EVELYN'S POV:
As I stepped out of the car, I stood for a moment, watching Leonard drive away. A pang pierced my heart. I had chosen to suppress whatever feelings I harbored for him. A tear trickled down my cheek. I watched him turn the car around and drive off. I knew my decisions wouldn't be an easy one.
But I had a task to accomplish and I had to stay undistracted.
Swallowing my emotions, I went inside. After a quick change of clothes, I went downstairs and got a bottle of water from the kitchen. I needed to catch up with Dad. The classes had to start soon, and I needed to update him about Caleb and Dana, though I still felt uncertain. I was reluctant to leave my room, but summoning all my strength, I forced myself to go.
As I stepped out of the house, I took a deep breath and closed the door behind me.
When I reached Dad’s place. I saw him seated on the balcony. Quietly, I made my way upstairs to where he sat. He was engrossed in a small book, barely noticing my presence.
“Morning dad.” I greeted but I got no response.
“Hey, Dad,” I called softly again as I approached him.
He looked up, his expression unreadable, his silence unsettling. Something seemed off.
“Dad, is something wrong?” I asked, concerned laced in my voice.
He motioned for me to sit, and I did. His demeanor hadn’t changed, and his pensive gaze made me uneasy. I was now hungry for whatever the reason was. His silence was building strong tension in me.
“I’ve been thinking about how the poisoning happened,” he began, his voice calm but laced with tension. “I made the coffee you had on your birthday—it was the only food or drink you consumed that morning, before the incident.”
He paused, as if assessing my reaction. I stared back, unsure of where he was going with this. But I was a bit relieved since I have a light clue on the problem.
“I was trying to figure out who could have tampered with the drink,” he continued, searching my face. “When Leonard came, he asked if you had eaten anything the night before, I remembered our dinner with Dana. He suggested we test the food, if there was a remnant.”
Dad’s voice grew more animated as he recounted his actions. “I rushed to the kitchen, praying the maid hadn’t cleaned the dishes yet. Luckily, she had just arrived, but there were no leftovers. I took the dish you used, hoping it would be enough. I called in a lab technician, who assured me it would work. I gave it to him and waited until the result was out.”
He paused again, his eyes narrowing. “The results came back yesterday. The lab tech delivered it immediately when you were out for work. The food you ate that night was poisoned, Evelyn. And the only person who had access to it besides me was Dana.”
The anger and concern in his voice were palpable. A year ago, this revelation would have shocked me. But I was no longer that naive Evelyn. I had already suspected Dana’s capacity for malice and anything else. Still, guilt gnawed at me. How could I have invited her over, knowing what she was capable of? And I’d even planned to meet her later today. Since I hadn't accepted the meeting officially, I made my mind instantly not to see her again.
Dad’s sharp tone broke my thoughts. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” he demanded.
I hesitated before replying, my voice measured. “I’m just surprised, Dad. How could she have done it without being noticed? We were together the entire time.”
A pang of regret struck me. I knew better than to trust Dana, yet I kept giving her opportunities to strike, what was I even thinking. But it passed now and it wasn't completely a waste.
“Evelyn, we need to report this to the police,” Dad said firmly. His tone left no room for debate.
But that felt too simple—too easy for someone like Dana. She deserved far more than mere legal consequences. She deserves hell on this earth and there's no way she's getting punished without her accomplice. There were other matters I needed to address first. I met Dad’s stern gaze and pleaded my case.
“Dad, we don’t have solid proof yet. Let’s give it time. We need something concrete before taking action.”
He wasn’t convinced but eventually relented, though not without a warning. “Be extremely cautious, Evelyn.”
“I will,” I assured him. Then, shifting the conversation, I reminded him, “For the course, we should start next week since the weekend’s almost here. I want to get started soon dad.” I said, my voice filled with genuine optimism.
He nodded in agreement, his mood softening. We talked a while longer, and he seemed more relaxed by the end of it. .” But my own thoughts remained restless. I couldn’t bring up Caleb and Dana now as I have planned__not when things were already tense. I decided to postpone that conversation for another time. But for how long would I keep these away from him, I thought to myself.
He needs to know, but definitely not at the time.
After lunch, I retreated to my room. As I walked back, countless thoughts swirled in my mind, but I pushed them aside. I needed to stay focused.
The sound of my phone ringing jolted me. Rushing to the sitting room, I checked the caller ID. It was Leonard.
As I picked up my phone the call ended, I checked my notifications and I had missed two of his calls.
With not much thought I dropped the phone and made to leave but it buzzed again. I clicked on the answer button.
“Hey,” I greeted briefly, not intending to have a long conversation.
I could hear his breaths from my end, “ Do you still have plans with Dana?” He asked.
