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
The rest of the day moved in a blur of laughter and celebration. Our friends and family gathered around, offering their congratulations, talking about our future plans for the baby, and making bets on whether our little boy would take after me or Leon.The joy was overwhelming, and for a while, I was able to set aside the fact that Sarah’s presence was making me feel awkward to the back of my mind.Leon was by my side almost the entire time, holding my hand or keeping an arm around me protectively. I was fortunate for having a partner that could sensed my unease, even if I tried to hide it.As what Leon had often tell me, the two of us were a team, and today was supposed to be one of the
The days after our baby shower felt like a whirlwind of excitement and preparations. Leon and I were constantly buzzing with anticipation, making sure everything was perfect for our little boy’s arrival. It felt surreal, imagining a whole new life with a child, and neither of us could contain the joy we felt."Do you think this color will be just fine?" I asked, holding up a soft blue swatch of paint as we stood in the soon-to-be nursery. Leon was beside me, nodding thoughtfully as he considered the walls we were about to transform."I think it’s perfect," he said, his voice warm and full of certainty. "Not too bright, not too dull. It’ll be calming."I smiled, my heart swelling. "I want a corner over there," I pointed to the window, "where I can sit and read him stories. Maybe I could have a rocking chair too."Leon’s face lit up at the idea. "I can picture it already. You, with him in your arms, tucking him in after reading. And I’ll stand at the door, listening to you sing him to s
The rain was falling again.It always did on days like this—days that felt like endings.I stood on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the stormy waters of Anacortes, my coat pulled tightly around me, the hood shielding my face from the wind that carried the scent of salt and something older—something like goodbye.Leon stood behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to feel him there. His presence was familiar now, carved into my skin like muscle memory. He’d been my gravity, my storm, my salvation, and my ruin—sometimes all at once.“It’s really over, isn’t it?” I whispered, more to the wind than to him.He didn’t answer right away. His silence was as heavy as the stormclouds above us.“I wanted to fix everything for you,” he said finally, his voice hoarse, like it had been dragged across a battlefield. “I wanted to give you a life that didn’t hurt.”I closed my eyes. The ache in my chest pulsed with every beat of my heart. “You did,” I said. “For a while, you did.”I heard the crunch
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I’m not the same person I was before,” I said, my voice firm, unwavering. “And I’m not walking away this time.”The man’s eyes flickered with a moment of doubt, just enough for me to catch. And then, before I could even register what had happened, Leon moved.Faster than I could blink, Leon was in front of me, his hand grabbing the gun and twisting it out of the man’s grasp. The force of it sent the man stumbling back, but he didn’t go down easily. His bodyguards rushed in, but Leon was already a step ahead, disarming one of them with a swift, calculated move.I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what I was witnessing. Leon—always so calm, always so careful—was ruthless. He was like a force of nature, determined to protect me at all costs.But the fight wasn’t over yet. The man recovered, his eyes burning with rage. “You really think you’ve won?” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “You’re nothing but a pawn in a game you can’t ev
The sound of boots drew closer, pounding the floor with an urgency that echoed through the cavernous halls of the estate. My heart raced as the reality of what I had just heard crashed into me like a tidal wave. The man who had once been a part of my life—my family’s betrayer, the one who had orchestrated their deaths—stood there, calmly, as if this was just another night for him.Leon’s grip on my hand tightened, but I didn’t let him pull me away. I could feel the air thickening with tension, the walls pressing in as everything I thought I knew began to crumble.The intruders were only moments away.The man—he—smirked, watching us. “You think this will end well? You’ve no idea what you’re up against. My people are everywhere.”I took a step forward, ignoring Leon’s silent plea to retreat. “You killed them. And you thought I would be the next one to fall in line?” My voice was a whisper, but it held a power I hadn’t realized I had. “You were wrong.”The man’s face faltered, just for a
Next Morning at the Estate Archives. The basement was cold and damp, and the air smelled of mildew and secrets. Old boxes lined the walls, labeled in my father’s tidy script. Financial records. Land deeds. Correspondence.Leon sifted through a crate of documents while I dug through another.Then something caught my eye.A faded folder labeled: Project Thornfield.I opened it slowly.Inside were blueprints—plans for development across coastal land that was supposed to be protected forest. There were signatures from multiple board members, including names I recognized.And then, one I didn’t.N. Vallis.Leon leaned over. “You know that name?”I shook my head. “No. But look here—he signed off on the project two weeks before my parents died.”Leon pulled out his phone. “I’ll run a background check.”I kept flipping through the documents—and found something that made my blood run cold.An aerial photo.Of the cliffside. Our property.With a giant red X drawn over the coordinates where my p
