“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
Later that afternoon, Justin took me to his workplace. "Why have you brought me to this place all of a sudden?" I inquire as I trail behind Justin, resembling more of a domesticated companion than his spouse.Justin turned to face me, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "I thought we had finally come to an agreement about the project?" he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "I brought you here to work together with Hector.I could hardly believe what I was hearing, my jaw barely opening in astonishment. From what I recall, I do not remember ever agreeing with Justin on that occasion. I could not help but lean in closer, my voice barely a whisper as I reminded him, "I did mention that I would consider it, but I don’t even have any idea that you’ve already set me up for this.”However, Justin leaned in closer, mirroring my gesture from a moment ago, as he responded, "This project cannot be delayed much longer, Margarette. So I hope you grasp the urgency of scheduling an appointm
Just as I thought I could not bear another moment of awkward silence, the elevator doors swung open to reveal none other than Hector. And his very presence saved me from answering Justin of his awkward query.With a look of confusion on his face, Hector seemed to suspect that he had stumbled upon a scene straight out of a contemporary romance novel. "Um, did I inadvertently interrupt a private moment?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. He could not help but raise his left eyebrow in surprise.It was a rather awkward moment when both Justin and I simultaneously responded, "No, you didn't." After that, we exchanged looks, and I felt a chill go up my spine, especially because Justin was staring at me so closely again.Now I found myself utterly perplexed by Justin's true intentions.I was about to pose that question when, out of nowhere, Hector once again interjects, diverting both Justin's and my focus towards him.Justin strode forward, his hands casually nestled in his pock
“I know what was written in the contract, Justin. You don’t need to remind me every single time to the extent of using it to hurt me,” before I knew it, I was already able to express what it was that had been bugging my inner thoughts. I had to turn around to eventually face him as well.It didn’t bother me whether Justin would continue to mock me. I knew that if I had allowed to keep this within me, I would only end up regretting ever saying it to Justin.It would seem that that had an effect on Justin as I witness how it manage to make Justin feel a little guilty over what he said that it forced him to withdraw back.“You can go ahead first. We’re done for the day, anyway.” Instead, of apologizing, my dear husband chose to behave in this manner where he would rather kick me out to save his pride and ask for my forgiveness.Even though that was his suggestion, I tried to put up a face that doesn’t seem affected heavily by the insult that Justin left me a moment ago. With the courage
Justin with his lustful gaze towards me pressed me down on the bed. If he wasn't only behaving in an aggressive way, perhaps I would've appreciated the way his sexy toned body looks as it peaked beyond his unbuttoned shirt."What do you think you're doing, Justin?" my voice trembled at the thought of what might be going on within his mind right now.It left me feeling at least worried for his next move. "Just as what married couples always do." Justin's voice was deep as he buried his face on my neck.This makes things difficult for me. Knowing how persistent Justin would be now, things would really hard for me to prevent from occuring. “Justin, we can’t possibly do this.” I tried to plead him.However, what seemed to be a hopeful move that would eventually persuade him only ended up as something that had agitated Justin even more.“Why, Marga? Tell me, why are you being distant with me?!” His voice was so high, I thought the whole household would hear him now. There was no way I co
My heart froze as his words sank in. He wasn’t just after Leon—he wanted me. Before anyone could react, Justin’s men stormed in, their presence throwing the room into chaos. Leon moved like lightning, tackling one of them as William engaged another.Helena appeared in the doorway, clutching a laptop. “We’ve got the files uploaded!” she shouted. “But we need to move now!”Leon turned to me, his expression desperate. “Go with Helena. I’ll find you.”“No!” I cried, panic gripping me. “I’m not leaving you behind!”Justin’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “Run all you want, Margarette, but you can’t hide. I always get what I want.”Leon’s fist connected with Justin’s jaw in a blur of motion, sending him staggering back. “You’ll never touch her,” Leon snarled, his voice venomous.Helena grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the back exit. “Come on!” she urged. “We don’t have time!”I hesitated, torn between fleeing and staying to fight. Leon’s gaze met mine, and in that split second,
The ominous text on my phone screen felt like a knife twisting in my chest. My fingers trembled as I stared at the words, the weight of the decision Justin was forcing on me suffocating. Choose wisely? What did he mean? What was the game he was playing now?I bolted upright and paced the room, my breaths shallow as panic clawed at the edges of my composure. Every fiber of my being screamed that this wasn’t just about me anymore—it never had been. Justin was a master manipulator, and his threat wasn’t idle.A soft knock at the door snapped me out of my spiral. I opened it to find Leon standing there, his disheveled appearance and the dark circles under his eyes a stark contrast to his usual confidence. He didn’t say anything, just stepped inside and closed the door behind him.“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low and steady, but his eyes sharp as they searched mine.I hesitated, clutching my phone tightly. “It’s Justin,” I finally said, showing him the message.Leon’s expression dar