LEONARD'S POV:As I drove home, my mind raced with thoughts about what the problem could be. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. She has been acting gloomy since at the house. Another thought crept in—maybe this was an opportunity. I had been trying to suppress the feelings I had for Evelyn, and now seemed like the perfect time to create some distance. I’d help her as much as I could, but I’d stay away. It was for the best. We couldn’t be together, not when she was my nephew’s fiancée.Pulling into the driveway, I entered the house and headed straight to my bedroom. Exhaustion weighed me down—I had been up late working on some files the night before and barely had any sleep. I remembered the meeting with Aaron's uncle, but there was no need for that anymore.Cancelled the meeting over a text to him. I collapsed onto the bed, thoughts swirling in my mind, and eventually drifted off.I woke up to the buzzing of my phone, the noise jolting me awake. "Damn it, I forgot to silence my pho
LEONARDS POV:I could feel my calmness swiftly slipping away, replaced by mounting nervousness. My phone rang, and when I looked at the screen, it was Alex. Without hesitation, I picked up.He had sent me the plate number of the car they drove."Where are you right now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady but failing to mask my curiosity."I tried to follow them, but I lost them," he replied shakily.I cursed under my breath in frustration. Quickly, I opened the image Alex had sent, studying the plate number. Without wasting time I made a call to someone I trusted, someone who could help trace the car.Then, I waited—anxiously—for results.I instructed my personal guard and his three men to stay ready for action at my command. Once that was clear, I left the room, and walked briskly to my garage and drove off to Evelyn's house.Halfway there, I received a call from the tracker. Disappointment hit me like a brick when he informed me he couldn’t trace the car. Frustrated but determ
EVELYN’S POV:After Leonard’s call, I felt restless. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding. Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t shake off anxiety that gnawed at me. Just when I thought I might drift into some semblance of peace, my phone buzzed. Dana’s name appeared across the screen. Reluctantly I answered the call. Her tone on the line was urgent, a desperate edge in her voice.“She was outside at my gateWhy” I asked to myself. But I shrugged my shoulders and decided to check on her.Reluctantly, I left my phone on the bed and stepped outside to meet her.As I walked out different thoughts ran through my mind.“This might be a trap Evelyn.” I warned myself But curiosity got the best of me.Dana stood by a car which was filled with luggage and stuff, tears streaking her face. I hadn't seen her cry before, but this wasn’t just sadness; it was desperation. Her voice broke as she spoke.“Evelyn, I’ve done horrible things to you even what you can't think of,” she began, her s
EVELYN'S POV:I felt a wave of relief wash over me completely when the voice came. I knew Leonard would figure out a way to get me out of this mess. and I was grateful he didn't disappoint. I trusted him implicitly and knew he would do everything to keep me safe. My only concern was that my dad might find out what was going on, and I hoped he wouldn’t worry too much when he did.Leonard’s personal guard loosened the ties that bound me to the chair, and I stood up, feeling a bit stiff from being in the same position for so long. He took my hand, and we walked out of the building together. The structure was eerie, with its numerous rooms and dark passages. As we stepped outside, I was struck by the isolation of the location. The building was situated on the outskirts of town, surrounded by dense bushes. How did Caleb and Dana know of a place like this?Then I remembered what Aaron had said about their drug deals.These people were far more dangerous than I had thought.Two men were wait
EVELYN'S POVI lay naked on the bed, facing away from Leonard. My head was buried in the pillow as he slowly rubbed my back, moving his hands from my neck to my legs. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I tried to suppress the sensations building inside me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer, but I tried anyway.Carefully, Leonard applied oil to his hands and began massaging every part of my body. I gasped softly when his fingers brushed my thigh, a spark of electricity shooting through me. When he finished massaging my back, he gently flipped me over so I could face him. My breaths quickened as I felt his hot breath just inches from my skin.He leaned closer, and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, then resumed massaging me. Leaving me wanting more. Like a professional, he seemed to ignore the tension and feelings I was experiencing. When he finally finished, he returned the massage oil. My nerves were calmer now, and my body felt refreshed. Leonard came back to
EVELYN’S POV:The sunlight cast a golden glow on my body through the curtains, entering directly into my eyes and forcing them open. I squinted against the brightness, disoriented. It was morning already, though the night had felt far too short.As usual, Leonard wasn’t in bed. I turned toward the door, half-expecting him to walk in with my morning coffee, as he often did. Ten minutes passed, and still, he didn’t show up.A wave of anger washed over me. Why would he just leave without letting me know? Tears stung at the corners of my eyes. I needed him around—his presence was my comfort. Had he left because I was on my period? The thought alone made me furious. If that was his reason, it was rude and lame. And I vowed to not speak to him again.But then I remembered how sweet he’d been the previous night. Could something have happened? My anger began to fade into worry, my mind swirling with a hundred possibilities.I snapped my fingers, trying to shake off the negative thoughts. “Wha
