One morning, as I sat by the window in the nursery, sipping on tea, I felt a soft kick. A flutter at first, then a stronger nudge—our baby was moving. A rush of warmth flooded me, and I called out for Leon, my heart bursting with excitement."Leon!" I yelled, unable to contain myself. "Come here, quick!"Leon appeared in the doorway, a mix of alarm and curiosity on his face. "What is it?" he asked, rushing over to me.I grabbed his hand and placed it on my belly. "Did you feel that? He’s kicking."He stood still, his hand resting on my bump, waiting. And then, it happened—a little nudge from within.His eyes widened, and a huge grin spread across h
The separation anxiety hit harder than I thought it would.Leon had only been gone for a few hours, yet it felt like days. I kept telling myself it was just three days, but the thought of him being so far away, flying across the world to Italy, had my stomach in knots.I tried to distract myself by reading books, TV shows, even a long bath, but none of it worked. Every time I thought about him being gone, the tears just came, uncontrollably. I had already tried calling him through Viber, even though I knew he was likely still on the plane. It was irrational, I knew that, but I couldn’t help myself.Eventually, Aunt Lou noticed that my anxiety was getting out of hand. And I appreciate how she tried reassuring me that everything was fine, remind
After Sarah left, the mood at the park was ruined.I could see it in Aunt Lou’s worried expression, Letty’s frustration, and Lena’s quiet glances. We all knew that lingering here wasn’t going to make me feel any better, so we packed up our things and headed back home.And the moment I stepped through the front door of the summer house, I couldn’t help but felt a sudden overwhelming urge to call Leon.Once we were settled inside, I excused myself to my room, pulling out my phone and dialing Leon’s viber, this time I was certain that he would be able to answer. I could feel the anxiety bubbling up again as I listened to the dial tone.
After leaving Regina behind in the waiting room, I stepped into the familiar warmth of Dr. Lou’s clinic. Aunt Lou was already inside, waiting for me with her usual calm, reassuring smile. She stood up from her chair as I walked in, and immediately, the subtle tension I had felt after seeing Regina seemed to melt away.“Margarette, you okay? You were running a little late and I was just about to call you to check if you’re all right.” Aunt Lou asked, her eyes scanning my face with concern. I nodded and sat down beside her, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m fine, Aunt Lou. Well, to be honest, I just…I happen to ran into Regina outside actually.”Aunt Lou raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Regina? You mean Justin’s mistress? What’s she doing here?”“She said she had a bone marrow transplant, and was having her consultation” I said quietly, still trying to process the change I had seen in her. “She looked… different. Not like her usual self who often intimidate me often.”Aunt Lou nodded, sit
As I made my way downstairs to the dining room, the delicious aroma of Letty’s cooking filled the air, instantly lifting my spirits. I could hear the soft chatter from the kitchen, the clatter of dishes, and the occasional laugh from Lena, who had clearly been assigned the role of Letty’s helper for the night.It felt good, being surrounded by family. Despite everything on my mind—Leon being away, my run-in with Regina, and the overwhelming anticipation of motherhood—I found solace in these simple moments.I stepped into the dining room, and Aunt Lou was already setting the table, her usual efficient self. She looked up when she saw me and smiled. “There you are, sweetheart. Feeling a little better?”I nodded, returning her smile. &l
The air was crisp as Aunt Lou and I made our way down the sidewalk toward the pharmacy to buy some of the vitamins I needed.I tried to push away the lingering sense of unease that had settled in ever since I saw Regina at my OB-GYN appointment yesterday by making some habit of going out more often, while I still could.Now that I was out of the house again with Aunt Lou to pick up some medicine, I hoped to shake off the anxiety that had clung to me all day. But, as luck would have it, life had other plans.As we stepped into the pharmacy, Aunt Lou busied herself at the counter while I browsed the aisles, looking for some vitamins and pregnancy essentials. I was trying to keep my mind focused on the present—on the baby and Leon's return—
As we left the coffee shop, Regina and I walked in silence for a while. The streets were busy, and the noise of the city created a buzzing backdrop to the heavy conversation we’d just had. I still couldn’t believe what I’d just agreed to—a potential alliance with Regina, of all people. Part of me was still suspicious, but there was also a part that wanted to believe she was sincere. If she was telling the truth, this could be the key to finally taking Wilma down.When we got closer to the car where Aunt Lou had stayed behind, I turned to Regina.“I’ll talk to my lawyer,” I said, keeping my voice measured. “We’ll see what the next steps are if you’re serious about testifying. But I need you to be prepared for what’s coming. Wilma’s not going to take this lying down.”Regina nodded, her face pale but resolute. “I know. But I’m ready. I can’t keep living in fear of her.”I studied her for a moment longer, then gave a short nod. “Alright. I’ll be in touch.”With that, we parted ways. As
