The room fell into an unsettling stillness. Leo stood silently, his entire presence radiating a grim, icy demeanor. In a soft, mournful tone, Sophia spoke, “I never asked for much in this relationship. I’ve always known that you may never love me, and I accepted that. All I wanted was to stay by your side. Why take even that from me?” “I have no one left—no family, no lover. If you take away this last bit of hope, then yes, you are cruel. Truly cruel.” Leo's clenched fist gradually loosened. After a moment, he spoke through gritted teeth, “Sophia, this won’t bring you happiness.” “You’re not me, how could you know what makes me happy?” Sophia’s voice was heavy with sorrow. “Some people need to be loved to be happy. But for me, being close to the one I love, quietly watching over them, is enough.” Leo frowned. He had never realized this was how she felt. After a brief hesitation, he finally let go of her hand. Turning to face her, his voice became deep and firm. “The engagem
Mark was caught off guard, surprise flickering across his face. Amelia exhaled deeply. “I’m sorry. I was thinking that if Queens School was really like this, maybe I should transfer my kids. But I found out last night the principal was dismissed, so... I’m sorry for wasting your time.” Mark felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him. He hesitated, then asked, “Did Mr Reynold have anything to do with that?” Amelia paused, momentarily stunned. She thought back to what Leo had said the night before. His vague actions were like sparks dancing in her chest, stirring a quiet unease. She couldn’t quite grasp what he was thinking or why he did what he did. Despite trying to shake it off, her mind wouldn’t settle. Looking at Mark, she gave a slight nod. “Yes, it was him.” Since Leo had acted, there was no reason to hide the truth from Mark. She hadn’t wanted to get too close to him anyway. If this made him step back, all the better. As expected, a flicker of sadness c
Sophia bit her lip and remained silent. William sneered, “You claim to care for him, yet you’re willing to offer yourself to me without a second thought, disregarding the dirt and humiliation?” Sophia’s body quivered slightly, but she still did not speak. The sarcasm in William’s gaze intensified. Just as Sophia thought he might refuse, someone suddenly grabbed her and pressed her against the wall. One hour later. Sophia left the restaurant and got into her car, clutching the plan William had provided with a cold smile. She had chosen well. William’s background was shrouded in mystery—no one knew his origins or biological parents. Yet, his intelligence was well-known, often matching or even surpassing Leo’s. Whenever Sophia faced difficulties, William had always come through with impeccable solutions. Her success was largely due to him, so seeking his help without hesitation felt right. Despite the price she paid, Sophia believed it was worth it, given the strategic plan
At this moment, Amelia had no idea that the Reynold Group was planning something significant that involved her. Amelia headed to the airport today to meet Aunt Elsa, who had finally regained enough strength to return after spending time abroad. Originally, Aunt Elsa had planned to travel back with the children, but her fragile health back then had prompted the doctor to recommend delaying the trip. However, just a few days ago, the doctor told Amelia that Aunt Elsa’s condition had significantly improved, and she could now safely fly. Acting quickly, Amelia arranged everything, booking the flight and working with the doctor to ensure Aunt Elsa’s journey went smoothly. Aunt Elsa’s flight was scheduled to land around six in the evening. Amelia and the kids stood at the arrivals area, scanning the sea of travelers for what felt like ages until they finally spotted her approaching. “Aunt Elsa, you're finally back!” Amelia exclaimed. “Aunt Elsa, we missed you so much!” the kids ch
Sophia entered a private room with a man, arm in arm. Though they were facing away, Amelia felt certain it was Sophia. Why was she with another man? Didn’t she claim to be in love with Leo? Amelia was confused but decided it wasn't her concern. She didn’t investigate further and left to join her family, who were waiting for her. After returning home, Aunt Elsa stayed overnight before Amelia took her to the hospital the following day. Given Aunt Elsa’s condition, long-term hospital care was needed. Amelia had no choice but to leave her in the hospital and visit her each evening after work. Once everything was settled, she returned to her duties at the company. Upon arriving at work, she was greeted with an unexpected news: The CEO of Reynolds Group had officially announced plans to acquire One Closet. Amelia's expression changed upon hearing this, and she immediately called Leo. He answered after two rings. Amelia wasted no time, asking, "What’s going on?" Leo raised hi
The report revealed that the employee who tragically passed at Wilson’s Group did not take his life due to love but because of overwhelming personal and work-related pressures. The release of this report sparked an immediate media frenzy, with numerous outlets flocking to interview the deceased's family. In front of the cameras, the family openly wept, sharing their grievances about the deceased’s struggles, heavy work burdens, and how the boss treated employees harshly, pushing them beyond their limits. To further validate their claims, the family presented the employee's exhaustive work schedule, packed from dawn till dusk, even on weekends. This revelation ignited widespread public outrage. A flood of online criticisms ensued, with many netizens tagging One Closet's official site, demanding answers. Many customers who had purchased clothing from One Closet swiftly hit the return button, stating they no longer wished to support a seemingly heartless platform. Some indivi
