Four hours later,
Leah pulled over her car in a twenty-story apartment building. Claire and Luke had arranged everything for her, she felt very helped even though she had to spend a considerable amount of money, but everything was quite valuable because she could finally get away from Jerome.
Leah nodded politely at a security guard, after which she dragged her tired feet towards the 20th floor, where her apartment unit was located. The apartment looked simple but quite comfortable. From the entrance, Leah was greeted by a set of grey sofas with a 42-inch TV that elegantly arranged on a shelf that all looked matching between one and another. A few steps away, there was a partition separating the lounge room and a kitchenette with a table and two stools. Shifted slightly to the right, Leah found a very comfortable bedroom with a medium-sized bed covered with bed linen and an all-white blanket. N"Do you want to have dinner with me?" Leah said hesitantly. Adrian looked at Leah in surprise, "Are you serious?"Leah nodded several times, she was quite confused as to why she asked Adrian to have dinner with her.Adrian could not help but smile, making two dimples appear on his face. Then he walked following Leah, who had already walked in front of him."Shall we go grocery shopping? I'll cook delicious food for you!" Adrian tried to keep up with Leah's steps. He couldn't hide his enthusiasm.Leah shook her head, "Nope, I've filled my refrigerator with a lot of groceries,""I'm trying as best as I can to not to appear in the public area, Jerome can be anywhere, I don't want him to catch me again, so I've bought everything I need for the next month, like a person ready for war," Leah babbled half-jokingly.Adrian looked at Leah with a pitying look. How could Jerome do all these terrible things to the woman he loved?"Leah," Ad
"Did you really forget your way home! Leah, you really took him away from me!" shouted the woman in the light yellow dress, her hands still hugging Adrian from behind.Leah looked at Adrian and the woman awkwardly, Adrian who understood the situation, hurriedly let go of the woman in the light yellow dress. "Leah, you must have forgotten, this is my little sister, Mia," said Adrian, ruffling Mia's hair softly.Mia and her parents looked at each other, they did not understand the direction of Adrian's words. Leah sighed, "Umm, I had a fatal accident that made me lose part of my memory. I can't remember anything after 2016," Leah ventured to explain herself about her condition.She lowered her head, she knew how they would react now. They would surely stare at Leah with pity, and Leah didn't like that kind of look."Leah, I'm sorry, I'm kidding a little too much, huh?" Mia touched Leah's hand softly after Vivian released her hug to Leah. Leah smiled
Leah did not answer, nor did she refuse, she just looked into Adrian's eyes in silence. Adrian lowered his face, even more, his nose almost touched Leah's, just when his lips touched Leah's half-opened lips, suddenly, "Adrian! Are you sleeping? Can we talk for a moment?" Vivian's voice came from behind the door.Leah jumped and released herself from Adrian's hand reflexively. She turned around and cleared her throat softly, trying to shake off the awkward atmosphere that filled the air around them."Yes, Mom! I'm coming!" Adrian walked toward the door without daring to look at Leah, her cheeks flushed red. They were truly like two strangers who had never dated before.After Adrian disappeared behind the door, Leah let out a sigh of relief. She covered her face wit
"How was your meeting? Is there any important thing about Jerome?" Leah asked, turned her head to look at Adrian who was busy with his steering wheel.Adrian nodded, "According to my source, Jerome probably keeps all important data about his fictional company in the Picasso gallery, it's the safest place because no one would suspect an art gallery."Leah bit her lip, thinking. "How about we take a look inside the gallery, maybe we can find out where they saved the file?" Leah suggested which in an instant made Adrian scowl in surprise."Leah, you are the one Jerome is looking for the most right now, how could you possibly enter into the enemy's lair? Everyone will easily recognize you!" without realizing it, Adrian barked at Leah because he was too worried."Nobody will recognize me if I change my appearance," muttered Leah still not giving up. She was already thinking about what she would look like, many ideas flashed through Leah's head.
