. Her last conversation with Leonardo had not gone well, and she was acutely aware that he would not intervene on Ethan's behalf.Lillian had o
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