"Are you the heartless boss who killed my grandson?” Mrs. Johnson didn’t hesitate and slapped Amelia hard across the face. Amelia's face was turned to the side, and a burning pain spread across her cheek. The scene fell silent. Everyone looked at her in surprise. Amelia licked her cheek with her tongue and then chuckled, seemingly in a self-deprecating manner. She lifted her head and looked directly at Mrs. Johnson. “Now that you have hit me, are you feeling better?” “Feeling better?” Mrs. Johnson thought that Amelia would be angry after being slapped. After all, wealthy and powerful bosses like her cared about their reputation, right? So she was a little scared when she first slapped Amelia. But when she saw that Amelia not only wasn’t angry but also spoke to her so kindly, her courage grew. Mrs. Johnson angrily said, “You killed my grandson, and now you've only been slapped once. You’re asking me if I feel better. Let me tell you, even if you die, you can’t bring my grands
"What is all this about? Did David actually say that himself?" Amelia's brows furrowed. "Could you please tell me exactly what he said?" John grew visibly impatient. "What else could he say? His job was tough, the pay wasn't great, and his boss kept piling pressure on him. All of that is true, right? You can’t deny it, even if you wanted to.” Amelia sneered. “If I remember correctly, didn’t you provide the media with a list of David’s work duties?” John’s eyes shifted uneasily as he nodded. “Yeah, so what? Are you saying your company keeps all of that hidden?” Shaking her head, Amelia responded, “I’m not sure where you got that list from, but I can assure you it has nothing to do with David’s actual responsibilities." “This situation is either a misunderstanding or a deliberate attempt to defame our company. If it’s the former, we can resolve it quickly." "But if it’s the latter, Mr. Johnson, do you understand how serious it is to falsely accuse an internationally listed
Leo claimed her mouth in a kiss that was rough and filled with longing, devouring her like a hungry wolf that had been starved for days. Amelia matched his intensity, intertwining her fingers in his hair while moaning between the kisses. His hands moved up her body, exploring every inch as if he had been waiting for this moment forever and had finally gotten the opportunity. She gasped when his fingers brushed her nipple, which was already hard and longing to be licked and devoured by his mouth. She could feel the hardness of his desire pressing against her, only intensifying her own need. “You drive me crazy Amelia Smith,” he murmured against her lips. “I miss you and I don’t want to hold back tonight. I want every part of you baby girl.” “Then don’t hold back,” she quickly replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m all yours, claim me, Daddy.” Her words made his hormones rise even further. Without breaking the kiss, he hurriedly lifted her and carried her t
The next day, the news spread online that Sophia committed suicide by hanging herself in prison. It felt strange and heavy but for Amelia, it meant a bitter-sweet relief. She woke up with a slight headache, the sunlight streaming through the curtains. Last night memories flooded through her mind—Leo's warm embrace, his apology and reassurance, the soft kiss that stirred long-hidden feelings. Her cheeks warmed and the color turned a shade of pink. She reached out for Leo who was already awake, sitting against the headboard with a look of concern etched on his face. “Morning, beautiful,” he said softly, studying her face for any signs of distress. “Morning,” Amelia replied, blushing and rubbing her temples. “What happened last night? I remember bits and pieces.” That was a lie, she remembered every single detail but just wanted to play innocent. Leo smiled gently. “You had a little too much fun celebrating your aunt's recovery. But it was a good night for us.” Ame
A month later, Aunt Elsa’s condition had stabilized. The surgical wound had nearly healed, and all that was left was some aftercare. Once home, she could take her medication and recuperate slowly without needing further hospitalization. Early that morning, Amelia went to the hospital to handle Aunt Elsa’s discharge procedures. In the hospital room, Aunt Elsa was sitting on the bed, watching TV. Seeing Amelia come in, Aunt Elsa smiled and said, “You’re just in time. Come and see this.” She pointed to the TV. Curious, Amelia looked over and saw the news playing. A familiar face appeared on the screen, and the host’s flat, detached voice filled the room. “Recently, the sensational murder case has concluded. The primary culprit, Sophia Jones, has been found guilty of her crime." "Due to the severity and serial nature of the case, she has been sentenced to life imprisonment.” Amelia blinked rapidly, her thoughts swirling as she tried to process the news. Life imprisonm