After another encounter with Regina, I suddenly felt the familiar weight of anxiety pressing down on me again. It was giving me the hard to sleep on it especially whenever her every words comes to my mind.I couldn’t help but sympathize over the feeling of having some people control over you and that you couldn’t do anything but obey them because it was your life that was at stake—I surely felt that part of her.And now, Wilma was planning something—something big. I couldn’t afford to wait and see how things played out. I needed advice, a plan, and most importantly, I needed to be prepared. That’s why I found myself sitting in Jack's office the following afternoon, nervously tapping my fingers on the arm of my chair while he read through the notes I’d brought him. Jack was my former lawyer, who helped me a lot with my lawsuit against Justin. And because of that, I could only trust him more than anyone when it came to legal matters. He was the one who’d helped me navigate the mess wi
Dorian was right. My father wasn’t sitting idle. He was moving his pieces, fortifying his position before I could strike.But he underestimated me.By morning, I was already on the phone, making calls, pulling in every favor I had left. I wasn’t just going to fight him—I was going to destroy him.Leon watched me from across the kitchen, leaning against the counter, sipping his coffee. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and despite the weight of everything we were up against, he looked completely composed.It irritated me.“Do you ever worry?” I muttered, ending a call and tossing my phone on the counter.Leon smirked. “Constantly.”I gave him a look. “You don’t seem worried.”He set his mug down and closed the distance between us. “Because I don’t show it the way you do.”I exhaled. “I feel like we’re on the edge of something big. Like we’re one wrong move away from losing everything.”Leon tilted his head slightly, studying me. “Margarette.” His
Leon didn’t speak much after that. The drive back was filled with nothing but the hum of the tires on the road and the unspoken weight between us. I wanted to say something—anything—to make him look at me the way he used to. But I knew this wasn’t the time.When we pulled into the underground parking lot of our penthouse, Leon shut off the engine and exhaled through his nose. His hands remained on the wheel, knuckles white.I unbuckled my seatbelt. “Leon—”He turned to me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “You just declared war on your father, Margarette.”I swallowed. “You think I don’t know that?”“That’s the problem.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “This isn’t just about exposing his corruption. Harlan Westwood isn’t the kind of man who forgives betrayal. And you just put a target on your back.”I clenched my jaw. “I’ve had a target on my back ever since I decided to take back what’s mine.”Leon let out a humorless laugh. “And you think he’s just going to let you?”I reac
The night was deceptively peaceful. The city lights stretched far beyond the penthouse windows, illuminating a world that had no idea of the chaos brewing beneath the surface.Leon stood by the window, his sleeves rolled up, his jaw clenched in quiet contemplation. He hadn’t said much since our meeting at the club.I knew why.We had allies now, but it wasn’t enough.We needed more.“Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours,” I said, stepping closer.Leon’s fingers tightened around the glass in his hand. “There’s a war coming, Margarette. And I don’t know if I can keep you safe through it.”I scoffed. “You’re still underestimating me?”His jaw ticked. “No. I just—” He exhaled sharply, turning to face me. “I can’t lose you.”The words hit harder than they should have.I swallowed, pushing down the sudden rush of emotion. “Then don’t.”Leon studied me for a long moment, his eyes dark and unreadable. Then, before I could react, he pulled me flush against him, his lips capturing mine
By the next morning, the fallout had already begun.Leon and I sat in his penthouse, reviewing the reports pouring in from our contacts. Calloway’s operation had taken a major hit—his Russian allies were furious, his supply lines were compromised, and his reputation was crumbling.But we both knew it wasn’t over.Calloway wouldn’t take this loss lying down.Leon’s fingers drummed against the table, his jaw tight. “He’ll retaliate.”I nodded. “It’s just a matter of when.”Leon’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then answered with a clipped, “What?”A pause.Then his expression darkened.“When?” he demanded.Another pause.“Where is she now?”I sat up straighter, sensing the shift in his energy.Then Leon cursed under his breath and ended the call.“What happened?” I asked.He stood, already grabbing his keys. “Alexa was taken.”My blood ran cold. “By Calloway?”Leon’s jaw clenched. “Looks like it.”I shot up from my seat. “Then let’s go get her.”Alexa’s location was traced to a
