Jane stepped out of the car, her mind still reeling with Teddy’s phone call. She already knew that her flight would be canceled, and all the plans she had prepared for their anniversary for more than a month were now in ruins because Teddy would be with Ava throughout the day.
Anytime Ava’s sickness flared up, Teddy was always with her throughout that day. He won’t even think about his so-called busy schedule he always comes up with any time Jane demands his attention. On reaching Ava’s ward, she saw she was lying down on the sickbed and had an oxygen hood over her head as usual. Teddy was sitting in front of her, holding one of her hands in his. Seeing this scene, Jane felt a pang of pain in her heart. Seeing Jane coming into the ward, Teddy stood up and he questioned her. “What are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be donating your blood right now?” Since she had signed that contract that bound her and Teddy, this place had become a regular place of visit for her. She is always here to donate her blood to “Ava, who has been sick since a year ago”. “I just wanted to check up on Ava before going to donate my blood, that’s why I’m here.” She said gently. You are of no use here, just go and donate your blood already. Teddy said angrily. “What about our anniversary plan Teddy?” Jane blurted out unknowingly.” Teddy's expression darkened. "What's there to discuss about our anniversary? You know Ava's condition is unpredictable." Jane's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had planned something special." Teddy's tone softened slightly, but his words remained firm. "I'm sorry, Jane. Ava needs you now." Jane nodded, pain flashing across her face. "I'll go donate." As she turned to leave, Teddy's voice stopped her. "Jane?" "Yes?" "Forget the anniversary. It's just another day." Jane's heart sank, but she didn't look back. An hour later, Jane was exhausted after giving out blood. This is her second time donating her blood this month. She looked so pale that a small push could get her on her knees. She used the railing to stabilize herself. “Look who we have here”. Jane heard a familiar voice speaking to her. Raising her head, she was shocked by the person she saw. “Ava, aren’t you supposed to be in the ward receiving treatment, what are you doing here?” Even though she knew this woman was the reason her husband had been cold to her since their marriage, that doesn’t mean she would be so heartless to wish for her death. But seeing the person she saw just now who was hooked up to all types of hospital equipment, sashaying her body towards her, looking healthy, some possibilities came into her mind, but she denied it as she shook her head. As you can see, I’ve already recovered from my illness a month ago. I’m just making you pay for taking Teddy away from me. If not because of you, Teddy would have gotten married to me. “My advice for you now is to divorce Teddy immediately. He doesn’t even like you anyway, so why stay in this loveless marriage for nothing?” “And who do you think you are to tell me to divorce him?” Jane also fired back. “Even if you can’t tell, you should know I’m the one Teddy loves, did you think he would be with a lowlife woman with no family background like you, if not because he was trying to save me?” “If not for that stinky blood of yours, you are not useful for anything my dear”. She said to Jane as she patted her cheeks with a smirk on her face. “Well, you are right, Teddy doesn’t love me for now, sooner or later I will make him fall for me. And how did you know he loves you?” “Ahh!” Ava laughed at her words. It’s like she just heard a big joke. If he doesn’t love me, do you think he will go to the length of getting married to you, to save me at all costs? “All those nights you slept alone on your cold bed, did you know who he was with?” Jane knew the answer but she didn't want to accept that fact. “Just shut up already” Jealousy consumed her as she rushed towards Ava who was not far from her. Since she was a little weak, she pushed Ava with little strength. Ava took some steps back as she held the railing on the hospital walkway to maintain her balance. Something struck into her mind as she saw a familiar figure from the corner of her eye. The railing she held earlier was like a hot potato as she removed her hand which made her fall down the stairs with a scream. “Ava!!! Someone screamed her name as she fell”.As Teddy came out of the doctor’s office, he was shocked to see Ava falling off the stairs. He didn’t even think twice before screaming her name and rushing towards her like the wind as he pushed Jane out of the way making her land on her butt due to how weak she is. Who would have thought this unfeeling man had this side to someone who isn’t his wife? Ava has already calculated everything since she wanted to get Teddy back as soon as possible, there is nothing she couldn’t do, even if it’s to sustain some superficial wounds. As Teddy rushed down the stairs to check on Ava’s condition, he saw that her forehead was bleeding profusely. He was so angry that his body was about to convulse. He rushed down the stairs as he wanted to pick her up, but without knowing the extent of her injuries, he didn’t dare to move recklessly. “What are you sitting there for? Call the doctor”. He shouted at Jane who was struggling to stand on her feet. She shivered uncontrollably at his hoarse voice