EVELYN’S POV:The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I rushed upstairs, quietly tiptoeing as I neared Leonard’s room. I didn’t know why, but my curiosity burned—what was Leonard up to?As I approached, I caught snippets of his conversation through the slightly open door.“Listen, Mr. Watt,” Leonard’s voice was calm and firm, “by next week, everything will be sorted out. You’ll have your meeting with her. I promise you won’t regret this. Evelyn’s sharp, and you’ll gain so much from collaborating with the company. You just need to give us a bit more time. I know there’ve been delays, but trust me—right now, she’s not fit for an official meeting.”It hit me like a wave. Leonard had been managing my schedule, helping me when I couldn’t help myself. Mr. Watt should’ve been furious over these constant delays, but he wasn’t—because of Leonard. He’d been standing in the gap for me, silently ensuring things didn’t fall apart. But, I wondered if this was the reason behind Leonard's react
EVELYN'S POVI couldn't help but catch Leonard's glances every now and then. He could barely take his eyes off me, and I felt my cheeks warm with shyness as a blush crept over my face."Why are you staring like that?" I asked, still shy.Leonard looked at me with a deep sigh. "Right now, I feel like I'm getting a tan, 'cause girl, you're damn scorching.""Oh, right, but stop giving me those eyes," I chuckled at my last words. "I mean, you don't want to ruin my period do you?”"Wait, what eyes?" Leonard asked, leaning closer so I could see his eyes more clearly.I gasped. It felt like there was magic in his gaze. Leonard was a ten out of ten, and the more I looked at him, the more my heart fluttered. I was falling for him deeply. I looked away immediately, not wanting to be caught staring—or worse, drooling."I see. She gets a little shy," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "You can't really handle me, huh?"My whole face turned red, and I couldn’t meet his gaze anymore.He reache
EVELYN'S POV:Just when I thought I was finally catching a break from all the chaos, my heart pounded uncontrollably as I deciphered who had sent the message. I cursed under my breath in frustration. I hadn’t even finished dealing with Caleb and Dana, and now this? "Get ready for the battle you just began!" the text read.I stared at the screen in disbelief. Why was everything happening now? Hadn’t I already been through enough? Yet, as much as I wanted to break down, I knew I couldn’t afford to. Leonard had warned me before: staying strong was my only option. And I will abide by just that.Sliding my phone into my pocket, I headed to my room to gather my thoughts. I tried to act normal—at least on the surface—but my body betrayed me. My father noticed immediately that something was off when I got back. His concerned gaze lingered as I handed him the documents he had requested earlier.“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice tinged with hesitation.I nodded quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I re
EVELYN'S POV:When I arrived at his place, he was sitting on the balcony, his shoulders slumped, staring out at the horizon. It wasn’t like him. I made my way inside and climbed the stairs, feeling a heaviness in the air. Something wasn’t right. And feared for the worst, but still couldn't say what could be wrong.“Hey, Dad,” I greeted as I stepped onto the balcony, forcing a smile. He turned to look at me, but his response was muted, his tone flat. My heart skipped a beat.As I walked closer, I noticed the small picture of my mom clutched in his hand. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and it broke my heart to see him like this. “Hey, Dad,” I said softly, kneeling beside him. “I know you miss Mom. I miss her too, more than words can say. But you’ve got to take it easy on yourself. This—this won’t help you, Dad. You know Mom would want you to be happy. She’d want you to find joy, even in her absence. You still have me. Don’t you think I’m filling even a tiny bit of the space she le
EVELYN'S POV:Like the morning sun breaking through the horizon, his voice illuminated my day. He complimented me with a warmth that sent a blush creeping across my face. Though I tried to hide it, it was impossible. Leonard had a way of seeing right through me. “You look cute that way.” He said as he noticed the blush, and tucked me.I laughed as I reacted to it.“Sit,” I said, motioning toward the bed. I brought the breakfast tray up and placed it between us. We ate together, but the meal was brief; the clock reminded us both of the looming workday ahead.Once we finished, I gathered the dishes and headed to the kitchen. When I returned to the room, Leonard was already waiting for a bath. We stepped into the bathroom together, savoring a quiet, intimate moment before the rush of the day overtook us.Afterwards, we dressed and got ready to leave. My phone buzzed just as I reached for my bag. It was my secretary. She reminded me not to forget the files I had taken home to work on. “