"Where are we?" asked Leah when she had just opened her eyes after sleeping almost four hours in the car, she turned to look at Adrian with her eyes half-closed. Adrian smiled at Leah who looked still sleepy, "West Virginia," Adrian answered as he kept driving.Leah straightened up, looking around her, the expanse of mountain scenery spoiling her eyes. "Are we going to stay here?" Leah muttered, her hand pressed the button to open the car window.Adrian nodded, "You said it was up to me, so I chose this city, you don't mind right?" Adrian's face looked a little worried. "Absolutely not, anywhere is the same for me," said Leah casually, she didn't care where she lived, because wherever she was she still had to hide from Jerome.Adrian's car turned into a narrow road with trees filling the right and left of it, Leah didn't protest, she just stared at the scene with a much better feeling than before. Being away from the noise of big city life was enough to
Adrian's hands began to move to touch Leah's breasts, he couldn't hold himself back anymore. Leah closed her eyes, enjoying every touch of Adrian's hand on her skin. When Adrian's lips began to fall and kiss her breast, suddenly the memory of the sexual assault that Jerome had done to her appeared and ruined everything. Leah pushed Adrian away, then covered her face with her hands."What's happening Leah? Is there something wrong?" asked Adrian, stunned. Leah shook her head without letting go of the hands that covering her face.Adrian approached and stroked Leah's hair gently. "Leah, tell me, what's the matter? Why do you look so scared? Did I hurt you?" Adrian's voice sounded really worried.Leah opened her hands, then looked up at Adrian with a face that was wet with tears. "This isn't about you Ad, it's about him..." Leah replied in a choked voice. Suddenly the image of Jerome beating her and harassing her appeared in her mind, made Leah feel like t
“Have we ever been to this place before?” Leah asked, gripping Adrian's hand tightly. Adrian nodded with a hopeful glare on his face, "We always spend time in this cabin at least once every month, can you remember anything?" Adrian couldn't hide his happiness. Leah bit her lip, her eyes looked at Adrian with tears in them, “I remember we are sitting here like this, doing the same thing like what we do right now, oh my dear God…” Leah touched Adrian's face, tears started to fall down on her cheeks. "Our memories are real..." Leah whispered still not believing what she was feeling. Adrian touched Leah's hand that was on her face, "Welcome back baby..." Adrian said with a broad smile. "Thank you for making our beautiful memories the first thing you remember, I don't care if after this you can't remember anything else, for
"We almost had a child," Adrian said almost inaudibly. Leah's body was shaking violently, she looked at Adrian in disbelief, but deep inside her heart, she knew, Adrian was telling the truth."What happened?" whispered Leah still confused. Adrian got up from his seat, "Get dressed, I'll be waiting outside," said Adrian, who quite understood that Leah didn't feel comfortable with her naked body wrapped only by a blanket.After Adrian came out, Leah rushed out of bed and put on clothes then she followed Adrian out. She looked around but Adrian wasn't anywhere. "I'm outside!" shouted Adrian from the courtyard.Leah walked briskly toward the yard and found Adrian preparing a canoe by the river for them to board. "Come on! We'll go around in a canoe!" Adria
Right before her eyes, Suzy, Luke, Donna, Mandy, Henry, Esmee, Vivian, Charlie, Mia, Granny, Kate, and even all the people from the publishing company came to surprised her."Oh my God, you guys are the best!" whispered Leah, teary."Owwww, come here!" Vivian moved forward to hug her. She turned her gaze to Adrian who grinned widely to see her wife cried happily.*****"So he won?!" yelled Mia when Leah told her the story about that rock, paper, scissors game that she and Adrian played at the Dr. Philips clinic. Leah nodded, "Yeah, so, I have to wait till the delivery to know the gender," said Leah lightly. Mia chuckled.Suddenly their gaze bumped into Suzy and Luke who were looked very romantic, Leah felt bad for Mia, but she knew Luke would never like Mia. Luke hated rich people."How do you feel about that guy right there?" asked Leah, moved her chin to where Luke was standing. Mia snorted, "At first I'm in pain, but now
Loud applause greeted Leah as she walked into the studio. She sat across the host in her beautiful black dress. She felt a little bit nervous, but she could handle the situation.The host lifted her hand, made the audience silent. "Leah Parker, first, I would like to thank you personally because you dare to write your story to the world through your novel, I read it by the way, and it's just very mind-blowing!" said the host which was a beautiful middle-aged woman named Katherine. Leah smiled, she put her hand on her chest and mumbled, "Thank you, Kate," in a whisper."So as we know this book is a novel which written base on a true story of the author herself, my question is, how do you manage to stay alive after all those horrible things your ex-husband did to you? I mean, even before this novel launched everyone in the U.S. might already hear the news about your experience, we know how miserable your life was..." asked the host, Leah could hear empa
"Leah, I'll explain everything..."Suddenly, Adrian took Leah's wrist and bring her to their bedroom. As the door shut, the sounds of people talking and laughing were gone. Leah took her hand off Adrian and moved quickly to the giant glass that the curtain was wide open. She could see the hustle and bustle of Manhattan below her."What do you want to know?" asked Adrian, somehow Leah could hear the fatigue in his tone that made her offended. She turned her body, "You make it sounds like I'm the one who brought the problem here!"Adrian rubbed his face, he exhaled violently, "Leah, come on! Please, don't make it difficult for me, the only reason I hid that fact was that I don't want you to be reacting this way! You'll be too sensitive and jealous without a reason," he said. Leah snorted, "So now it's officially my fault? Perfect! I know exactly that the past is past! But I demanded your honesty! Talking about jealousy, even you acted that way every time you saw