Teddy, who was carrying a lunch box he had just gotten from the hospital restaurant, walked in. Who knew he would be meeting this heartless woman here? “Bully her you said, I just came to tell her to clear my name. Which eyes of yours see that I’m bullying her? And by the way, she is trying to frame me. I will make sure to get evidence to prove my innocence.” “Who would be so stupid to suffer such a big fall just to frame someone like you up?” Teddy mocked as he glared at her. “Get lost immediately or I will make you regret it”. Teddy angrily shouted at her. No need to chase me out, I will leave. She left the ward with a straight back not looking weak at all. Back to the present, Standing up from the cold floor, Jane picked up the pen that was sitting on the table beside her. Looking at Teddy’s signature on the paper, which doesn’t look like he was reluctant to sign the papers at all, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, as she signed the divorce agreement with tears streami
At the last minute, the man caught one of her hands as her legs dangled in the air. Using all his strength, he tried lifting her. “Why are you saving me, just let me go?” She shouted at the man that just saved her. “Just shut up, and stop struggling”. He said as he used all his strength to drag her falling body off the bridge. After making sure she wouldn’t try anything stupid after her feet touched the ground, he breathed a sigh of relief as he glared at her as if saying why is she so stupid to think committing suicide will solve all her problems? Too weak to say anything, Jane collapsed due to exhaustion. “Hey, the man protected her body from falling on the cold bridge floor. Open your eyes and talk to me”. Not receiving any response, he carried her in a bridal style as he walked hurriedly to his car that was parked on the other side of the bridge. “Boss, what is wrong with her?” His driver, who had been watching his boss who wouldn’t care about anything even if the w
“Jane Lockwood!” Lucy exclaimed, her voice trembling, as she rushed over to the bed she was lying on. Touching her pale face, which was cold to touch, she choked on her sob. “I knew you were still alive, but they didn't believe me.” Dylan's expression turned puzzled seeing his girlfriend's reaction. “You know her?” Lucy nodded, tears streaming down her face. “We were friends since childhood, she disappeared a year ago.” Leonard’s gaze never left Jane. “What happened to her?” He questioned. Lucy's voice cracked. “The last time we talked before she went missing, she was telling me about some arranged marriage she had since childhood. If I’m not mistaken, I think the reason she went missing was to escape the marriage. After getting this information from Lucy. Leonard's expression turned solemn. No one knows what he was thinking. After Lucy composed herself, Dylan continued examining Jane. “We need to get her to New York, she requires specialized care,” Dylan said. “I will ma
Lucy snapped out of her thoughts hearing that. You can test me, I might be a match. She said, stretching her hand forward. Dylan's grip on Lucy tightened. "Are you sure, Lucy?" Leonard's expression turned solemn. "We'll do everything to help Jane recover." Dr. Sophia nodded. "Let's run the tests." The medical team quickly took Lucy's blood samples. Hours passed, and Dr. Sophia returned with a hopeful smile. "Lucy, you're a perfect match. Your blood is compatible with Jane's." Lucy's face crumpled again, this time with relief. As the medical team prepared Lucy for donation, Leonard's thoughts lingered on Jane's arranged marriage partner. "Who was he, and why did she want to escape?" he wondered. Dr. Sophia's voice interrupted his thoughts. "We'll begin surgery immediately after the blood transfusion." Leonard nodded, his gaze never leaving the Icu. The hours ticked by as they all waited for the end of the surgery. Finally, Dr. Sophia came out from the operatin
Leonard sprang to his feet, rushing out of his office. I will be there soon. He hung up immediately not waiting for Lucy’s reply. Thirty minutes later, he was standing in front of the ICU room. He does not know what’s the matter with him. He was not an impulsive person, but since he met her, it’s like he had turned into a different person. “Hey Mr. Banks, you are here.” Dr Sophia’s voice brought him out of his reverie. “Why aren’t you entering already?” She questioned as he faced her. Leonard blinked, snapping back to reality. “Oh sorry, Dr Sophia, I was lost in my thoughts.” Dr Sophia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. I presume it’s about Jane?” Leonard’s cheeks warmed slightly, but he nodded, confirming her suspicions. Dr Sophia’s eyes sparkled seeing the embarrassed Leonard. Who would have thought the ruthless billionaire also has a day when he feels embarrassed? “You care deeply about her, don’t you?” She said while smiling. Leonard was silent, unsure of how to res
After the call with his assistant, Leonard didn’t bother telling Jane and Lucy goodbye before he left the hospital. He took a long stride towards his car in the parking lot. He couldn’t explain the turmoil brewing inside him. His driver, James, had already opened the car door as he saw him approaching. “Where to sir?” James asked Leonard after he slid into the backseat. “To the office,” Leonard replied curtly. As the car pulled out of the hospital parking lot, Leonard's phone buzzed. “Leonard, where are you?” Lucy called after noticing that Leonard had left the hospital. Leonard hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Would he tell her that he left just because he was angry hearing Jane say she loved someone other than him? That sounds crazy. “Something came up at the office. I had to rush back.” He finally said. Is everything okay? Lucy asked with concern. Leonard's gaze drifted out of the window. Everything is fine. Just a document that needed my signature urgently.