EVELYN’S POV:He paused, his gaze piercing mine as though he was waiting for permission to speak. His intensity was palpable, but I said nothing. I just stood there, staring at him, my emotions swirling in a confusing storm of anger, hurt, and vulnerability.Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me, and I barely made it to the bathroom in time before throwing up. My stomach churned violently, and tears streamed down my face as my body heaved. Leonard appeared moments later, crouching by my side. He helped me clean up without saying a word, his hands steady and comforting.“I’ll be fine,” I murmured, my voice hoarse. “Just… excuse me for a moment. I need to take a bath.”He nodded and left the bathroom, giving me the privacy I needed. The cold water from the shower was both soothing and shocking, washing away some of the emotional turmoil, if only temporarily. I took my time, letting the water cleanse me physically and emotionally.When I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, I not
EVELYN’S POV:My heart was racing as I scrolled through the images and the accompanying write-ups, each headline more shocking than the last. I leaned back in my chair, overwhelmed by a storm of emotions. Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to process everything. All I ever wanted was peace—peace I thought I had finally found with Leonard. But now, that fragile trust I was building had been shattered. How could he do this to me?I pushed myself up from the chair and trudged back to the bedroom, collapsing onto the bed. I lay there, trying to make sense of it all, but my mind had reached its limit. No clear thoughts emerged; only a chaotic swirl of hurt and frustration. I tried to sleep, hoping it would bring me some relief, but the turmoil inside me wouldn’t let me let sleep intervene.Frustrated, I got up and began pacing the room. My anger bubbled over, and I grabbed nearby items, smashing them against the walls. The destruction brought no solace, just more emptiness. Desperat
EVELYN’S POV:We walked out of the restaurant, the crowd still waiting outside. I tried to hide my tear-streaked face as we passed through them. When we reached the car, Leonard opened the door for me. I entered, and he followed. And he ordered the driver to move the car.The only sound in the car was the soft hum of the engine and my quiet sobs. How could I have known that Leonard was only taking me for a ride and would eventually break my heart? Caleb was right all along. I remembered his warning, how he’d told me to be careful. Even though we were not cool, I regretted not listening to him.Tears continued to flow as helplessness overwhelmed me."Evelyn, this isn’t what you think. Please let me explain," Leonard pleaded, his voice calm yet desperate.His words only fueled my anger. "Please, Leonard, take me home and spare me the lies. You never even asked me out officially! I only assumed things. How foolish could I have been?" I said, my voice trembling through my tears."Evelyn,
EVELYN'S POVI couldn't help but catch Leonard's glances every now and then. He could barely take his eyes off me, and I felt my cheeks warm with shyness as a blush crept over my face."Why are you staring like that?" I asked, still shy.Leonard looked at me with a deep sigh. "Right now, I feel like I'm getting a tan, 'cause girl, you're damn scorching.""Oh, right, but stop giving me those eyes," I chuckled at my last words. "I mean, you don't want to ruin my period do you?”"Wait, what eyes?" Leonard asked, leaning closer so I could see his eyes more clearly.I gasped. It felt like there was magic in his gaze. Leonard was a ten out of ten, and the more I looked at him, the more my heart fluttered. I was falling for him deeply. I looked away immediately, not wanting to be caught staring—or worse, drooling."I see. She gets a little shy," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "You can't really handle me, huh?"My whole face turned red, and I couldn’t meet his gaze anymore.He reache
EVELYN’S POV:The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I rushed upstairs, quietly tiptoeing as I neared Leonard’s room. I didn’t know why, but my curiosity burned—what was Leonard up to?As I approached, I caught snippets of his conversation through the slightly open door.“Listen, Mr. Watt,” Leonard’s voice was calm and firm, “by next week, everything will be sorted out. You’ll have your meeting with her. I promise you won’t regret this. Evelyn’s sharp, and you’ll gain so much from collaborating with the company. You just need to give us a bit more time. I know there’ve been delays, but trust me—right now, she’s not fit for an official meeting.”It hit me like a wave. Leonard had been managing my schedule, helping me when I couldn’t help myself. Mr. Watt should’ve been furious over these constant delays, but he wasn’t—because of Leonard. He’d been standing in the gap for me, silently ensuring things didn’t fall apart. But, I wondered if this was the reason behind Leonard's react
EVELYN’S POV:The sunlight cast a golden glow on my body through the curtains, entering directly into my eyes and forcing them open. I squinted against the brightness, disoriented. It was morning already, though the night had felt far too short.As usual, Leonard wasn’t in bed. I turned toward the door, half-expecting him to walk in with my morning coffee, as he often did. Ten minutes passed, and still, he didn’t show up.A wave of anger washed over me. Why would he just leave without letting me know? Tears stung at the corners of my eyes. I needed him around—his presence was my comfort. Had he left because I was on my period? The thought alone made me furious. If that was his reason, it was rude and lame. And I vowed to not speak to him again.But then I remembered how sweet he’d been the previous night. Could something have happened? My anger began to fade into worry, my mind swirling with a hundred possibilities.I snapped my fingers, trying to shake off the negative thoughts. “Wha