[61]

That morning, the atmosphere at the Sawyer mansion was different. Damian was seen talking to some well-built men who had just arrived in the courtyard. Miya watched from the living room window, sensing something unusual. Kayoko, who was sitting next to her enjoying her morning tea, also glanced out.

“What is Damian doing?” Miya asked quietly, more to herself.

Kayoko turned her head and smiled slightly. “Maybe he just wants to make sure everything is safe. You know how Damian is.”

Miya nodded, but curiosity got the better of her. She decided to wait until Damian came in to ask him directly.

Not long after, Damian appeared in the living room. His face looked tense, but he tried to hide it with a small smile when he saw Miya.

“What's going on, Damian?” she asked directly.

Damian came over and sat next to her. He grasped Miya's hand gently. “Just a precaution. There's nothing for you to worry about.”

Miya looked at him skeptically. “But why the extra security? Does this have anything to do with your family?”

Damian let out a long breath. He didn't want to make Miya anxious, but he couldn't explain everything either. “Trust me, Miya. I'll make sure you and our baby are safe. That's all that matters.”

Kayoko, who was listening to the conversation, tried to break the ice. “Miya, maybe we should think of something else to distract ourselves. How about we go to the back garden? The fresh air might help.”

Miya hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. “Okay.”

Damian smiled with relief. “That's a good idea. I'll catch up with you guys later.”

After Miya and Kayoko left, Hera entered the living room. She looked at Damian with a questioning gaze. “What exactly happened, Damian?”

Damian looked at his mother seriously. “Leonard ran away. I don't know how, but I won't let him get away with it.”

Hera was surprised, but she quickly got a grip on herself. “Are you sure he'll attack again?”

“Leonard never does anything without a reason,” Damian replied. “I need to make sure everything is under control before things get worse.”

Hera nodded slowly. “I'll take care of Miya and Kayoko. They can't know what's really going on.”

Damian nodded. “Thank you, ma'am. I need to go with Marcus to find out more.”

Hera patted Damian's shoulder. “Be careful, son. Don't be too hasty. You need to stay calm.”

Damian simply nodded before stepping outside. In the courtyard, Marcus was waiting for him in the car. “We have to move fast,” Damian said as he got into the car.

Meanwhile, in the back garden, Miya tried to enjoy the fresh air with Kayoko. However, her mind kept returning to what had happened this morning.

“You look worried,” Kayoko commented as she sipped her tea.

Miya sighed. “I just feel like there's something Damian isn't telling me. I know he did it to protect me, but still...”

Kayoko patted Miya's shoulder gently. “Damian is like that. He's always shouldered everything himself. But trust me, he knows what he's doing.”

Hera then joined them, carrying a plate of cookies. “What are you talking about?” she asked, sitting next to Miya.

Miya smiled slightly. “I'm just a little worried, Mrs. Sawyer.”

Hera smiled warmly. “Call me Hera, Miya. And you have nothing to worry about. Damian knows how to protect the people he loves. Our job is to support him and make sure he doesn't lose focus.”

Hera's words made Miya feel calmer. She began to realize that Damian was not alone in facing this problem. He had a family that always supported him.

Elsewhere, Damian and Marcus arrived at a hidden location. They are greeted by some of Damian's men who report what happened while Leonard was held captive. Damian's face grew tense as he heard the details.

“How could he have escaped?” Damian asked in a cold voice.

One of his men answered nervously. “We're still investigating, sir. But there seems to be help from the inside.”

Marcus clenched his fists. “This cannot be allowed. If Leonard returns, he could bring more trouble.”

Damian nodded. “We need to find him before that happens. Increase security at the mansion and check all possible security holes. I don't want any more surprises.”

“Yes, sir,” his men replied in unison.

Damian sighed heavily. He knew this situation was far from over, but he would not let Leonard interfere with his new life with Miya. With growing determination, he returned to the car with Marcus to continue their search.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Miya began to feel calmer thanks to Hera and Kayoko's support. They chat casually in the garden, discussing future plans to welcome the upcoming baby. Although Damian is not by Miya's side at the moment, she knows that her husband is doing his best to protect them.

However, beneath the calm, Leonard's shadow still haunts Damian. He knew that the threat wasn't over, and he had to be ready for whatever was to come.

***

Meanwhile, at Rebecca's residence, the atmosphere was no less tense. The woman sat in her wheelchair, pacing back and forth in her study with a frustrated look on her face. Kate, her personal assistant, stood in the corner of the room, trying to remain calm despite her obvious concern.

“How could I not know what was going on?” growled Rebecca as she stared at her laptop screen. Her trembling hands gripped the sides of the wheelchair.

Kate tried to calm her mistress down. “Madam, perhaps Mr. Damian is busy with business.”

“Business?” Rebecca snorted. “He doesn't even care about me anymore. Hera must have something to do with all this. She always defended me in front of Damian, but now... everything's changed.”

Kate approached cautiously. “What do you want to do, ma'am?”

Rebecca looked at her assistant with sharp eyes. “I want to know what they're hiding from me. Find out whatever you can about Hera and Damian. I don't care how.”

Kate nodded slowly, though she was clearly hesitant. “Yes, Mistress. I will try.”

Later that evening, Rebecca sat alone in the living room. Her mind was full of various scenarios of what might have happened. Her wheelchair parked by the window, her gaze blank. A knock on the door distracted her. One of the servants opened the door, and an unexpected figure appeared.

“Leonard?” Rebecca was surprised to see the man standing in the doorway. His face was full of wounds, and his clothes were in tatters.