“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 on what she shouldn’t do in 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
Singapore. Bank Group Headquarters. 10:00 P.M. At the top floor of one of the tallest skyscrapers in the Marina Bay district in Singapore, Leonard, who was sitting poised behind the expansive mahogany desk in his office, was a picture of refined elegance. His broad back was a testimony to his rigorous workout routine. His slender fingers danced across the keyboard of his sleek, shiny black laptop, the words flowing onto the screen with lightning speed. As he typed, the soft glow of the desk lamp cast a warm, golden light upon his chiseled features, illuminating the sharp planes of his face and the intense focus in his eyes. The city skyline outside, a dazzling tapestry of twinkling lights and towering skyscrapers, seemed to hum with energy, a subtle counterpoint to the quiet intensity of Leonard's work. Finally, with a soft click, Leonard shut down the laptop, his fingers stilled on the keyboard. He leaned back in the plush, black leather armchair, his eyes closing in a mom
Jason's grip on the phone tightened as he anticipated whatever the Banks wanted to say. He just hoped they hadn’t found anything about his daughter’s previous marriage.“Hi Jason, how have you been?” Reginald's cheerful voice echoed in the silent living room from the phone. Jane shifted her butts on the sofa impatiently.“I’ve been good Reginald, thanks for asking.” Jason tried sounding as calm as possible. Reginald's cheerful voice continued, “Great, great! I was calling to discuss the rehearsal dinner for tomorrow. We've finalized the details, and we are using the ‘fruitful palace’ restaurant. I will send the details to you later.”Jason's tense shoulders relaxed slightly as he realized the call wasn't about Jane's previous marriage. He glanced over at Jane, who was watching him with bated breath. He gave her a subtle nod, and her face relaxed, relief written all over it as she sagged back on the sofa.After speaking with Reginald for some minutes, the call comes to an end.Jane’s
“Dad, I’m telling the truth, believe me, Dad. I’m in love with Leonard. I would never call off this wedding.” Jane's hand was placed on her chest trying to make her father see her sincerity.Jason's expression was incredulous. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His daughter, who ran away from home just because of this marriage, was in front of him declaring her love for the same man she escaped. This is unbelievable.Jason shook his head, still trying to process what Jane just said. “Jane, I don’t know what you are playing at right now, but let me tell you, I won’t let you try anything stupid this time around,” Jason said, his voice firm. “You always hated the idea of getting married to Leonard and now? Jason took a step closer to Jane, his footsteps heavy, “what changed Jane, what changed.”The aura emitting from Jason was so strong that Jane took a shaky step back, trying to be as far away from her father as possible. “Dad,” Jane's shaky voice tumbled out. Though she was afrai
Jane smiled weakly, her hand on Desmond's own that was holding hers as she reassured him. “I'll be fine, Des. Don't worry.” She gently pulled her hand out of his grasp, giving her mother a small reassuring smile before following her father to his study.As Jane walked to the study, her heart was heavy with how her confrontation with her father might go. As she entered the study, she saw her father standing by the window, his back facing her. The room was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight peeking through the blinds. The air was thick with the scent of papers and ink, a familiar smell that always brought her back to her childhood memories of playing with her father in this very room. This was the first time she was entering his study after her disappearance. Everything was just as she left it.The study was cozy, revealing its masculine space, with dark furniture and grey interiors, burgundy carpets that muffled her footsteps. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling booksh