That night, Aunt Elsa woke up. Blake checked on her and found her condition better than he had expected. Perhaps Amelia’s persistence had truly moved the heavens, as the cancer cells had cleared, and even the memory loss Blake had anticipated wasn’t present. It all seemed too good to be true. When Amelia heard the news, she was naturally overjoyed. Leo also heard about Elsa’s successful surgery. He didn’t say much, but that night, he quietly ordered the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes, silently celebrating Elsa’s recovery. Amelia had agreed to marry Leo to secure Blake’s help for Aunt Elsa. Now that Aunt Elsa was nearly healed, Amelia realized her relationship with Leo was a temporary fix. She knew she had to find a way to completely cut ties with him. That night, Amelia decided to cook a few dishes herself. To prevent anyone from interrupting her plan, she sent the children out with Eleven for the night. Then, she dismissed the household staff Leo had hired for th
As Inspector Ralph led Sophia to the police station, her heart raced with a mix of fear and disbelief.Soon, they arrived, and one of the officers led her into the interrogation room and gestured towards a chair, "Miss Jones, please take a seat. Inspector Ralph will be here shortly."With that he left, leaving her all alone in the room. The cold, bare room did nothing to calm her racing heart it only made her heart beat faster with each passing second.The walls were painted a dull gray, and the only light was a flickering fluorescent bulb that buzzed overhead. The smell of cleaning products filled the air, making her even more anxious.She never imagined that one day she would end up in this kind of situation. She stood up to reduce the pacing of her heart and her trembling fingers.Soon, the door opened and Inspector Ralph walked in. Sophia sat down, trying to stay calm and composed. "What kind of nightmare is this?" She thought. "Can I wake up already?" She pinched herself and
She said in a calm voice, “You didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t need your apology.” Once, those words had been what she wanted most, but now they meant nothing to her. The bitterness of the past clung to her like a heavy fog. She’d never considered forgiving him, so how could she accept it? After Amelia finished speaking, Leo felt a tightening in his chest. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration coursing through him as he processed the weight of her words. “Don’t say that. We were all kept in the dark before. Now that the truth is out, you know I didn’t do those things on purpose, right?” he said quickly, his voice rising slightly. Amelia sneered. “Yes, you didn’t do it on purpose, but can the pain I suffered over the years be forgotten? Leo, you didn’t personally send someone to kill us, but back then, you did divorce me because of Sophia, didn’t you?” “I can’t hate you, but I can never forgive you. We can’t pretend those years never happened. Neither you nor I c
The sentence made both Amelia and Leo furrow their brows. They exchanged curious glances, wondering what could prompt Black Cobra to say such a thing. Leo’s gaze hardened as he made a decision. “Pardon the living, punish the dead.” With those words, he signaled his agreement to Black Cobra’s condition. Black Cobra breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had a chance to keep living to protect his family. He knew his death would endanger their lives, and he couldn’t risk it. He then revealed the secret he’d been hiding. “The accident that led to your best friend Damien's death had nothing to do with Amelia. She wasn't the one responsible." The revelation left them both stunned. Relief washed over Amelia. Damien’s death had nothing to do with her; while surprising, Black Cobra’s words intrigued her even more. Still, she was curious to know who had caused the accident that led to Damien's death and why they’d framed her. With questions swirling in her mind, she looked at
After getting out of the car, James opened the door, and they walked into the building. As soon as they entered, Amelia’s first impression was the smell of blood. The lights turned on, revealing a man lying on the marble floor of the living room, covered in blood. His hair clung together with sweat and blood, and both of his hands hung limply, possibly broken. His legs twisted in an unnatural position, making him look grotesque. Amelia felt as if she had seen him from somewhere. Leo gestured to James, who stepped forward and brushed away the hair covering the man’s face, revealing the person who had kidnapped her before. “How did he end up here?” Amelia asked in disbelief. Leo glanced at her. “What do you think?” It suddenly dawned on Amelia that Leo’s promise of a show tonight referred to this. Her eyes turned cold. She wasn’t a saint and wouldn’t sympathize with someone who had tried to harm her. “Who sent you to kidnap me?” she asked, her voice icy. Black Cobra had
On the ground, lay a mobile phone from which Sophia's voice echoed. “Have you taken action? This is your last chance Cobra, I won’t allow any more mistakes,” Sophia said sharply. Black Cobra replied coldly, “Don’t worry. This time, either she dies or I perish.” After several failures, Black Cobra’s patience had worn completely thin. Combined with Sophia’s relentless pursuit and threats, he felt trapped with no way out. He knew that failure was not an option this time, the future of his family hung in the balance, and the pressure weighed heavily on him. After speaking, Black Cobra picked up the sniper rifle. He believed that as long as Amelia dared to come out, he could kill her. Even if he was caught afterward, he would not regret it. Sophia listened to the commotion on the other end and breathed a sigh of relief before hanging up the phone. Meanwhile, at Wilson’s Domestic Group, Amelia was about to leave the office when her assistant informed her of Leo’s presence in t