Margarette’s POVThe deafening sound of the gunshot echoed in the empty expanse by the bay. My scream tore through the daybreak as I stumbled back, hands flying to my mouth. My heart hammered against my ribs, and tears burned my eyes. It felt like the world around me had stopped from moving, and in that horrible silence facing me at the moment, my mind immediately leaped to the worst possible outcome that I dread not want to happen."Leon," I whimpered, my voice trembling as I stared at him and Justin, standing frozen in while facing each other. They’re speechless and eyes widened in shock as well. They were still, like statues—neither one dared to move nor speak even a single word.For that short single moment, even I couldn’t tell who had been hit by the gun fire.“Leon!” My voice cracked with panic. I took a shaky step forward, fear slicing through me. Then I saw it—the red gush of blood spreading across Justin’s shirt. His hand shot to his side, fingers pressing against the wound
Leon stood in front of me, his body rigid as he scanned the water, searching for any sign of Justin. The splashes had stopped, but the tension in the air remained thick, suffocating.I clung to him, my fingers digging into his arm as fear gripped me. My eyes stayed locked on the restless sea, waiting—dreading—what might emerge. The waves lapped at the rocky shore, cold and indifferent to the chaos they had witnessed.Jack knelt by the edge. “I don’t see anything,” he muttered, his voice a low growl.“That’s impossible,” Leon snapped, his jaw tight with frustration. “He fell right here. He couldn’t have just disappeared.”I wanted to believe that. I wanted to believe Justin was gone—finally, irreversibly gone—but something about the stillness of the sea gnawed at me. No body, no blood, no sign of him floating in the water. It didn’t make sense. “What if...” I hesitated, my voice trembling. “What if he swam away? What if he—”“No,” Leon said, cutting me off sharply. His eyes never left
The wind howled softly outside as I stood by the open door, panic gnawing at my insides. My mind was spiraling, replaying the events from earlier—Justin, the gun, the fall into the bay—and now, the door wide open and Leon nowhere to be seen."Leon?" I called out again, my voice cracking with fear.Just as I was about to lose all sense of reason, a hand gripped my arm, pulling me around sharply. I gasped, ready to fight off whoever it was, but then my eyes met Leon’s. Relief flooded me as I let out a shaky breath, my body sagging with the weight of it."Margarette,," he said quickly, his brows furrowed with concern. "What’s wrong?"I swallowed hard, feeling the adrenaline slowly drain from my system. "The door... it was open. I thought—" I stopped, not wanting to voice my deepest fear. I thought *Justin* had somehow come back.Leon’s eyes softened as he cupped my face gently, his thumbs brushing away the cold sweat on my temples. "I just went out to see Jack leave. He needed to head ho
The living room was quiet, save for the steady hum of the television. The air felt thick with unspoken tension as we watched the national news unfold, images of the Montefalco estate flashing on the screen. The headlines were clear: Montefalco Heir Dies in Tragic Accident.I sat next to Leon on the couch, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. The news anchor spoke with the usual detached professionalism, but my heart clenched as footage of the Montefalco ancestral house appeared. The estate was always grand, just as I remembered it, but the somber atmosphere surrounding it was unmistakable. Reporters crowded outside the gates, while inside, preparations for Justin’s wake were being made.Leon’s hand rested on my knee, his thumb absentmindedly rubbing circles as he stared at the screen. His expression was unreadable, his jaw tense. I glanced over at him just as the anchor spoke again."...the Montefalco family has yet to comment on the specifics of Justin Montefalco’s pa
I was not sure why Leon suddenly want to go somewhere or where in the world he was even planning to take me. But I just thought that perhaps he was just trying to get a breather from all that had happen and perhaps, he could also possibly thinking about me which was why he suddenly want to go out.It made me already thought of the possible place he would take me, could it be another restaurant? Movie house? Shopping? There were times when i wish to predict what was inside Leon’s thoughts but surely, most often, he really never cease to amuse me with all his surprises.I just always end up getting awestruck with what Leon have for me that i could only wish there would come a time when I could return all those love to him. Perhaps, it’s was just the timing, now that Justin’s gone, I might be able to invest navigating all my attention for Leon alone.The car ride was filled with quiet anticipation. Leon had been unusually secretive about the surprise he had planned, but the warmth in his
The celebration around us felt like a dream. I was still reeling from everything—Justin’s death, regaining my properties, and now this renewed engagement to Leon. It was overwhelming, but in the best way. I clung to Leon’s hand as our family and friends swirled around us, offering their congratulations.Aunt Lou was the first to pull me into a tight embrace, her familiar scent calming my nerves. “Oh, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve all of this—and now, every bit of happiness is finally coming your way.”I smiled against her shoulder, feeling the weight of her words sink in. For so long, I hadn’t believed I deserved happiness, not after everything that had happened. But now, standing here surrounded by people who loved me, I finally felt like somehow, I did.“Thank you,” I whispered back, my voice barely holding together.When Aunt Lou let go, I found myself facing Uncle George next. His expression was softer than usual, th
The past three months had been a whirlwind—an emotional rollercoaster of healing, hope, and quiet joy as Leon and I embraced our future together. Justin’s death felt like a distant, dark chapter finally closed, and now, as my baby bump began to show, life felt like it was on a brighter path. Our days were filled with preparations for our baby, and today was no different. We were at the summer house that my parents left me, making the final touches for our baby’s gender reveal celebration.The summer house had been renovated since we decided to live here. Though Leon and I could have afforded something grand, we agreed to keep our life simple and grounded. The house had a quiet charm, nestled close to the lake, where the breeze carried a sense of peace. We’d stripped away the extravagance that usually came with our wealth, keeping only what we needed for a comfortable life. It felt right. It felt like the start of something pure and new for our growing family.I stood by Leon, watch
As the gender reveal celebration goes on, the awkward atmosphere surrounding Sarah's arrival lingered like a shadow over what was supposed to be a joyous occasion. I seriously tried to stay focused on the event, reminding myself that today was about my baby and celebrating this new chapter in Leon and I’s lives, but Sarah’s presence was unsettling. Every time I caught her glancing at me or Leon, there was something in her eyes—something I couldn’t help but wonder if it was jealousy.The summer house was bustling with activity. Our friends and family all gathered and laughing as they discussed whether the baby would be a boy or a girl. And in that short instant, the backyard where a view of the lake was present, now adorned with the pastel decorations—blues and pinks fluttering gently in the breeze—were beautiful.However, every time I glanced toward Sarah, I simply couldn’t help but felt a knot in my stomach. She hadn’t said much since arriving, only offering polite but distant smil