Back at Leon’s secluded estate, the air was heavy with tension. The security team was doubled, every window and door meticulously checked and locked. Leon’s protective streak was in full force, and I could see the weight of the situation bearing down on him.“Here,” he said, handing me a glass of water as we sat in his study. The room, usually a place of calm and strategy, now felt like a fortress under siege.“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the glass. I watched him pace, his movements restless and charged. “Leon…”He stopped, turning to face me. His dark eyes held a mix of anger, worry, and something else—something deeper that he rarely let surface. “You don’t have to thank me, Margarette. Protecting you isn’t a favor. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”“But this isn’t just about me,” I said, standing to face him. “Justin’s targeting everyone I care about. You, my family, even William and Helena—he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”Leon stepped closer, his presence grounding me. “
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of William’s words hitting me like a freight train. My family. Justin was targeting my family. The thought sent a jolt of fear and fury through me, my heart pounding in my chest.Leon’s face hardened, his jaw clenched as he stepped closer to William. “What does the message say?” His voice was low and deadly, carrying an unspoken promise of retribution.William handed over his phone, his expression grim. Leon read the message aloud, each word slicing through the air like a knife.“If you want to keep Margarette’s loved ones safe, you’ll stop meddling. The clock is ticking.”I felt my knees weaken, but I forced myself to stay upright. My mind raced, trying to process the implications of Justin’s threat. My parents. My sister. Everyone I cared about. They were all in danger because of me.“Margarette,” Leon said softly, his tone a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his eyes. He reached out, his hand steady and warm on my shoulder. “We’ll
The morning light was deceptive in its warmth, casting a golden hue over the chaos that still swirled within me. Justin’s voice echoed in my mind, his words a cruel reminder that peace was nothing more than a fleeting illusion.I sat on the edge of Leon’s bed, watching his chest rise and fall in steady rhythm. He was still asleep, his face pale and bruised, but there was a tranquility in his expression that eased some of the tension coiled within me.Alexa was safe for now, resting in a secure room down the hall, with Helena standing guard. William had left to oversee the cleanup of the warehouse, ensuring no trace of our presence remained.But even surrounded by Leon’s team and their precautions, the weight of Justin’s threat pressed heavily on my chest.A soft groan pulled my attention back to Leon as his eyes fluttered open. For a moment, his gaze was unfocused, but when it landed on me, a faint smile curved his lips.“You stayed,” he murmured, his voice gravelly but warm.“Of cour
The world seemed to slow as the metal beneath us groaned, then gave a horrifying screech as it collapsed. I felt weightless for a split second before gravity yanked us downward. My arms tightened around Alexa, a scream tearing from my throat as the ground rushed toward us.A blur of movement shot out from below—Leon, running faster than I thought humanly possible. His arms stretched upward, and for a moment, I thought he’d catch us.The impact never came. Instead, we crashed into a tangled net just a few feet above the machinery below. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath, adrenaline surging through me.“Margarette!” Leon’s voice was raw as he climbed onto the platform beneath us, his hands gripping the net tightly. “Are you hurt?”“I’m fine,” I choked out, clutching Alexa, who was still semi-conscious. “Get her first!”Leon’s jaw clenched, his eyes scanning the precariously swaying net. He reached up and carefully pulled Alexa down, cradling her like she weighed nothing.
William limped into the room, his face pale but his resolve intact. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice tinged with pain.Leon handed him the phone without a word. William’s expression darkened as he took in the image and the accompanying threat. “We need to act fast. They’re escalating.”Helena nodded. “I’ll get the team ready. We’ll need every resource we’ve got to track her location.”“I’m going with you,” I said, my voice firm despite the tears welling in my eyes.“No, Margarette.” Leon’s tone left no room for argument, but I wasn’t going to back down.“I’m not staying behind while Alexa is out there,” I said, my voice rising. “She needs me.”“She needs you alive,” Leon snapped, his frustration boiling over. “You can’t help her if you’re dead.”The room fell silent, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife. William stepped forward, his gaze flickering between Leon and me. “She has a point, Leon. She knows Alexa better than anyone. She might pick up on something w
The sharp crack of the gunshot echoed through the night, and Leon’s arm instinctively wrapped around me, pulling me to the ground. Glass shattered as the bullet struck the balcony railing above us. My ears rang, and my heart hammered in my chest.“Stay down!” Leon ordered, his voice fierce as he scanned the darkness, his body shielding mine.From below, shouts erupted, and I saw William and Helena rushing out of the safe house, their weapons drawn. The air was tense, every second stretching into eternity. My hands trembled as Leon retrieved his gun from his holster, his expression a mix of rage and focus.“Where did it come from?” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.“South ridge,” Leon muttered, his eyes narrowing. “They’ve got a sniper.”Helena’s voice crackled through Leon’s earpiece. “We’ve spotted the shooter’s location. They’re moving west.”“I’ll go after them,” William said, already sprinting into the darkness.“No!” Leon barked, his tone clipped
Later that evening, after the adrenaline had faded and the team had regrouped, Leon and I found ourselves alone on the balcony of his home. The city lights twinkled below, a stark contrast to the darkness we’d just faced.“I meant what I said earlier,” Leon said, his voice soft but firm. “You’re everything to me, Margarette.”I smiled, leaning into him. “And you’re everything to me.”As his lips met mine, the world around us faded away. In that moment, there was no danger, no fear—only us, and the love that had carried us through the darkest of times.The night air was calm, the tension from earlier dissipating as Leon and I stood on the balcony. His arms were wrapped securely around me, his steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm against my back.“I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened to you,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple.I tilted my head to meet his gaze, his dark eyes reflecting the city lights. “You didn’t have to worry. You were there, and I kn