“Hi Jane,” Dr. Sophia said with a warm smile. “How are you feeling today?”“Better, thanks to you.” Jane replied with a forced smile.Dr. Sophia nodded. “You are welcome Jane. I’m glad you are recovering well.”After another series of checkups, Dr. Sophia gave Jane instructions of what she shouldn’t do for the meantime before she left.Jane and Lucy didn’t continue their earlier discussion. They just sat quietly in the ward.Not long after, Lucy's phone rang. The caller ID indicated it was Dylan calling. She excused herself as she went to receive the call.Jane was deep in thought, her mind drifting to that night on that bridge, where the kind Leonard saved her from committing suicide. Her lips couldn’t help curling up remembering her arguments with him on the bridge that night. “How stupid Jane.” She whispered to herself.Her gaze drifted to the hospital window, watching the city bustle below. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.She thought it was Lucy, bu
At Leonard’s office.After a long stressful day at the office, Leonard was prepared to work overnight as usual, but his mind keeps on drifting to Jane’s pictures that are displayed on his desk.Leonard’s face lingered on Jane's smiling face in the picture, his thoughts consumed by her. He couldn’t focus on the reports in front of him.A soft knock was heard as Rachel opened his office door. By now almost all the employees are off work. It’s late already. She was also preparing to leave the office after finishing her work. Knowing her boss would still be here working overtime as usual,she wanted to ask if he needed anything before she called it a day.Sir, did you need anything? She asked, closing the door behind her.Leonard shook his head. “No Rachel, you can leave.” As Rachel departed, Leonard's gaze returned to Jane’s pictures.He recalled their encounter on the bridge the day he saved her. Her desperation, and his instinctive response.“Why was he drawn to her? He stood, pacing a
Two months later.Jane sat in Leonard’s luxurious living room, sipping her coffee. She had been living with him since she was discharged from the hospital. This is because she doesn’t have anywhere to stay. She can’t even go back home, due to her misdeeds.And Lucy, who she should have stayed with, is living together with her boyfriend Dylan, so she had to go with the last option, which is to stay with Leonard.As the heiress of the Lockwood empire, she had properties at her disposal where she could stay, but she couldn’t go there for now, so as not to alert her family of her return. She is not ready to meet them yet.As Jane pondered her situation, Leonard entered the room, his presence commanding attention. "Good morning, Jane.""Morning, Leonard," she replied, her voice soft."I hope you slept well?" he asked, sitting beside her.Jane nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. Gratitude for Leonard's kindness, guilt for imposing on him, and anxiety about her uncertain future."Leonard, I..
Jason's mind wandered back to the fateful arguments they had a year ago, the memories still etched vividly in his mind. He recalled the determination in his daughter's eyes, the fiery passion in her voice, as she stood firmly against the arranged marriage he had planned for her."No, Father, I won't do it!" Jane exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "I won't marry some man I've never met, just to secure the family's business interests. I won’t involve myself in any arranged marriage whether you like it or not. I won’t be involved in your business deals of using your daughter for your own selfish gain.”How dare you talk to me like that? If you don’t fulfil my wish, I will disown you as my daughter. You won’t be getting any of my properties as a Lockwood. The man shouted as his voice shook with anger.“If that’s the solution to me not getting married to someone you arranged for me, someone I don’t love, then I ceased being your daughter from today onward”. After saying this, sh
Not knowing about the commotion at home, Jane was busy dressing up for her reunion with her family after more than a year.Jane smoothed out her dress, checking herself in the mirror. It had been over a year since she'd last seen her family. She took a deep breath, preparing for the emotional reunion.Just as Jane finished adjusting her hair, Leonard badge into her room, his expression serious. "Jane, I don’t think it’s right to meet your family for now.”Jane's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean by that?” Her voice trembled with emotions."It's about your return to your family," Leonard said, his voice measured. "I'm afraid it's not possible... at least, not yet."Jane's face fell, disappointment washing over her. "What happened?"Leonard hesitated before speaking. "Someone's been using your disappearance to taunt your family, demanding ransom in exchange for your safe return."Jane's eyes widened in shock. "That's impossible! I'm right here, safe and sound."Leonard nodded. "I
The night air was tense as agent Lee led her team as they set up surveillance around the designated location, a deserted warehouse on the outskirts of town.As hours ticked by, Agent Lee's team remained vigilant, scanning the surrounding area for any sign of movement. The designated time arrived, and right on cue, a figure emerged from the shadows.“Drop it there, and raise your hands up.” A lady voice sounded behind Desmond who was holding the bag of cash. She pointed the gun in her hand at Desmond."Target spotted," whispered Agent Thompson, binoculars trained on the figure.Agent Lee nodded, her eyes locked on the figure now approaching the warehouse. "Let's move in."The team converged on the warehouse, surrounding the figure. Agent Lee stepped forward, gun drawn."Hands up! You're under arrest."“Didn’t I tell you not to inform anyone? It’s like you don’t like your sister enough Mr. Lockwood. She glared at Desmond angrily with her mask covered face. Not caring about agent Lee and
Agent Lee swiftly escorted Desmond to the FBI base, her expression resolute. "We'll get to the bottom of this." She assured as they entered the interrogation room, which Leonard noddedInside the interrogation room, Iris sat calmly, her eyes fixed on Desmond. Her face looked pale. It’s like she had come back to her senses, but there isn’t any medicine for regret. She can’t undone what had happened earlier."Tell us about your partner," Agent Lee demanded.Iris smirked. "You'll never find them." She stubbornly refused to reveal anything.Agent Lee leaned in. "We have evidence. Your partner's identity will come out. If you don’t want to talk, I will fish them out myself”. She confidently said. “You blackmailing people is already a criminal offense that can put you in jail for a few years.Iris's confidence wavered as she heard about the imprisonment."Fine," Iris said, her voice shaky. "I wasn't alone. Richard initiated me."Desmond's eyes widened. "Richard? You mean my uncle?"Iris nod
Two weeks after the blackmailing incident, Agent Lee's investigation had reached a dead end. Despite Iris's confession, there wasn't enough evidence to link Richard to the crime. He was so smart that he met Iris in a secluded place, where his face or their conversation won’t be captured and recorded. He was careful enough.Richard walked out of the police station, a smug smile on his face. "No charges will be filed," his lawyer announced. He nodded before boarding his car and took off.Iris, on the other hand, was sentenced to five years in prison for blackmail and extortion.Weeks passed, and the Lockwood family continued searching everywhere for Jane.. Evelyn’s health began to decline, her worry for Jane consuming her.When Jane ran away from home, her family thought she was throwing a tantrum, but as days turned into months, and months turned a year, they came to realize she was serious when she told her father she ceased being his daughter that year.They’ve looked for her everywh