THREE WEEKS LATER...The investigation moved faster than I’d expected. With the board fully on our side now, the paper trail unraveled like a thread pulled from an old sweater—each piece of evidence exposing the next. Shell companies. Forged contracts. Witnesses who had remained silent out of fear but were finally coming forward.Still, no one had seen him since the day of the summit. He had vanished without a trace. No flights. No offshore activity. No messages. It was like he’d disappeared into smoke.But Dorian didn’t believe in ghosts. “He’s hiding,” he said as he handed me a thick folder. “And this—this will force him out.”I flipped through the documents. Bank records. A property registered under an alias. Hidden deep in the woods outside of Anacortes. I felt my stomach twist.Leon stepped up behind me, his hand grazing my shoulder. “Let’s pay him a visit.”The cabin was barely more than a shadow tucked between trees. No lights. No car. Just silence and the thrum of insects in t
Sunlight crept cautiously through the cracks in the blinds, casting golden slivers across the hardwood floor of the safe house bedroom. I sat curled up on the edge of the bed, a blanket draped around my shoulders and the journal heavy in my lap. The cover was cracked, worn with age and secrets. My fingers hovered over the first page for what felt like an eternity.Leon was nearby—he hadn’t slept much, either. He stood at the window with a mug of black coffee, watching the world outside with quiet alertness. When I finally opened the journal, he turned slightly but didn’t speak. He knew I needed silence for this.The first entry was dated nearly two decades ago.July 14th. We signed the contract today. Two families, one future. The woman from Delmar Holdings is more cunning than I expected. She knows we’re desperate—and she used it. I told Mariana to trust me. That this was the only way. God help me, I hope I’m right.My breath hitched. Mariana—that was my mother’s name.I flipped thro
MARGARETTE'S POVBefore we could react, the door behind us burst open.Three armed men rushed in, dressed in black, their movements precise and rehearsed. Leon shoved me behind him, drawing his gun up in an instant. Dorian, who had been lingering near the entrance, took cover behind a cabinet, gun already out.“Elise’s father wasn’t bluffing,” I breathed, my heart hammering. “He had backup ready.”Leon fired the first shot, catching one of the intruders in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor. Chaos erupted. Dorian ducked low and returned fire, narrowly missing another attacker who retaliated with a spray of bullets that shattered the windows.I crouched behind an overturned table, the sound of gunfire drowning out my thoughts. The locket in my palm dug into my skin, its edges sharp—a painful reminder that I couldn’t afford to lose control now.“Elise’s father!” I shouted to Leon. “He’s escaping!”Through the haze of smoke and broken glass, I saw the man slinking toward
The sound of footsteps pounding in the hallway was the last thing I heard before the door slammed open.I barely had time to react before a rush of armed men poured into the room, their eyes scanning every corner, landing finally on me. There was no mistaking the intent behind their cold stares.“Get down!” Leon’s voice crackled through the earpiece again, but there was no time to obey. I couldn’t allow myself to hesitate—not now, not when the truth was within reach.I raised my gun, my hands steady despite the chaos unfolding around me. I wasn’t going down without a fight, not after everything I had lost. Not after everything Elise’s father had taken from me.Before the first man could react, I fired. The sound of the shot echoed in the confined space, the bullet finding its mark in the man’s chest. His body crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud, but the others didn’t hesitate. They moved in faster, their guns drawn, but I was ready.I ducked behind the desk, using it as cover
Dawn came in silver slivers through the cracks in the window. I hadn’t slept—not really. My mind was too loud, looping the footage over and over like a broken reel.Leon sat across from me at the table, sipping his coffee like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Neither of us had said much since the footage. We didn’t need to. The truth had cut so deep, it didn’t leave room for small talk.But I had questions.And I needed answers.“How long do you think he’s known I survived?” I finally asked, voice hoarse.Leon didn’t look away from his mug. “Long enough to start covering his tracks. But he didn’t expect the locket to resurface.”My hand instinctively reached for it. The locket was warm now, like it had absorbed my grief and fury. Inside was a picture of my mother and me—her arm around my tiny shoulders, her smile soft but tired. A photo I hadn’t even remembered until last night.“He killed her,” I whispered. “He killed my father. For what? A project?”“Not just a project,”