Leonard picked up the phone, his brow furrowed at the caller ID. Rachel, his assistant, wouldn't have called him by this time if it wasn't important. Leonard taps on the green answer icon on his phone before placing the phone on his right ear. “Yes, Rachel, is anything the problem?”Jane felt uneasy at the mention of that feminine name. She didn’t know anything about who worked for Leonard, so she didn’t know Rachel was his assistant. She tried covering her unease by playing with the button on Leonard’s white shirt. As Leonard listened to whatever Rachel was saying, his brow furrowed even more. “What do you mean the Heart project has been compromised?” Leonard's voice rose, his words sharp with anxiety. “How did this happen? The team that was handling this project, didn’t they see this coming?” Leonard roared into the phone as his hand which was caressing Jane's hair froze midair. Jane felt a shiver run down her spine. She hadn’t seen Leonard being angry before. It’s like he was dis
“Ahh,” Jane shrieked at the sudden spank on her butt. “Leonard, don't be so shameless.” she hit him on his shoulder as he walked towards her bed.“How did hitting my fiancée butt made me shameless huh?” He nibbled on her right ear as he placed her on the king-size bed. Jane's eyes widened in surprise as Leonard's warm breath tickled her ear. She tried to play it cool, but her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Hmm, her lips parted as a light moan made its way out of her red lips.After Leonard placed Jane on the bed, he stood up looking at her flushed face. Leonard almost loses control of his almost naked body. The silence between them was not awkward at all. Jane shyly gazes at Leonard's naked upper body. This was the first time she saw almost the naked Leonard, though they both slept in the same room every day, they respected each other.Jane's eyes roamed over Leonard's chest, her gaze lingering on the sharp lines of his collarbone. She felt a flutter in her chest as she took in the
“Jane?” Leonard whispered her name as he stared at her reflection through the bathroom mirror. Was she sleepwalking? He didn't think she would be waking up soon after all the drama earlier. The soft glow of the bathroom light illuminated her face. Jane, who was still oblivious that someone was in her bathroom, walked to the toilet seat and lifted her gown to pee.Leonard swiftly turned around, his gaze fixated on the little woman who hadn't realized he was in there with her. Jane lifted her pink nightgown to her navel region, her black panties on display giving Leonard quite a show.Leonard's eyes widened in surprise at her plump backside, he quickly averted his gaze, his face heating up with a mixture of embarrassment and desire. He stood frozen, unsure of what to do next, as Jane continued to prepare for her late-night bathroom visit.Jane, still oblivious to Leonard's presence, lifted the toilet seat and began to take care of her business. The sound of the toilet paper roll spinnin
Ten in the Night.Leonard parked his car quietly in front of the Lockwood main gate. Since it was the wee hours, he decided not to alarm anyone in the mansion. Only the security at the gate who opened the gate for him knew of his arrival. Leonard silently strolled into the Lockwood mansion, his footsteps silent as he walked down the dim hallway. He was impressed by the top-notch security placed around the mansion. If not for his kin sense of security, he would have been caught by one of the security devices installed around the mansion. He sneaked into the main house, walking straight to Jane's room. He wondered which room might be hers. He only knows the floor her room was, and not her exact room location. He had been there just once.He walked down the hallway wondering which of the rooms with numerous doors was hers. The full moonlight that seeps in through the window and the dim light in the hallway guide him on a pale path down the corridors. After a few minutes of walking, he f
“Jason, how dare you slap our daughter like that?” Evelyn rushed forward, standing in front of Jane, shielding her from her father's fury.“Get out of the way.” Jason, whose veins were still bulging at Jane's earlier revelation, warned his wife.“No, I won't. Had you listened to me two years ago and discussed her marriage with her understandably, would all this happen?” Evelyn's words tumbled out of her mouth not minding her husband's fury.There was a slight crease in Jason's eyebrow, but he didn't want to back down from this issue. “If you hadn't spoiled her so much, she wouldn't have made such a big decision without our knowledge. And did I hear you blaming me for forcing her into a marriage?” Evelyn's gaze shifted from her husband at his words.“Have I ever made a wrong decision for her? Who among the women in this country doesn't want Leonard? She is my daughter and I can't push her into something bad for her future.” Jason harshly shoves Evelyn out of his way due to his anger, m