"I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding, Leah you're currently married, you have to face all problems more wisely," said Suzy softly. Leah sighed, "Yeah you're right, I don't know lately I've been very sensitive, maybe because of my pregnancy hormones," said Leah, staring at her cellphone which was filled with calls from Adrian."You have to answer Adrian's call, he must be really worried about you," Suzy moved her chin towards Leah's cellphone which was still vibrating. Leah bit her lip, Suzy was right she is a wife, she should be more mature."I'll take this," Leah got up from the sofa, walking towards the tiny balcony that Suzy had beautifully arranged."Leah? Where are you? Are you okay, listen! I'm sorry, okay? I'll explain everything! Tell me where you are?"Hearing Adrian's worried voice made Leah burst into tears. For almost two minutes she just kept crying without saying anything. On the other side, Adrian apologized many times,
"Leah, what are you doing here?" asked Adrian coldly. Leah shrugged, "Just having lunch and accidentally bumped into Luke," Leah replied casually. She picked up the meat with chopsticks and ate it casually. As if she didn't care about Adrian and the oriental woman there."Didn't you say you weren't going anywhere this morning?" asked Adrian, still frowning in annoyance to see Leah with Luke.Leah shrugged,"Maybe Donna forgot to tell you, but earlier I came to your office to bring lunch, but it seems that you are busy with this woman, so I decided to eat here alone because the baby in my stomach is hungry," Leah babbled without looking at Adrian.Adrian looks surprised."You were at the office? Why didn't you tell me? Donna was not at her desk, I think she was having lunch so she forgot to tell me, Ummm Leah this is Lily, umm my client," Adrian introduced Leah to the oriental woman who was next to Leah.Leah looked at the orienta
Leah looked at Donna suspiciously,"Is there something you're hiding from me?" asked Leah narrowing her eyes. Donna shook her head, "What am I going to hide from you?" Donna said with a small laugh. Leah shrugged, "I don't know, maybe Adrian is having an affair with another woman or something," she mumbled as she tiptoed, trying to peek into Adrian's study, but all she could see was just a handbag.Donna laughed, "Adrian? Cheating on you? That's as impossible as a human mission to Mars!" Donna joked, but she quickly grabbed Leah's hand, "Let's go to the Coffee shop, this meeting really can't be interrupted," she said quickly. Leah still occasionally glanced around the room, wondering."So who is he meeting with?" Leah asked when she and Donna were in the elevator. Donna had a nervous look on her face. "Umm with an important client," Donna answered, which didn't help at all to allay Leah's suspicions.Leah suddenly remembered the woman's To
Leah entered the Penthouse, she tried to think of something else, but her mind kept going back to Adrian and the oriental woman at the Chinese restaurant earlier. Should she just call Adrian so she doesn't feel suspicious?Finally, Leah dialed Adrian's number, which had just been picked up after the fourth ring."Yes baby?" said Adrian straightforwardly."What time are you coming home?" Leah asked carefully."Probably in two hours, what's wrong honey?" he asked hastily. Leah bit her lip, looking for an excuse."Leah?""Umm I'm in the mood for Chinese food, I didn't have time to buy it when I went out," Leah finally found an excuse to provoke Adrian, to tell the truth."Okay! I'll buy it for you, I'll hang up the phone, okay, my client has come, love you!" chirped Adrian, not long after the call ended.Leah closed her eyes, dispelling the suspicion that had filled her head. Surely Adrian will tell her later, she didn't need to b
"So who's that Lily from Shanghai?" teased Leah after Adrian shut her phone. Adrian laughed, "She was just a friend I met a long time ago, she said she read the news about my marriage, and congratulate me that's all," said Adrian casually. "Ohh I see," replied her tried not to sound jealous."So, we're going to stay in the room at 65 floors until our house is ready to use, you don't mind, right?" asked Adrian, putting back his suits on his body. Leah shrugged, "I can sleep anywhere as long as it's not a pigsty," joked Leah made Adrian chuckled.*****They walked hand in hand inside the store, arguing about which sofa was better. They finished shopping after 5 hours and repeated that same activity in the whole week. Adrian intentionally accompanied Leah until their house was ready. He didn't want Leah to be too tired handling their new house.Today they had an appointment to meet Dr. Phillips, the obstetrician from Granny's
"Hi, Baby, bonjour! How do you feel?" Adrian touched Leah's cheek softly. Leah opened her eyes, she smiled, "I'm feeling better..." she answered turned her face to Adrian who sighed a sigh of relief. Last night was pretty tense and Adrian was so worried about it. But her mom told her that Leah had that pregnancy hormones thing which involved in all her moods, so Vivian guessed that Leah would get better in the morning and her guessing was right."Breakfast!" Adrian pulled the trolley closer to the bed. Leah frowned, "You don't have to do this, I can walk myself to the dining room," she said. Adrian grinned, "I wanted to serve you like this, at least once every week, you don't mind right?" teased Adrian touching Leah's chin. "Wow, I'm the luckiest woman on the planet!" exclaimed Leah, she grabbed the orange juice and sipped it slowly."So, when will we go back to NYC?" asked Leah, her eyes scanning all the food on the trolley and decided to pick a warm crois