Surprise and confusion were etched across Adrian's face as he redirected his gaze to Leonardo after a moment, asking, fazed. "Daughter? You have a child, man?" Adrian's brows were creased as he met Leonardo's expressionless gaze. Leonardo remained quiet, just staring at Adrian, and from his perspective, he could see the anxiousness and confusion that emanated from him. As much as he wanted to tell and boast about his daughter, Daisy to him, he knew Hayley wouldn't be pleased. He couldn't risk jeopardizing the newfound relationship he now had with her. Hence...After a moment, Leonardo let out a laugh, much to Adrian's confusion. What was wrong with this man? He couldn't help but ask inwardly. Leonardo laughed incredulously for a moment before finally saying amidst laughs. "I got you there, man. You should've seen your face!" He said, laughing even more.Adrian was still confused as he stared at Leonardo fazed. But he couldn't deny the anxiety that was slowly starting to dwindle fro
Later that evening, just a few minutes past 6 pm, Adrian found himself seated behind the bar counter in his home, a bottle of bourbon and a glass with the remnants of his drink settled before him. He appeared lost in thought for a while, his gaze fixed on the glass.After a moment of contemplation, he eventually lifted the glass and chugged down the remaining liquid. A heavy sigh escaped him as he set the glass back down, staring at it in surprise as a realization began to dawn on him. Though he wasn't typically a heavy drinker, he had recently found himself reaching for the bottle more often these days. Perhaps it was a reflection of his growing loneliness. And that had his mind wandering away in no time.As he continued pondering his thoughts, his mind drifted to the events of the day, particularly his earlier suspicion that Hayley and Leonardo might share a deeper connection from what he witnessed. A scoff of disbelief escaped him as he shook his head incredulously. He chastised hi
"Congratulations, SCA Nina, you've officially been enrolled in the program," Adrian declared with enthusiasm as he crossed the desk to greet Hayley, presenting her with a bouquet of flowers. Hayley had just entered his office to share the exciting news she received in her email the previous night, but it seemed Adrian already knew about it.Hayley couldn't help the smile that graced her features as she accepted the gift from him, expressing her gratitude in awe. "Aw, thank you, Adrian." Her eyes trailed down and she noticed the flowers weren't the usual roses he normally brought her.Seeing her astonishment, Adrian added as if anticipating her thoughts. "You mentioned on our last date that you do not fancy roses, remember?" He reminded her, his tone gentle. Hayley finally recalled she had mentioned something like that before. She lifted her gaze to his. Her smile deepened as she replied. "Thank you, Adrian. Thank you for remembering,"Adrian returned her smile, staring into her ocean
The serene evening saw Leonardo driving towards Hayley's residence once again. However, this time, he was free from feelings of nervousness or anxiety; instead, he was filled with gratitude and excitement as things were beginning to flourish in his newfound relationship with Hayley and, of course, their daughter. Although Hayley hadn't mentioned it yet, Leonardo sensed that she had forgiven him, and that realization filled him with elation and a sense of pride. However, he had made a promise to himself to continue proving his commitment to positive change so he could clear Hayley's skepticism once and for all. He was determined to genuinely receive Hayley's love again. He missed her terribly. With that in mind, he made a left turn on the road, his insides bubbling with anticipation.Just two days prior, Daisy had requested for Leonardo to move in with them, but Hayley had turned down her request. Although the toddler was initially disappointed and sad, they ultimately agreed that Leo
"Hello?" Hayley called out for the third time, but once again, silence greeted her from the other end. She felt perplexed initially, but that feeling soon transformed. A mix of irritation and annoyance began to stir within Hayley as she realized it wasn't Emily on the line; rather, it was a robocall. This was the only logical explanation for this, as no sane person would call her with the intent of keeping her in silence. With that thought in mind, Hayley let out a frustrated hiss and quickly tapped on the hang-up button. She huffed in annoyance, her frown deepening as several thoughts raced through her mind. However, she didn't consider the possibility that the strange call might have stemmed from someone she knew.Hayley exhaled a deep breath, still feeling annoyed and irritated, but ultimately, she calmed herself, deciding to move on and return to the living room.Leonardo, who had been waiting patiently for her, turned his attention as he heard footsteps approaching. He observed
As the days rolled by, Hayley recognized her feelings for Leonardo were only intensifying, and she found herself falling in love with him all over again. Well, this resurgence of affection was because Leonardo had been behaving really kindly and responsibly towards her and their daughter ever since their significant reconciliation. On the other hand, Leonardo was now meticulously mindful of his actions, determined to preserve the fragile relationship he had built with them, and not lose Hayley again. He felt genuinely happy being a part of their lives now and just couldn't wait to introduce them to his family. However, he was taking a slow and cautious walk towards achieving this aspiration as he was aware it was still too early to put such a request to Hayley, especially since they had yet to officially rekindle their romance. While things seemed to be improving now, a part of Hayley was still reluctant to fully commit to Leonardo, still scarred and haunted by his past actions. She
It was just a few minutes past 6 pm, two hours since his lunch date with Hayley. Adrian cleared his desk, preparing to leave the office.As he drove home, he couldn't help but ponder his lunch conversation with Hayley. Surely, the outcome of the date had taken him by surprise. He felt a deep sense of sadness and disappointment, having faced yet another rejection from her. Was he not good enough? He questioned himself worriedly. 'Hey come on. Looks or personality wasn't the reason why she had rejected you. She's just dealing with some personal stuff at the moment. Relax.' His inner voice reassured him.He let out a heavy sigh, wishing he could believe that was true and that there were no other reasons for Hayley's rejection. He couldn't bear the idea of her being with someone else. He loved her too much to let her slip away so easily. As he navigated the road, a plaguing consideration abruptly crossed his mind. What if his earlier suspicions about Hayley and Leonardo were actually tr
Lilian was hanging with her crew members that afternoon after a shoot when she received a text from her assistant, Olivia, informing her that they were already approaching her workplace. Her heart skipped a beat as she reread the message from Olivia. Lilian then lifted her gaze, spotting Wendy who was only a few feet across the room, naively chatting with some of her colleagues, who idolized her and were also requesting her autograph. Lilian felt unsettled knowing Wendy was in the same room as she and Olivia would soon be arriving with her son. She knew she would stir something within Wendy when her son arrived, considering her much her colleagues admired the boy a lot, and Lilian had yet to correspond to Wendy's request. That was the reason Wendy was still hanging around, monitoring her and making her presence known, much to Lillian's discomfort and annoyance. Averting her gaze, Lilian exhaled heavily, her fingers hovering around the keyboard as she contemplated a response. She did
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
.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