“Rebecca,” Leonard said in a hoarse voice. “I need your help.”

Rebecca was silent for a moment, trying to make sense of the situation. “You... how did you get here?”

Leonard stepped inside, though the waiter seemed hesitant to let him. “I had nowhere else to go. Damian... he won't stop until I'm dead.”

Rebecca looked at Leonard with mixed emotions. She pushed her wheelchair closer. “You know, coming here was a brave decision. But maybe... this could be my chance.”

Leonard frowned. “What do you mean?”

Rebecca smiled faintly. “You want me to help you? Fine. But you have to help me too. We can work together to get back what's rightfully ours.”

Leonard nodded slowly. “I have no other choice.”

Rebecca called Kate, who looked terrified at Leonard's condition. “Prepare the guest room and treat his wound,” Rebecca ordered.

Kate swallowed, but she just nodded and quickly did as she was asked. After Leonard was taken away, Rebecca sat back in her wheelchair, smiling with satisfaction.

“Damian, you won't be able to ignore me anymore,” she muttered in a determined tone.

***

Rebecca sat in her study, her gaze fixed on the files on the desk. However, her mind drifted far away, caught up in the tension of the situation she was facing. Leonard, Damian's controversial uncle, was now under her roof. A decision she had taken without thinking, but now felt like a heavy burden.

Kate stood in the corner of the room, looking at Rebecca doubtfully. “Madam, I think this is dangerous,” she said quietly.

Rebecca lifted her face, her gaze sharp. “I know the risks, Kate. But this could also be my chance to prove something.”

“Prove what, Mistress?” asked Kate, approaching cautiously.

“That I'm not just another abandoned wife. I want Damian to see that I've always been on his side, even if he's forgotten it himself.” Rebecca clenched her hands on the back of the wheelchair. “But this step must be careful. Leonard is not someone who can be trusted.”

Kate nodded slowly. “I agree, ma'am. Leonard is a cunning man. But if you can utilize this properly, perhaps Damian will see you in a different light.”

Rebecca paused, processing Kate's words. “I need to think clearly. There's no room for error this time.”

Leonard sat in the dining room, his scarred face looking calmer after the treatment. However, his sly gaze was still evident. Rebecca entered the room in her wheelchair, her eyes keenly watching the man in front of her.

“You look better,” Rebecca said flatly.

Leonard grinned. “You've been very kind to me, Rebecca. I didn't expect to get this kind of welcome.”

“Don't get me wrong,” Rebecca retorted. “I just wanted to make sure you didn't make a mess here.”

Leonard chuckled. “A mess? No, I'm here to help you, Rebecca. We have a common enemy, Damian.”

Rebecca looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”

Leonard leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. “You know that Damian never really loved you. He has another woman now, a young woman who is even pregnant with his child. You know that, don't you?”

Rebecca was silent for a moment, trying to digest Leonard's words. “If you want to make me believe, you have to provide proof. I won't fall for your game again.”

Leonard raised his eyebrows. “You think I'm lying? You know I always have the right information. That woman, Miya, she lives in the Sawyer mansion now. Damian is protecting her at all costs. Do you think it's a coincidence?”

Rebecca clenched her hands on the back of the wheelchair. “I won't just believe it. I learned from the past, Leonard. Your words always have a hidden purpose.”

Leonard narrowed his eyes. “Then find out for yourself. Send someone to confirm what I'm saying. You'll see that I'm not lying.”

Rebecca was silent, her mind whirling. She knew Leonard was a cunning man, but there was something in his tone that made her want to find out the truth.

Kate came in with a cup of tea, placing it on Rebecca's desk. “Madam, what are you planning to do?”

Rebecca looked at her assistant with determined eyes. “I want you to send someone to investigate the Sawyer mansion. Find out if what Leonard said is true.”

Kate looked doubtful. “Are you sure, ma'am? If Mr. Damian finds out...”

“He won't know,” Rebecca cut in. “We're just looking for information. I won't take any further steps without solid evidence.”

Kate nodded slowly. “Yes, ma'am. I'll organize everything.”

Rebecca looked out the window, her mind full of various scenarios. If what Leonard said was true, then Damian had betrayed her in the most painful way. However, if it was a lie, this could be a way to prove her loyalty to Damian.

Leonard sat on the sofa, swirling the drink in his hand. Rebecca walked in, her gaze cold.

“What do you want from me, Leonard?” she asked matter-of-factly.

Leonard looked at Rebecca with a lopsided smile. “I just want us to work together, Rebecca. You know that Damian doesn't deserve everything he has right now. You and I, we can take back what's rightfully ours.”

Rebecca chuckled, sarcastically. “You talk as if I still believe you. But I know better now. You only care about yourself.”

Leonard shrugged. “Believe me or not, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you get what you deserve. You're Damian's wife, Rebecca. You should be by his side, not forgotten.”

Rebecca clenched her fists. “I don't need a lecture from you, Leonard. I'll find my own way.”

Leonard smiled slightly. “That's what I like to hear. But remember, time is not on your side. If you hesitate too long, you might lose everything.”

Rebecca looked at him sharply, but said nothing. In her heart, she knew Leonard wasn't entirely wrong. However, she also knew that she had to be careful. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart.

After Leonard went to his room, Rebecca called Kate. “Make sure you watch his every move. I don't want any more surprises.”

Kate nodded. “I understand, ma'am.”

Rebecca let out a long sigh. She knew that the days ahead would be full of challenges. But for now, she had to stay focused and keep herself from getting caught up in Leonard's game.