[MARGA’S POV]Last night was like a tug of war between Justin and I. When I thought about it, I never imagined that I would have the slightest bit of courage to respond to him in that manner. In addition to the fact that I was pregnant at the time, it is possible that the conflicting feelings that I was experiencing at the time were the cause of my irritation.It was a stroke of good fortune for me that Justin did not develop any suspicions on account of my mood swings. Being in the first trimester of my first pregnancy appeared to be crucial for me. I need to exercise self-control in order to avoid becoming irritable around Justin, as he might actually take notice of my behavior.As soon as I opened my eyes the next morning, I discovered that I was the only person in the room. Last night, Justin slept next to me, but when I woke up, I discovered that the space next to me was empty, and there was no sign of his warmth or presence. The fact that I continued to look for Justin despite
"Margarette!" It was a truly remarkable response from Justin. It was precisely as if he had recently witnessed a ghost before. Since I am nearly searching every nook and cranny of the city in an effort to locate my spouse, it would appear that I am able to accept the notion that I do appear as his ghost at this point. And here I was, by complete mistake, coming into the two of them while they were having their secret appointment for lunch. "It would appear that the two of you have already completed eating, as I see it. Unfortunately, you didn't even bother to wait for me, which is a shame. In all honesty, I am rather hungry as well, my dear husband." I started to sound snarky and flirty as I pushed my shoulder on Justin's shoulder as he was standing close to me. Due to the fact that I appeared to have disrupted their date, Regina's reaction was unmistakably visible; she was keeping her aggravation and envy to herself in silence. All of a sudden, Regina, who was unable to suppress her
Justin's arms enveloped me, his touch igniting a cascade of sensations that coursed through every fiber of my being. The tender embrace radiated a comforting warmth, as if his very presence had the power to chase away the chill of the world. From the moment I laid eyes on him, I couldn't help but form a scathing judgment. This man, with his air of arrogance and self-importance, seemed utterly oblivious to the world around him. It was as if he existed solely to serve his own interests, paying no heed to the needs or desires of others. In my mind, he was nothing more than a contemptible dickhead.Yet in this very moment, it defies that thought. The warmth of Justin's embrace enveloped me, a comforting shield against the uncertainties of the world. In his strong arms, I found solace and reassurance—a tangible reminder that I was protected and cherished. The way he held me close spoke volumes, whispering secrets of security and safety that only our hearts could understand. As Justin's
“Justin, get off of me!” I immediately protested as soon as I realized what he had done.After mustering enough courage to push him off me, i was only able to make him move an inch apart from me enough to prevent his lips from coercing with mine once more.However, Justin’s golden brown eyes glowed in the still dim space of the karaoke room. At that precise moment, I could very well tell that there would be nothing that could hold Justin back.He instantly held both of my hands above my head with just a single hand. Meanwhile, his other free hand was tracing across my lower body. After a while, his hand settled on my belly. “Stop touching me!” I protested while trying to struggle free from Justin’s grip. But much to my disappointment, Justin’s hold on me was way too strong for me to subdue. At this rate, it would be impossible for me to actually push him away from me completely so that I could actually escape.Justin’s body frame was way larger than mine; it goes without saying that
“Answer me first, Marga. What’s your answer on my proposal otherwise, I will not stop.” Justin said, leaving me a devious smirk.No matter how much I exerted myself, my efforts were in vain. Justin towered over me, his muscles rippling beneath his taut skin. It was clear from the outset that he possessed a strength far beyond my own. As I attempted to subdue him, my efforts felt feeble and futile. Each time I reached out to restrain him, he effortlessly shrugged off my feeble attempts, as if I were nothing more than a mere annoyance. It was as if I strained against the weight of the rock above me, feeling its unyielding strength pressing down on my every effort to move it.My mind was a jumbled mess, unable to find clarity amidst the chaos of my current predicament. I found myself in a rather precarious situation, with his intense gaze penetrating the depths of my very being. It was as if he could see right through me, making the task at hand all the more awkward.“Justin, didn't you
That night, Justin and I came home late and I fell asleep in an instant due to tiredness and because I was pregnant. I always feel like sleepy. And for some reason, I fell into a deep sleep that made me remember how my dream exactly went.Everyone was so busy getting ready for the grand ball that was being held at the Montefalco’s ancestral manor in Anacortes that when I woke up, I had only one maid to help me with the preparations. In most cases, I have more than three maids working specifically for me to attend to my day-to-day requirements.It occurred to me that perhaps there was a shortage of manpower, as even my own maids were taken away from me to assist with the preparations. People will start arriving at any moment now for the spring moon festival ball that will take place tonight here at the Montefalco Manor. This has been an annual event that has been celebrated by the Montefalco in Anacortes as well as its neighboring alliance all over North America for many years and many