The ride back to the penthouse was silent, tension thick in the air. Leon drove with one hand on the wheel, the other gripping his gun. His jaw was locked, his eyes dark.I knew that look.He was planning. Calculating.“Calloway just declared war,” I murmured, watching the city lights blur past the windshield.Leon exhaled sharply. “He did more than that. He underestimated us.”I studied his profile—the controlled rage simmering beneath his calm demeanor. He wasn’t just angry. He was ready to make a move.“We need to hit back,” I said.Leon’s grip tightened. “We will.”His phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then tossed it onto the dashboard. “My father.”“Answer it,” I urged.Leon let out a slow breath before pressing the call button. “Yeah?”His father’s voice was sharp. “I assume you’re still alive.”Leon smirked. “Disappointed?”A pause. Then, “Get to the estate. Now.”The line went dead.Leon exhaled through his nose, tossing his phone onto his lap. “That’s never a good sign.”I lean
Days passed, but the unease in Leon hadn’t faded. He kept himself busy, making calls, arranging meetings, tightening security. I watched him closely, noting the way his shoulders carried an unseen weight. His father’s sudden reappearance had unsettled him more than he let on.One evening, as we lay in bed, I turned to him, brushing my fingers over his chest. “Leon, talk to me.”He exhaled, his arm tightening around me. “It’s nothing.”I propped myself up on my elbow, searching his face. “It’s not nothing. You’re restless. You barely sleep.”His jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he would brush me off again. But then, he spoke.“When I was younger, my father used to tell me that in our world, loyalty is everything,” he said, his voice low. “But he also told me that loyalty is never free—it’s bought, traded, or forced.”I frowned. “You think he came back because he wants something from you?”Leon nodded. “My father has never been a man who does things without a reason. If he’s he
The days following Leon’s proposal felt like a dream—soft, golden, and filled with an unshakable sense of peace. I caught myself staring at the ring on my finger more often than I cared to admit, the weight of it both grounding and exhilarating.We didn’t rush into planning the wedding. Instead, we let ourselves be, relishing in this new phase of our relationship. The world outside our home was still chaotic, filled with unfinished battles and uncertain futures, but in this—in us—there was certainty.One evening, as we lay tangled together on the couch, Leon traced patterns on my bare shoulder, his voice a low murmur against my skin. “Tell me something you’ve never told anyone.”I turned my head to look at him, our faces inches apart. “Something I’ve never told anyone?”He nodded. “Something real.”I swallowed, considering. There were so many pieces of me I’d kept hidden—fears, dreams, scars that hadn’t fully healed. But with Leon, there was no need for walls.“I used to be afraid of
The days at the beach house were fleeting, but they imprinted themselves onto my soul like ink on paper—permanent, unshakable.Leon and I spent our time wrapped in each other, the world outside forgotten. We cooked together, danced in the kitchen barefoot, made love under the moonlight, and talked about everything we had never had the chance to say before.One evening, after a long walk along the shore, we sat on the wooden deck of the house, our legs tangled beneath a thick blanket. The waves hummed in the background, their rhythm as steady as the beating of my heart.Leon turned to me, his fingers tracing circles on my thigh. “What do you want the future to look like, Margarette?”I leaned my head against his shoulder. “This. Just more of this.”He smiled, kissing the top of my head. “No big dreams? No wild ambitions?”I laughed softly. “I think I’ve spent so much of my life chasing things—justice, revenge, security. And now, all I want is peace.”His hand found mine beneath the bla
The days after our engagement were a blur of quiet moments and soft laughter—normalcy in a way I had never truly experienced before. Leon and I settled into a rhythm that felt natural, like we had been doing this forever.One evening, we were sprawled out on the couch, my legs draped over his lap as he absentmindedly traced circles on my ankle. A movie played in the background, but neither of us was paying attention.“You know,” Leon mused, tilting his head toward me, “we should probably start thinking about where we want to live.”I blinked. “What’s wrong with where we live now?”He chuckled. “Nothing, but… don’t you want something that’s ours? A place we choose together?”The idea settled in my chest, warm and unfamiliar. I had always been so focused on surviving that I had never considered what it would mean to truly build something with him.“You already have a place in mind, don’t you?” I narrowed my eyes.He smirked. “Maybe.”I sighed dramatically. “Of course you do. Go on then,