As soon as Aunt Lou left, the house seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, leaving just Leon and me in our little bubble of contentment. We finished our breakfast, though Leon's playful attempts to tease me never ceased. Every smile he coaxed from me felt like a victory, and every kiss he planted on my lips made my heart flutter a little more. After we cleared the table, Leon wrapped his arms around me from behind, nuzzling his face into my neck. His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn't help but lean into his embrace."You know," he murmured against my skin, "I think we should start every day like this.""Like what?" I asked, tilting my head to give him better access."With you in my arms, stealing kisses whenever I can," he replied, his lips brushing against my ear.I laughed softly. "You’re insatiable, Leon.""For you? I’d do it often," he said, turning me around to face him. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned in for another kiss.As we kissed, his hands fo
Leon continued to surprise me in ways I never expected. After our indulgent lunch and shopping spree, I thought maybe we’d finally call it a day. But it would seem that Leon had other plans in mind aside from what we already did.As he carefully placed the shopping bags in the trunk of his car, I couldn’t help but tease him. “Do you have any surprises left, or have you exhausted all your grand gestures?”Leon flashed that mischievous smile of his, the one that made me feel like the world was ours for the taking. “You underestimate me, Margarette,” he said, closing the trunk with a smooth motion. “I’ve only just begun.”I shook my head with a smile, getting into the passenger seat. “Where to next, Mr. Romantic?”“You’ll see,” he replied cryptically, pulling out of the parking lot.The drive was filled with our usual banter, a rhythm we’d fallen into effortlessly over time. Leon, always the tease, brought up my familiar reluctance to let him spoil me. "You know," he said with a mischiev
As I slowly came to, the familiar warmth of Leon’s embrace anchored me to reality. The soft hum of his breathing, steady and comforting, was the first sound I registered. I opened my eyes to find myself nestled against his chest, his strong arms wrapped protectively around me. The evening light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a golden hue over us.It was a rare kind of tranquility, the kind that made me want to stay in this bed forever, away from the chaos of the world outside. In this moment, it felt like it was just the two of us against everything else, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.I shifted slightly, causing Leon to stir. His eyes fluttered open, and a lazy smile spread across his face as he looked down at me. "Evening, sleepyhead," he murmured, his voice thick with affection."Evening," I replied, my voice still soft from sleep. I reached up to brush a lock of hair from his forehead, my fingers lingering on his warm skin. He leaned in, pressing a tende
"Margarette, are you ready? We don’t want to be late for the hearing." Aunt Lou said. The sun had barely risen when Aunt Lou knocked on my door, her voice gentle yet firm. I groaned softly, still tangled in the warmth of my bed, the weight of the day ahead pressing on my chest. Today was the hearing, the one I had been dreading and anticipating in equal measure. Justin’s lawsuit against me was hanging over my head like a dark cloud, and I knew I couldn’t avoid it any longer."I'm coming, Aunt Lou," I called out, forcing myself to sit up. I took a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves that were already starting to fray. After quickly dressing, I headed downstairs where Aunt Lou was waiting by the door, her expression a mix of concern and determination.She smiled at me, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Don’t worry, Margarette. Whatever happens today, you’ve got me by your side."I nodded, grateful for her presence. Aunt Lou had always been my rock, especially after everythin
I couldn’t shake the unease that gnawed at me as I stared at Justin’s text. Meeting him wasn’t something I wanted to do, not after everything he’d put me through. But as much as I hated the idea, I couldn’t ignore the thought of finally getting my properties back without dragging this lawsuit out any longer. The question was, could I trust him? The answer was obvious, yet the temptation lingered.I spent the entire morning going back and forth, trying to convince myself that this was a trap, that Justin was just playing more of his twisted games. But what if, by some miracle, he was serious? What if he really was willing to return everything without a fight? The thought was too enticing to dismiss.Eventually, my curiosity and desperation won out. I needed to know what he was up to, even if it meant facing him again. So, after much hesitation, I messaged Justin, agreeing to meet him at my parents’ old vacation house.The ride there felt like it took forever, my mind racing with all th
The café buzzed with the usual hum of activity—clinking cups, the hiss of the espresso machine, the low murmur of conversations blending into a soothing white noise. Yet, to me, it all felt distant, like I was trapped in a glass box, separated from the world around me. The vibrant chatter, the occasional laughter, the shuffle of footsteps—all of it faded into the background, muffled as if I were submerged underwater.I sat at a small table by the window, my usual spot, but today it felt different. The sun streamed in through the glass, casting a warm glow across the room, yet I couldn’t feel its warmth. My hands trembled as I gripped the cup of coffee in front of me, the ceramic cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the roiling heat inside me. I brought the cup to my lips, but the rich aroma that usually comforted me now did nothing to settle my nerves.I stared into the dark liquid, trying to find some semblance of calm in its depths, but all I saw was the reflection of my own tu
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden light that did little to lift the weight on my shoulders. As I walked along the main road after my frustrating encounter with Regina at the café, the anger and frustration still simmered beneath my skin. I needed to talk to someone who would understand, someone who could help me make sense of this mess. Without thinking twice, I pulled out my phone and dialed Aunt Lou’s number.“Margarette, is everything alright?” Aunt Lou’s voice was laced with concern the moment she answered.I hesitated, not wanting to worry her, but I couldn’t keep it all bottled up anymore. “Aunt Lou, is it okay if I drop by your clinic? I need to talk.”“Of course, dear. I’m finishing up with my last patient now. Come over, I’ll be here.”“Thank you,” I murmured, relief washing over me. I hung up and flagged down a taxi, my mind already racing ahead to the conversation I knew I had to have.The ride to Aunt Lou’s clinic felt longer than usual, th
The days following the incident with Justin and Regina were filled with a tumultuous blend of determination and dread. I kept telling myself that I wouldn’t let them get to me, that I would push forward and secure the victory in the lawsuit. Every morning, I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose, reminding myself that I had to prove to Justin—and to myself—that I wasn’t someone who would simply surrender to his manipulations.On one such morning, as I descended the stairs, the smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me, mingling with the faint scent of the flowers Aunt Lou always kept in a vase by the kitchen window. But instead of the usual peaceful start to the day, I was met with an unusual sight—Aunt Lou, standing by the living room couch, her hand clutching the phone to her ear, her expression strained. She was talking to someone, and the anxiety etched into her features made my heart skip a beat. I hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to intrude, but as Aunt Lou’