My hand flew outward, striking her face out of reflex.Even the fact that I had completely lost control of my hand came as a complete surprise to me. When I finally became aware of what I had done, it was already far too late. As a direct result of my actions, Regina's face was pushed to the side, and I saw it happen. My palm lightly brushed across her left cheek, leaving a barely perceptible rosy mark in its wake.My body was in a state of extreme discomfort, and I could feel tremors in my hands. If ever this were to even get to Justin, the very idea that I had actually made a scene here after completely losing my cool over a whore like Regina would be simply too pitiful. Simply considering the possibility makes me feel like a complete and utter idiot.“Margarette!” I suddenly heard a domineering and authoritative scream of my name from a distance. There’d be no one else who would dare call me that way other than my husband, Justin. It seemed like he actually saw me after all. Despi
Like the sound of broken glass, I feel like my whole world has been shattered into pieces after hearing those hurtful words from the man I have vowed to love and cherish. It was as if what I was experiencing on the inside was nothing more than a piercing wound that was incapable of being healed by any kind of antidote.As I stood there in front of everyone else watching me get humiliated by my own husband right after he kicked me out and supported an allegation I am completely innocent of, I thought that I would not have the least bit of courage to breathe again if I tried. I am completely innocent of this betrayal.My legs, on the other hand, were only able to move toward Justin thanks to some sort of miraculous intervention. At this point, I felt as though the weight of the world was pressing down on my eyes. That is when I realized it was already carrying an excessive amount of tears in its load. The tears that I had been hoping would not fall in front of him eventually made thei
The air in the penthouse was heavy with unspoken tension. I sat at the desk, eyes scanning through the files, absorbing the weight of what we had in our hands. The evidence was undeniable. Justin and Elise’s father had left a trail of financial crimes, bribes, and illegal dealings that could tear their empire apart. The question was—how did we move forward without tipping them off too soon?Leon stood behind me, his presence strong and reassuring. His hand was still on my shoulder, grounding me in the moment. "We need to be careful with this," he murmured.I nodded. "I know. We have to strike at the right moment."Dorian, now lounging on the couch, exhaled loudly. "I hate waiting. Feels like we should be doing something more than just sitting on this.""Patience is key," Leon countered. "If we rush, we lose the advantage."Dorian rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. I closed my laptop and stretched, the weight of the day settling deep into my bones. "I need a break."Leon caught my hand
The drive to the meeting location was tense, the air thick with anticipation. I sat in the passenger seat, my fingers gripping the leather armrest while Leon navigated through the city streets. Dorian was in the back, too casual for my liking, but that was just how he handled pressure. I wished I could be that indifferent. Instead, my mind kept cycling through every possible outcome of this meeting.Elise had made her choice. That much was clear. But whether it was out of self-preservation or something else entirely, we would soon find out."Where did she say we’re meeting?" Leon asked, his voice steady."An old train yard on the outskirts of the city," I replied, reading the address she had sent. "Secluded. Not many ways in or out."Leon didn’t like it. I could tell by the way his jaw clenched. "Sounds like a setup."Dorian chuckled from the backseat. "Sounds like someone’s being paranoid."Leon ignored him, eyes still on the road. "I don’t like unknown variables, Margarette. If she’
The next few days passed in a blur of careful planning and tense anticipation. Elise’s information had given us a direction, but we still had work to do—connections to make, leverage to gather. It should have consumed all my focus.But Leon was a distraction I couldn’t shake.No matter how much I told myself that our night together hadn’t changed anything, I felt it in the way he looked at me, in the way his fingers brushed against mine when he handed me a file, in the way his presence filled every quiet moment. He didn’t push, didn’t demand more than I could give, but the weight of everything left unsaid pressed down on me.I wasn’t sure if I was grateful or terrified.***Late one night, I found myself pacing the penthouse balcony, the cold air biting through my thin sweater. The city sprawled beneath me, glittering and endless, yet I felt trapped in my own thoughts.“You’re thinking too loud again.”I turned to see Leon stepping onto the balcony, his hands tucked into the pockets o
