“Another day thinking about it again…” I whispered to myself as I stretched my body to begin the day.The days following my dinner with Leon seemed to stretch endlessly, as if time itself had decided to crawl at a snail’s pace just to torment me. Each hour felt heavier than the last, weighted with the unresolved tension between us and the unsaid words that lingered like a ghost in the room. I desperately needed a distraction, anything to keep my mind from wandering back to that night, to the conversation that had left me feeling more lost than ever. And so I buried myself in housework, trying to exhaust my body so that my mind would finally relent. The pantry, long overdue for a reorganization, became my first project. I spent hours sorting through spices and canned goods, aligning jars and containers with an almost obsessive precision. But no matter how perfectly I arranged the shelves, it did nothing to quell the gnawing ache deep in my chest. When the pantry no longer offered an
As Aunt Lou drove us toward the Montefalco villa, I could sense her unease. She gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, her knuckles white against the leather. “Margarette, just a little reminder, this is as close as we can get. You know that we can’t stay too close. We’ll have to park at a distance or they might notice us,” she said, her voice tinged with concern.“I understand, Aunt Lou,” I replied softly. “We don’t have to get too close anyway. Just seeing the front view of the villa will be enough.”We eventually found a spot that wasn’t too far away. From where we parked, I could see the sprawling mansion, its grandeur still as imposing as ever. The perfectly manicured lawns, the towering gates—it all looked exactly the same, but the memories it held for me had changed.As we sat there, the villa looming in the distance, I couldn’t help but let my mind drift back to the three years I had spent inside those walls. “You know, Aunt Lou,” I began, my voice almost a whisper,
The drive to the café was a blur of passing scenery, but my mind was stuck on one image: Justin, his hand on Regina’s back, guiding her out of the car like it was the most natural thing in the world. I couldn’t shake the sight, no matter how hard I tried to push it away. By the time Aunt Lou and I found a quiet corner in the café, the weight of it all was pressing down on me.Aunt Lou didn’t say anything at first, just ordered us both a cup of tea. But I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her mouth was set in a tight line. When the waitress finally left us alone, Aunt Lou leaned forward, her expression dark.“I don’t understand how he could do that,” she began, her voice low and trembling with anger. “Bringing that woman into your home like it’s nothing. Like, it’s perfectly normal.”I wrapped my hands around the warm cup of tea, trying to find comfort in the heat. “It’s like he’s not still married to me,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “He’s acting like Regina has
As soon as we walked into the store, the rows of gleaming iPhones caught my eye. I couldn't help but be drawn to the newest models, their sleek designs practically begging to be held. The sales clerk was on me in an instant, enthusiastically detailing all the latest features. I nodded along, but my mind was elsewhere—on the price tag that was far out of my reach.“I think this one would suit you perfectly,” the clerk said, handing me the newest model.I held it for a moment, admiring the smooth feel of it in my hand before handing it back with a tight smile. “It’s beautiful, but I’m just browsing today.”Leon, standing a few steps behind me, was watching quietly, his eyes narrowing slightly. He hadn’t said much since we’d arrived, but I could tell he was taking everything in. As I turned to walk away, pretending to be more interested in grabbing a bite to eat instead, he caught my arm gently. “You’re not getting the phone?” he asked, his tone light but probing.I shook my head, trying
The weight of Leon's words lingered like a dark cloud over me, the knowledge that Wilma—my former mother-in-law—had orchestrated every vile act that had torn my life apart. The false accusations, the humiliation, the destruction of everything I had once held dear... it all traced back to her. My mind raced, desperate to find a way to use this information to turn the tide in court. But without Leon’s testimony, what could I possibly do?I was so consumed by these thoughts that I didn’t even notice Aunt Lou watching me from across the table. The savory aroma of the food in front of me, usually a comfort, barely registered. Aunt Lou had gone through the trouble of preparing one of my favorite dishes, but there I was, just staring at it blankly."Margarette," Aunt Lou's voice cut through the fog in my mind, startling me back to reality. I blinked, looking up to meet her concerned gaze. "What’s going on with you? You haven't touched your food."I glanced down at my untouched plate, realizi
I wasn’t content to let things rest with just the hope that justice would favor me. No, I needed more. I needed solid evidence if I was ever going to win this lawsuit. As Aunt Lou left for her clinic, I found myself dialing Henry’s number, my heart pounding with every ring.Henry had overseen the failed multi-billion dollar project alongside me, but ever since that fateful day when I fell down the staircase, I’d been sidelined from the operations. It still puzzled me how they could so confidently accuse me when I had barely touched the project documents. There had to be something more to this, something I was missing. Henry answered on the second ring, his voice warm and familiar. “Margarette, it’s been a while. How are you holding up?”“I’m managing, Henry. Listen, I know this might seem out of the blue, but can we meet? I need to discuss something important.”There was a brief pause on the other end, and I held my breath, waiting for his response. “Of course,” he finally said. “The
The next day, the anticipation of seeing Leon again had me restless all morning. I kept replaying our last conversation in my mind, his voice lingering like a soft echo that I couldn’t quite shake. The memories were a mix of warmth and anxiety, making it hard for me to focus on anything else.When the doorbell finally rang, I felt a rush of nerves. I smoothed my hands over my skirt, trying to calm the flutter in my chest before opening the door. There stood Leon, looking as composed as ever, but there was a softness in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat.“Margarette,” he greeted with a smile, stepping inside as I motioned for him to enter. The familiar scent of his cologne filled the room, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace.“Leon,” I replied, closing the door behind him. “Thank you for coming.”He shrugged slightly, as if it were nothing, but the way his gaze lingered on me told a different story. “Of course. We have a lot to discuss.”We settled in the living room, th
As the sun's first light filtered through the curtains, I found myself wide awake, my mind already racing with plans. Today was the day I would cook dinner for Leon, and for reasons I couldn’t fully comprehend, I felt an overwhelming urge to make sure everything was perfect. It wasn’t just about gratitude; there was something more—a deeper need to show Leon that I could create something special for him, something that spoke beyond words.I slipped out of bed and headed straight for the kitchen, my thoughts a whirlwind of recipes and ideas. The kitchen was still dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the morning sky. I moved with purpose, gathering ingredients, mentally mapping out the courses I wanted to prepare. Just as I was setting a pot of coffee to brew, Aunt Lou appeared at the doorway, still in her robe, her hair slightly tousled from sleep. She blinked at me, surprise evident in her eyes as she took in the scene before her."Margarette, you’re up early," she remar