The meeting with Elise was set. That should have been my focus. But my mind kept replaying last night—Leon’s lips on mine, the way he held me as if he couldn’t bear to let go.I inhaled sharply and pushed the thought away. There was no space for distractions.The restaurant Elise had chosen was a high-end establishment, the kind that catered to politicians and business elites who wanted to talk without prying eyes listening in. The dim lighting and low chatter made it the perfect place for clandestine discussions.Leon and I arrived together, though we were careful not to look too familiar. Dorian had insisted on waiting outside, just in case.Elise was already seated when we arrived. She was dressed elegantly in a dark blazer, her posture stiff with tension. As soon as she spotted us, her eyes flicked to Leon, then to me.“You came,” she said, her voice steady but guarded.I slid into the seat across from her, Leon taking the one beside me. “You asked, we answered.”Her lips pressed
The weight of Leon’s words settled over me, thick and inescapable. I could feel the heat of his gaze, his possessiveness wrapping around me like an invisible chain. A part of me wanted to push back, to tell him that I didn’t belong to anyone. But the other part—the part that craved the way he looked at me, the way his presence consumed me—refused to speak.Instead, I exhaled sharply and turned away, fingers tightening around my phone. "I haven't decided yet," I said, my voice even, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an immediate answer.Leon hummed low in his throat, stepping closer. "Decide carefully, Margarette."I refused to face him, but I could feel the warmth of his body behind me. The air between us buzzed with unspoken words, unsatisfied tension.Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.***Later that evening, I sat curled up on the couch, scrolling through my phone, staring at Noah’s message.Drinks sometime? To catch up. No pressure.It should have been s
The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, but its warmth did little to ease the tension curling in my stomach. Elise’s message played over and over in my mind.Meet me at noon. My place. No one else.Leon sat across from me, fingers drumming against the table as he studied the message. He was too quiet. That meant he was already three steps ahead, calculating risks, preparing for anything.Dorian whistled from where he lounged on the couch, sipping his coffee like this was just another casual morning. “So, we’re going or not?”I shot him a glare before turning back to Leon. “What do you think?”Leon leaned back in his chair, considering. “It’s suspicious. Either she’s truly desperate, or she wants us walking into something.”I crossed my arms. “I think we should go.”His gaze flickered to me, sharp and assessing. “If we do, we’re doing it my way.”I nodded. “Fine.”Leon studied me a second longer, then let out a low sigh. “Then let’s get moving.”
The night breeze rolled over the pier, carrying the scent of salt and damp wood. Elise had disappeared into the fog, but the weight of her decision lingered in the air. Leon stood beside me, silent, his hands shoved into the pockets of his coat.“She’s scared,” I murmured.Leon let out a low hum. “Good. Fear makes people careful.”I glanced at him. “And desperate.”He met my gaze, his dark eyes unreadable. “Desperation is useful. If she’s smart, she’ll realize we’re offering her an out before everything collapses.”I let out a slow breath, my mind racing. “And if she’s not?”Leon’s jaw tightened. “Then we make sure she doesn’t get in our way.”There was a finality in his tone that sent a chill down my spine. He wasn’t a man who took risks lightly. He weighed every move, calculated every possibility. It was why I trusted him, even when the path ahead was uncertain.Dorian, who had been leaning against a lamppost, pushed off and stretched lazily. “Well, that was fun. I say we celebrate.
The days turned into weeks, and for the first time in a long time, my life wasn’t consumed by revenge or survival. It was strange, almost unsettling, to wake up without the weight of the past pressing down on me.But Leon made it easier.We spent our days in a quiet rhythm—mornings wrapped in each other, afternoons exploring parts of the city I had never truly appreciated, and evenings spent talking about everything and nothing.One afternoon, Leon surprised me with a drive outside the city. The road stretched ahead of us, winding through rolling green hills and open fields.I turned to him, curious. “Where are we going?”He glanced at me with a smirk. “You’ll see.”After about an hour, we pulled up to a secluded property. A modern house with wide glass windows sat on a hill, overlooking a lake. The air smelled of fresh grass and wildflowers, and the only sound was the distant chirping of birds.I stepped out of the car, taking in the view. “Leon… what is this place?”He walked up bes
The days that followed were a whirlwind of chaos.My father’s downfall was splashed across every news outlet. Financial crimes, money laundering, illegal dealings—his empire was collapsing, and with it, his reputation. His allies abandoned him one by one, choosing self-preservation over loyalty.But he wasn’t the kind of man to go down without a fight.That’s why I wasn’t surprised when I received the message.A single text.Suite 1103. One last talk. Come alone.Leon was furious. “Absolutely not.”I expected that reaction. I also knew there was no changing my mind.“Leon, this is my fight. My ending to write.”His eyes darkened. “He’s cornered, Margarette. That makes him more dangerous than ever.”I reached for his hand, squeezing it. “I’ll be fine.”He exhaled sharply. “I don’t trust him.”I smiled softly. “Good. Neither do I.”The Last Conversation—AgainSuite 1103 was dimly lit when I walked in. My father sat by the window, a drink in his hand, staring out at the city he once rule